Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
ArchGuy1 wrote:Hope they can make America's passenger train system like what it was 100 years ago.
Bostrom wrote:ArchGuy1 wrote:Hope they can make America's passenger train system like what it was 100 years ago.
Steam powered?
Bostrom wrote:ArchGuy1 wrote:Hope they can make America's passenger train system like what it was 100 years ago.
Steam powered?
DIRECTFLT wrote:Bostrom wrote:ArchGuy1 wrote:Hope they can make America's passenger train system like what it was 100 years ago.
Steam powered?
Wouldn't steam power be kinder to the environment, or, would it be worse??
ArchGuy1 wrote:Hope they can make America's passenger train system like what it was 100 years ago.
af773atmsp wrote:With "Amtrak Joe" now president, we'll see if the political climate will be more in Amtrak's favor and it can come out of the pandemic stronger than its ever been. I won't get my hopes up too high on that though, since Obama also promised to bring major changes to Amtrak that either didn't happen or were in reality very minor.
Wacker1000 wrote:af773atmsp wrote:With "Amtrak Joe" now president, we'll see if the political climate will be more in Amtrak's favor and it can come out of the pandemic stronger than its ever been. I won't get my hopes up too high on that though, since Obama also promised to bring major changes to Amtrak that either didn't happen or were in reality very minor.
Just because an aging socialist that remembers the glory days of American rail supports it, doesn't mean its a good idea. The fact that Amtrak is less profitable than an airline speaks to the lack of demand stemming from the lack of network. It will never get public support unless they can cost effectively turn it into a product that people actually want to use.
PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:af773atmsp wrote:With "Amtrak Joe" now president, we'll see if the political climate will be more in Amtrak's favor and it can come out of the pandemic stronger than its ever been. I won't get my hopes up too high on that though, since Obama also promised to bring major changes to Amtrak that either didn't happen or were in reality very minor.
Just because an aging socialist that remembers the glory days of American rail supports it, doesn't mean its a good idea. The fact that Amtrak is less profitable than an airline speaks to the lack of demand stemming from the lack of network. It will never get public support unless they can cost effectively turn it into a product that people actually want to use.
Are highways profitable? (hint look at the highway trust fund)
Wacker1000 wrote:PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:
Just because an aging socialist that remembers the glory days of American rail supports it, doesn't mean its a good idea. The fact that Amtrak is less profitable than an airline speaks to the lack of demand stemming from the lack of network. It will never get public support unless they can cost effectively turn it into a product that people actually want to use.
Are highways profitable? (hint look at the highway trust fund)
They serve a much greater percentage of the population and there is a demand for them. I cannot count the number of times I've used a federally funded highway this year but I can tell you how many Amtrak trains I've been on.
Wacker1000 wrote:af773atmsp wrote:With "Amtrak Joe" now president, we'll see if the political climate will be more in Amtrak's favor and it can come out of the pandemic stronger than its ever been. I won't get my hopes up too high on that though, since Obama also promised to bring major changes to Amtrak that either didn't happen or were in reality very minor.
Just because an aging socialist that remembers the glory days of American rail supports it, doesn't mean its a good idea. The fact that Amtrak is less profitable than an airline speaks to the lack of demand stemming from the lack of network. It will never get public support unless they can cost effectively turn it into a product that people actually want to use.
PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:PHLspecial wrote:Are highways profitable? (hint look at the highway trust fund)
They serve a much greater percentage of the population and there is a demand for them. I cannot count the number of times I've used a federally funded highway this year but I can tell you how many Amtrak trains I've been on.
I don't get why you care about profitability for Amtrak. Amtrak has a steady amount of growing users as well. Again why do care about profit if trains can move people. Are highways profitable?
ER757 wrote:The idea of a passenger rail system in the US is good but in practice it's neither convenient nor cost effective for lot of folks on a lot of routes. I'll just give you a personal example. I live in the southern suburbs of Seattle, my sister lives just north of Portland. Amtrak runs a train several times per day between Seattle and Portland. There's a station about five miles north of me where it stops, but the parking there is pretty much only for commuters on the local run from Tacoma to Seattle that makes a stop there. Closest station to my destination is downtown Portland and no one in their right mind relishes the drive north across the river. The train trip takes over three hours even on the rare occasion it runs on schedule. I can drive door to door in 2.5 hours max unless it's afternoon commute time through Tacoma (and Lord knows I'd never start a trip at that time of day). It's 165 miles and if I get 30 MPG (I actually get slightly better) that's 5 gallons of gas - even at $4.00 a gallon that's only $20 each way, It's a no brainer. No Earthly reason to take Amtrack
Wacker1000 wrote:PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:
They serve a much greater percentage of the population and there is a demand for them. I cannot count the number of times I've used a federally funded highway this year but I can tell you how many Amtrak trains I've been on.
I don't get why you care about profitability for Amtrak. Amtrak has a steady amount of growing users as well. Again why do care about profit if trains can move people. Are highways profitable?
Because I don't enjoy more of my paycheck going to ever increases taxes and nothing good coming of it. It is a massive money pit and those funds have plenty of other good uses.
Wacker1000 wrote:PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:
They serve a much greater percentage of the population and there is a demand for them. I cannot count the number of times I've used a federally funded highway this year but I can tell you how many Amtrak trains I've been on.
I don't get why you care about profitability for Amtrak. Amtrak has a steady amount of growing users as well. Again why do care about profit if trains can move people. Are highways profitable?
Because I don't enjoy more of my paycheck going to ever increases taxes and nothing good coming of it. It is a massive money pit and those funds have plenty of other good uses.
frmrCapCadet wrote:Upgrading RR tracks does not just help the admittedly marginal passenger trains, it also improves freight trains economics. That freight traffic is an essential part of US transportation, and given improvements could do even better.
af773atmsp wrote:frmrCapCadet wrote:Upgrading RR tracks does not just help the admittedly marginal passenger trains, it also improves freight trains economics. That freight traffic is an essential part of US transportation, and given improvements could do even better.
Exactly. The freight railroads have cut a lot of track capacity since they began hurting from competition by highways (which I would like to point out were a government investment). They've cut so much capacity that now they're probably regretting turning some double-track mainlines into single-track and abandoning certain routes. Since the freight railroads probably won't pay for it themselves unless their traffic is bursting at the seams, then pushing for those improvements alongside increased passenger rail is the next best thing.
Wacker1000 wrote:PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:
They serve a much greater percentage of the population and there is a demand for them. I cannot count the number of times I've used a federally funded highway this year but I can tell you how many Amtrak trains I've been on.
I don't get why you care about profitability for Amtrak. Amtrak has a steady amount of growing users as well. Again why do care about profit if trains can move people. Are highways profitable?
Because I don't enjoy more of my paycheck going to ever increases taxes and nothing good coming of it. It is a massive money pit and those funds have plenty of other good uses.
ArchGuy1 wrote:Hope they can make America's passenger train system like what it was 100 years ago.
Wacker1000 wrote:PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:
They serve a much greater percentage of the population and there is a demand for them. I cannot count the number of times I've used a federally funded highway this year but I can tell you how many Amtrak trains I've been on.
I don't get why you care about profitability for Amtrak. Amtrak has a steady amount of growing users as well. Again why do care about profit if trains can move people. Are highways profitable?
Because I don't enjoy more of my paycheck going to ever increases taxes and nothing good coming of it. It is a massive money pit and those funds have plenty of other good uses.
PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:PHLspecial wrote:I don't get why you care about profitability for Amtrak. Amtrak has a steady amount of growing users as well. Again why do care about profit if trains can move people. Are highways profitable?
Because I don't enjoy more of my paycheck going to ever increases taxes and nothing good coming of it. It is a massive money pit and those funds have plenty of other good uses.
Looks at the airline industry who just got 50 billion dollars. Who also got bailed out after 9/11. Remember airliners private companies as well. Look at the essential air service program. Is that a waste of money as well? Not much flying demand from the small communities as well.
Amtrak serves to connect people like airliners do. To call Amtrak a waste sad. Both Amtrak and the essential air service program help keep communities connected to the rest of the U.S.
PHLspecial wrote:Wacker1000 wrote:PHLspecial wrote:I don't get why you care about profitability for Amtrak. Amtrak has a steady amount of growing users as well. Again why do care about profit if trains can move people. Are highways profitable?
Because I don't enjoy more of my paycheck going to ever increases taxes and nothing good coming of it. It is a massive money pit and those funds have plenty of other good uses.
Looks at the airline industry who just got 50 billion dollars. Who also got bailed out after 9/11. Remember airliners private companies as well. Look at the essential air service program. Is that a waste of money as well? Not much flying demand from the small communities as well.
Amtrak serves to connect people like airliners do. To call Amtrak a waste sad. Both Amtrak and the essential air service program help keep communities connected to the rest of the U.S.