The key sentence: “If we are going to have passenger rail.”
Let’s not have it. Millions of citizens have voted with their dollars NOT TO USE RAIL FOR PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION.
Amtrak should be sold off to RR enthusiasts with the understanding that they do not have to maintain passenger service on unprofitable lines with low ridership. Maybe the NE corridor will survive, and if so, I’d be very pleased since I used to ride the train from NY to Paoli, Pa back in the 50s and enjoyed the ride.
But you can’t run a transportation system nationwide on nostalgia and deficits.
Well said and that’s where it’s at, some passenger lines can be run profitably but not nationwide.