Well, then, Amtrak needs to build their own lines if they don’t like what is available. No, wait, they can’t do that. They don’t have any money, except what they can bilk out of the taxpayers. There is a very good reason why no one in the private sector is operating passenger trains anymore. It ain’t profitable because they ain’t efficient for moving people and they are very expensive to maintain. Forest, meet trees.....
Well, then, Amtrak needs to build their own lines if they don’t like what is available. No, wait, they can’t do that. They don’t have any money, except what they can bilk out of the taxpayers.
IMHO, the Taxpayers should use eminent domain to seize ownership of the tracks.
That way the freight and passenger lines could share the taxpayer-owned rails just like the trucking and busing companies share the taxpayer owned Interstates. (Or just like the freight and passenger airlines share the taxpayer owned airports and air traffic control system. Or just like they way passenger cruise ships and freighters share taxpayer-owned harbors and ports.)
Privately owned transportation rights-of-way are an abomination and an offense against American's freedom.
The reason trains receded from the scene is because air travel is faster from major hub to hub. It still is, if you discount how much time for a lower tract inspection to prove for the umpteenth time you aren’t a muslim terrorist— done at great massive public expense. Another reason trains receded is because public subsidy of air travel became the politician’s dream from the late 50’s on, in providing “service” and pork to their constituents— which is still true (see Murtha and his airport with 16 passengers a day!). I can’t stand either trains or air travel. I take the train on one route, for family- if I have the time and because it is cheap. If you are on vacation and have time, train might be OK. On leased tracks, freight rail has the priority and is the reason Amtrak is late. Late at night in SC, we stop on a siding and let an express freight come through. Speed for passenger trains is restricted vs. speeds of freight rail on the same set of tracks for the same reason. The train is frequently late. Hassle wise though it has a lot to be said for it vs. Atlanta’s airport.
I like the line elsewhere here about choo-choo marxists— it is so true. Remember Al Gore wants to reduce urban sprawl with the “Euro” way (it’s worked so well for them) of cramming us other people (not living on his plantation) into “sustainable” communities. For that read: a rabbit warren of condo nightmares with no equity. Government has done nothing right, not trains and not airlines either. A well funded, well thought out private consortium of modern passenger trains, if it would be allowed, could add dedicated rail lines in the same rights of way of freight lines and do the job right. It will be a long time before that ever happens. For my money I’ll take my RV on vacation, stop anywhere, rest anywhere, eat anywhere. You’re right- forest, meet the trees. Never forget also that it was a progressive, Teddy Roosevelt that put both parks and trains on the map.