Yes this another anti-Amtrak article full of CRAP! Competition? Well, seems to me, over thirty years ago we HAD competition amongst the railroads in the passenger business. Whoa, did somebody say "COMPETITION?" For one minor example in the East, Seaboard Air Line RR and Atlantic Coastline RR competed down to the wire on who had the fastest service between NYC/Northeast and the vacation lands of Florida! The "automobile" in my opinion, was primarily the cause of the doom to passenger rail service. And then the airlines came into play. Both of those infrastructures are heavily subsidized! During that time, most of the railroads who operated passenger service were able to OFFSET their "losses" with the revenue of their freight service! By the time Amtrak was created, most of the railroads were no longer able to afford to run passenger trains without going under in the long run. Notice the key word "losses!" Passenger rail loses money on the bottom line, period! There is no getting around that! THIS is the REASON WHY Amtrak was CREATED in the FIRST PLACE!!!! As a bailout for the railroads. Therefore, they were relieved of that money losing responsibilty. Any passenger rail infrastructure, if it is going to work properly, must be properly funded. Otherwise, the costs would be so much higher, and of course they will passed on to the consumer. If not funded (subsidized) at all, fares would be so out of reach, most members of the traveling public couldn't even think of using the service! Hell, fares are high enough now!
David Gunn has been honest as honest can be! Basically speaking, he has informed the members of our government (Congress); you created this company (Amtrak- National RR Passenger Corp)! Now either "fund" it, or we will have no choice but to shut it down! If Congress does not get off its tail and do something, then THIS is a very REAL possibilty! So folks, write your congressman, and if they don't perform then we should elect those who will! In other words we still have to send the message! So Amtrak's REAL problems will in the long run, be up to Congress!!! Mr. Gunn has stated if they follow through and give Amtrak what it deserves, then he will be able to work wonders. Amtrak has the abilty to operate a good, top-notch passenger rail infrastructure! It needs more resources! And it needs to happen soon before it gets too late. BTW Amtrak has a new "business plan," and looks to me as if it IS getting "some" overhaul! That's better than nothin' at all!
I loveD this quote in that "stupid" article! It speaks for itself!
"But the central question is how Amtrak performs as a national transportation system. Its federal funding is marginal and so is its service."
hmmmm "and so is it's service"
WELL IT SEEMS TO ME, YA GET WHAT YA PAY FOR!!!!
h34r: :blink: