Comment by socalgal2

The problem is they are almost always at the whim of politians. Take London.

https://www.google.com/search?q=is+the+london+tube+under+fun...

https://www.google.com/search?q=is+rome+subway+underfunded

https://www.google.com/search?q=is+barcelona+subway+underfun...

So you can claim, and I agree, that it's supposedly an investment. Unfortunately, putting it in the hands of politicians to fund often means funds are taken away for other things. Where as, the private Japanese train companies fund themselves and it works.