As far as distances are concerned, the US is much more comparable to Europe than many think. London to Istanbul is 2500 km, Lisbon to Kiev is 3200 km. St.Louis to New York is 1400 km and L.A. to D.C. is 3700 km.

Comfortable trains with folding beds which allow one to get some sleep shrink any long-distance journey. I take sleeper trains all the time here, from Frankfurt to Milan or Prague or Vienna. Being able to sleep through the journey is fantastic.