Because there is a pressing need for people from LA to get into Las Vegas?
Our President, your's, mine, and Chrissy Matthews', has said that we can't just go off to Vegas to throw money away.
“Because there is a pressing need for people from LA to get into Las Vegas?”
No. The Casino Express is pure political backroom dealing (Reid) and whole-country taxpayer funded ... which is wrong, wrong, wrong.
However, if it is successful it will be a good example for other cities to follow, except for the taxpayer funding.
The tracks and rights of way should be State funded (like our State highways) and private companies can bid on running the trains. Interstate State long-range tracks and rights should be Fed funded (like our Interstate highways).
What's to complain about here?
If investors want to try and exploit what they see as a profitable market, then I'm all in favor. If this were a government-subsidised excursion train -- I wouldn't be.
I'd love to see rail travel improve in the US. I just want it to be done with private money. I hope they do well. It's a concept (party train) that might work in other places.
This is a good start—How about using Steam Engines? We can get some ceap from China or restore what we have. The Monorail conects to the Vegas Downtown so the whole strip would be open—put in some discounts and this could help bring business to Las Vegas. Then, lets do the same from San Francisco to Reno.