We do; just not everywhere. I've moved to Liverpool, and the rail system here is great (as far as it goes - it could always use more lines). Fifteen minute interval suburban service from the south suburbs under the city all the way to Southport, fast and frequent service to places in the Wirral etc. It's great - Merseyrail is an unusual example of a forward-looking rail system done in the 70s. The trains are old now (new ones on the way) but it just works.
Leeds? Not so much. Daventry? Nothing. Whitby? One slow train every two hours.