Hardly a waste of time unless you're driving your own car.
Else, you read a book, etc.
For example: I’d hate to be stuck in a train carriage for two hours, packed in with people I don’t know, maybe Underground with no internet, all because my job requires me to be in a certain place at a certain time.
That’s two hours I could have spent sleeping; with a loved one; sleeping with a loved one... you get the idea.
So, like most Americans and thus most of people reading and commenting on HN? Also, while a train commute is way better than a car commute, being home is better than both. I read during my 40 mins subway commute and I would never want to be driving instead but I'd prefer to be reading at home for that time.
I personally agree, but having taken commuter rail for several months a few years ago, I noticed that quite a few people with longer commutes (~1 hour each way) seemed to really enjoy their (evening) train commute, treating it basically like a social hour at a bar. They frequently had beer. (Never saw anything like this in the morning.)
I didn't know enough people on the train to get into that, but I can see the appeal.