Being profitable shouldn't be the only measure to implement or improve a public transit system TBF; faster transit times, cleaner fuel, lower highway usage, less stress from driving, working on the go (if people work in coffee shops they can work in the train), tax benefits, cheaper commute costs, all of those should be taken into consideration too. It's not a crime for a government to fund an unprofitable business if said business does good things.
it's exactly why education, especially primary schools etc. are financed by the government in a lot of countries, because educating the mass is not profitable.
