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This is an exciting idea -- with the added advantage that we know it works: the system propsed is similar in some ways to ConRail (AMTRAK's successful big brother) and the example of TrailerTrain. By "funding" a national passenger rail network through targeted tax credits, the federal government would insure that the needed upgrades and improvements to the roadbeds and signals would get done -- by the Class Is themselves, and using their own money. The government could then zero out AMTRAK's budget and tranfer its plant and rolling stock to the new privately-held consortium, which would use existing trainsets to actually provide the passenger service until the next generation of passenger rail equipment could be brought on line.

Talk of railroads "paying their own way" is specious; no mode of public-accommodation transport pays its own way. Just this week, for example, American Airlines and United both announced big staff/service cuts, and USAir went belly up -- and this AFTER a zillion-dollar donation from Uncle Sam to cover losses resulting from 911. The truth is that air and road transportation could not exist if they had to operate by "paying its own way"; if the taxpayers didn't cover the costs of airport construction and maintenance, air traffic control, and navaids, (not to mention the military R&D that developed the basic technology of large aircraft) there would be no commercial air travel in the United States. As for buses and trucks, forget it; the largesse of Dwight Eisenhower and his enormous coast-to-coast road network make their operations possible. In both cases, the transportation infrastructure is built and maintained at taxpayer expense.

By contrast, the railroads build and maintain their own infrastructure, and turn a handsome profit as well.

The federal government has no more business running a railroad than they do operating a trucking company. What they do have the responsibility for is providing the basic infrastructure for a modern national rail system. Uncle Sam should get out of the railroad business and go back to what he does best: helping the private railroads do their own business.

B-chan

When I was in Europe last year I took a high speed train from Brussels to Paris. I was impressed. The train was full, very smooth and quiet and very fast (I think the speed was something like 170 mph). I was able to get to the station about 15 minutes early, go to my platform and the train was loaded in minutes. With the short amount of time in the station, the fact that the terminals are located in the city and the speed of the train it was more than competitive with an airline.

My question is: why don't we have a system likr that here?