[Azzurri]

I recently took the "California Zephyr" train on Amtrak (Chicago-San Francisco). It was a very enjoyable experience, although I saw much "government-employee" type incompetence and laziness. I think a high-speed rail system (even for long distances) and a fully privatized system would be awesome for this country. The current costs for a transnational trip reeks of bureaucracy...I think a private, efficient company could compete price-wise with the airlines (even for sleeper cars).

[Alberta's Child]

One of the problems you have these days is that a "railroad" is becoming much more of a one-dimensional facility than it ever was before. High-speed rail service requires a certain type of railroad infrastructure (particularly superelevation on curves) that are not compatible with freight trains. This has become more of an issue in recent years due to the dramatic increase in containerized freight, much of which is moved on double-stack rail cars that couldn't possibly operate on a track that has a substantial degree of superelevation on curves.

[caddie]

Agreed, and whatever 'subsidy' would be, might be simply the absence of murderous taxes.

The average company in the US pays an incredible amount of corporate tax.

Do away with that stifling influence, and the rails would thrive.

Is it considered a 'subsidy' if it is simply the absence of murderously high taxes?

Look what happened to e-tailing and e-commerce in general, helped in part by absence of taxation on internet transaction.

The central lesson is, don't tax it, and if it is remotely feasible, in the United States of today, it will thrive.

[Publius]

...I saw much "government-employee" type incompetence and laziness...The current costs for a transnational trip reeks of bureaucracy...

I've taken Amtrak transnationally, and I take it from Seattle to Portland and back quite often for business. (I-5 between those two cities is a mess; the trucks will run you right off the road.)

You're right about "laziness" on the long-distance lines. Some crew members are conscientious, but there is always the bureaucratic time-server, protected by his union. The cost of a transnational trip by sleeper is the same as first class air fare. You're right, though, an aggressive marketing campaign -- the kind only available from an entrepreneurial organization -- would bring the cost down.