Siegmund
Lead Service Attendant
This question managed to not come up for 45 years... but, at least in some versions of the accounting (and this ISNT a thread about what way to do the accounting) the Virginia service more than covers its own costs.
If that happens - does the "subsidy" become $0 and Amtrak pockets the profit? Does the profit get split? Does the profit belong entirely to the state? Can Amtrak decide it wants to run those trains on its own and refuse to renew whatever deal it has with the state?
There's always been that note in the timetable that state-supported trains "are subject to discontinuance if the state withdraws its support" - but a train that was profitable, it seems, wouldn't be.
Incidentally, re VA, one suspects that the claim that the service is financially viable is at least close to true, in light of the new deal that was announced.
If that happens - does the "subsidy" become $0 and Amtrak pockets the profit? Does the profit get split? Does the profit belong entirely to the state? Can Amtrak decide it wants to run those trains on its own and refuse to renew whatever deal it has with the state?
There's always been that note in the timetable that state-supported trains "are subject to discontinuance if the state withdraws its support" - but a train that was profitable, it seems, wouldn't be.
Incidentally, re VA, one suspects that the claim that the service is financially viable is at least close to true, in light of the new deal that was announced.