[TexasGator]

“If there was an actual need for trains — they would be economical to run as a private enterprise.”

if there was an actual need for mail — they would be economical to run as a private enterprise ...

[2ndDivisionVet]

I think I'll open a pool hall, sarsaparilla and ice cream shoppe along the train tracks in St. Louis. No one admitted without a straw hat or bonnet!!

[jonascord]

Back in the days of Steamboat Willie, I did an Internet study of the profitability of passenger rail travel.

Rendered down, passenger rail has NEVER been self supporting. The US passenger system has always been a red-headed stepchild, supported by the US government. Until the 1950's, intercity rail always had a mail car that would pick up bagged mail, with a crew that would manually sort and deliver while in motion. (Remember Bugs Bunny and the mail bags?)

After the USPS went to the zipcode system, with central computer sorting, and mail cars vanished, passenger rail was that close to going the way of ice wagons and Howdy Doody.

Then came Amtrak. Passenger rail costs have quadrupled and service is worse.