Here is an interesting Amtrak Table Cover from 1979, when the first gas price problems were starting.
Maybe they need to re-use this idea in their advertising.
Maybe they need to re-use this idea in their advertising.
Rant on Patrick. You're making perfect sense to me. Now we have to get Congress to buy into a dose of reality. If you can't afford $5 a gallon gas for your car you start hunting real quick for cheaper alternatives. As you stated I just hope that Amtrak can handle the masses because they're almost at the gate.Great graphic, MrFSS. Thanks!
But '79 wasn't the first problem with gas prices. There was the OPEC embargo in the wake of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
Now it seems like the good old days, but people back then were panicked at the prospect of a buck a gallon.
I agree that Amtrak should jump all over fuel prices as a marketing tool. The potential rub is whether Amtrak is prepared and able to handle the surge in ridership that I believe is surely coming. After all, fuel prices aren't gonna decline, except for minor fluctuations. Only gonna go up from here on in. A dwindling resource and growing global demand make higher prices a virtual certainty, and the political pandering of proposals for a "gas tax holiday" does nothing to alter the basic facts. A cheap sop for votes.
In my not-so-humble opinion, gas SHOULD be expensive. People will think twice before hopping into the Hummer to drive around the block for a quart of milk, and the potential benefits of reduced consumption are too numerous to list here.
One of those benefits - germane to this forum - could be that there will be increasing pressure to fund Amtrak in a manner that will allow it to meet increased demand.
Sorry for the rant, folks.
I gather that Hummer owners generally fall into one of two categories:In my not-so-humble opinion, gas SHOULD be expensive. People will think twice before hopping into the Hummer to drive around the block for a quart of milk, and the potential benefits of reduced consumption are too numerous to list here.
And another thing... :lol:Rant on Patrick.
A long commute would likely mitigate the main environmental benefits of the hybrid.The batteries in the hybrids also have a limited lifespan and aren't cheap to replace. Given the extra envrionmental costs in manufacturing the hybrid cars, they probably are really only beneficial for people who absolutely positively must have long commutes and who can't move closer to their jobs.
Only if you first take the SWC to get there! :lol:And another thing... :lol:Rant on Patrick.
It's good to see people discussing these issues, but shame on abqdave for the Dodge Charger. Can I take it for a spin?
While I don't recall the backlog situation, I did test-drive a Civic around that time. I was driving a Mercury Marquis wagon. Talk about a tank! And a guzzler. You could punch it and watch the fuel needle go down. But the Civic was a rinky-dink little box at the time, and unacceptable. Bought a VW Bug instead. Soon all my friends had Bugs, and we would work on them together, then go driving on the freeway in formation. Total FUN!And Patrick, do you also remember the backlogs of orders for about the smallest car available in 1973, the Honda Civic?
You pay extra to help fund wind power projects. The power to your house is the same power as that to your neighbor's house and has the same energy source mix. There is no way to direct some electrons here and others there. The suggestion made by "green power" initiatives that buyer's somehow get different power is misleading....I pay extra for 90% wind power to my house,
All Congress really has to do is divert some of the billions spent for highway widening to rail improvements.The price of gas is certainly having an effect on lifestyles. I see Hummers parked for extensive periods of time - much more than in the past. My real hope is that Congress will develop some backbone and mandate MUCH higher fuel efficiency standards for all vehicles in this country. Not just the lukewarm increases they have so far managed to get past the oil and U.S. vehicle manufacturer's lobbyists.
While more could be done, the suggestion that no money earmarked for highway projects is diverted to rail is not correct. $7.8 billion of the Highway Trust Fund (Federal gas tax) is allocated to transit projects, including rail, in FY 2008. Amtrak is not included in Transit funding, but NEC improvements are included through funding supplied to Amtrak by NJ Transit, SEPTA, and other transit agencies that use the Corridor. The transit funding of the Corridor is substantial. For example, Amtrak's cost to operate, maintain, and improve the New Jersey portion of the NEC is 67% paid by NJ Transit. Amtrak only pays 1/3 of the cost for the NEC in New Jersey.All Congress really has to do is divert some of the billions spent for highway widening to rail improvements.The price of gas is certainly having an effect on lifestyles. I see Hummers parked for extensive periods of time - much more than in the past. My real hope is that Congress will develop some backbone and mandate MUCH higher fuel efficiency standards for all vehicles in this country. Not just the lukewarm increases they have so far managed to get past the oil and U.S. vehicle manufacturer's lobbyists.
More cars and straighter tracks could be ready in less time than adding lanes to our freeways.
People will leave the cars at home once trains are convenient and fast. They did that 50-60 years ago,
when roads were bad and trains were reliable.
But Congress won't do that, because that would only be in the public interest.
And as we all know "the public" doesn't wine and dine Congresspersons, nor does it send them on all-expenses-paid
"fact finding" tours of Bermuda golf clubs, etc.
Interesting. I think it all boils down to this: People hate people.For a summary of the hate Amtrak holds in the eys of many who consider this subject...
http://www.reason.com/blog/show/122384.html
But of course, highways (either Interstates or "Main Street" or "____ Road") or airlines (including airports, ATC and the FAA) require NO government funding at all!The service has never been out of the red since its start in 1971, meaning it must rely on government handouts year after year.
But of course, highways (either Interstates or "Main Street" or "____ Road") or airlines (including airports, ATC and the FAA) require NO government funding at all!The service has never been out of the red since its start in 1971, meaning it must rely on government handouts year after year.
This is indeed very true. The biggest gains in full hybrids like Prius is when you operate it for medium trips at medium speeds with lot of start and stop, i.e. local driving.A long commute would likely mitigate the main environmental benefits of the hybrid.The batteries in the hybrids also have a limited lifespan and aren't cheap to replace. Given the extra envrionmental costs in manufacturing the hybrid cars, they probably are really only beneficial for people who absolutely positively must have long commutes and who can't move closer to their jobs.
Hybrid owners see the huge gains in gas performance when they're using the battery more. IIRC, the battery is used to help the vehicle accelerate from stops. The battery is charged when the vehicle brakes.
That's true, although if the freeway is stop and go traffic jam kind of traffic then there is big gain due to the battery.If you're on a long commute, you're likely on a freeway. Unless it's rush hour, you're maintaining a level rate of speed without stopping or starting. So, no battery = no big gains in gas economy.
The easiest way to achieve that is to electrify the line and use equipment with regenerative braking capability. Storing those enormous amounts of energy on board for reuse is a bit of a hassle and adds a lot of weight.Here's my far-out idea of the day -- what if they somehow utilized hybrid technology on commuter rail lines? It might be far-fetched, but stopping vehicles that big would surely generate a decent amount of energy that could be used somehow.
I'm well aware that I'm highly razzable. This is not to be confused with irascible, but I can be that too, so watch it.Patrick, You're easy to razz.
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