As it turns out it doesn’t actually cost that much on regular transit, there’s an AIRPORT SURCHARGE because it’s an “airport train”.
No wonder Americans don’t use public transit, even when the system exists it’s ridiculously difficult and expensive to use.
I read on another thread the reason is the companies leasing the rolling stock are charging ridiculously high amounts, so the operators are running on tight margins.
For peak, I get it. But the off peak trains I was on were nowhere near capacity. So lower fares may have encouraged more people to use the train than the coach, which takes longer but is significantly cheaper.