When I commuted downtown from the Littleton P&R daily back in the 90's, I much preferred the express bus over the new (at the time) train too.  Fortunately they didn't kill our express bus route from there like they did so many others when light rail started.  That's where most light rail ridership numbers came from (and surely still do) -- people that were forced over to it from successful express bus routes that were killed.

The express bus seating was usually far more comfortable and roomy than those uncomfortable train cars.  I've never liked that face-each-other seat design on the light rail cars, where you fight the person across from you for knee/foot space.