[Incorrigible]

One recent Amtrak convert is Bill Shearer, who was heading to the Metropark station in Iselin, N.J., from Washington's Union Station last week after two days of business meetings. Shearer said he has taken Amtrak for the last two years because "it's on time and I don't have to stand around airports forever. ... It's less hassle than flying or driving, plus I can do work on the train.''

Sing it brother.  I'm an Acela fan despite some infuriatingly late trains on occasion.

 

[Incorrigible]

Willie Green Memorial Bump

[pnh102]

I see no problem with funding Amtrak. But the idea that it is somehow going to be self-sustaining is silly. If passenger rail service was still profitable, we’d still have the private passenger rail companies that were the "parents" of Amtrak still in business.

[cripplecreek]

I prefer trains as well. Less hassle and I can watch the scenery go by.

[Jagman]

So let me get this straight: because AMTRAK has had a record year in terms of ridership (and obviously earned greater revenues from ticket sales), the Demos want to reward it with even greater subsidies?

You know, I had a pretty good year this year myself: don't I deserve a tax cut?

[NonValueAdded]

Well, lovely. I’m glad you like it. BTW, how much does it cost me each time you or Bill decide to take the train?

[riverdawg]

Amtrak covers its operating costs on the densely traveled Northeast corridor. It does not cover the costs of operating the long-distance, cross-country routes. An example of an unprofitable “legacy” route is the old Southern (now Amtrak) Crescent that runs between New Orleans and Washington DC.

[CT-Freeper]

Sing it brother. I'm an Acela fan despite some infuriatingly late trains on occasion.

Yep, I've been doing lots of travel recently between New Haven and NYC, and I take Metro North rather than driving...it's much easier, even if it takes a little longer than driving sometimes.

Being able to relax, or do work on the train, makes it all worth it.

[jmyrlefuller]

Unless you live in the Northeast Corridor, I have found Amtrak to be useless. It’s no faster or less expensive than bus travel and serves far fewer cities.

[STONEWALLS]

....my wife and I used to take the train from Baltimore to New York....it was just so much easier....BTW I’m old enough to remember back in the 50s when trains and street cars were a handy way to get around...

[Dead Corpse]

I'm still trying to figure out where in the Constitution it gives congress the power to GIVE money to Amtrak and like projects...

Isn't their doing so illegal?

[bobsatwork]

If my math is any good, Amtrak needs to raise ticket prices by just under 20 bucks to stop losing money (25.8M passengers, and losing 500M/year). If the passengers won’t pony up the dough, it isn’t a viable business.

[gracesdad]

My family took it from Lynchburg, Va., to Philly. Ran on time. Comfortable. Didn’t have to fool with traffic.

[TheSuaveOne]

As I have recently moved to Chicago, and must say, I love taking the train into the city every day, as opposed to driving in. It’s METRA not AMTRAK, but they do use the same lines.