Friday Thoughts: Direct train to Europe

You can now board a train in London and a few hours later get off by the Mediterranean - the new direct service between St Pancras and Marseille is the furthest passengers have ever been able to go on a train from Britain without getting off. But why, more than 20 years after the Channel Tunnel opened, have direct services to the rest of Europe been so slow arriving? 

Note: Image and quote source. 

I think this is an interesting trip. Many people who maybe do not want to fly, or spend the money to fly can now travel for less and via a different method. The amenities seem nice also, such as the breakfast and WIFI for example.
I would like to see this expanded to add more countries, and something like this would be a nice idea in the USA to travel 49 states or so (can't drive/ride to Hawaii :-) ), but using Amtrak instead. Or maybe even Greyhound buses.

QOTD- Would you take this train? If you have, what was your experience?