re: amtrak

[Anonymous]

I will probably touch some sensitive political nerves here, but I'm just adding my two cents to a tenuous issue stateside.
It seems a bit of a paradox, Amtrak; at first glance, people would tell you Republicans hate it as a piece of "big government" and want it eliminated, and Democrats want to keep it. Yet maybe it's just me, but railfanning just seems like something that would more appeal to conservative types, as keystone of our nation's power and prosperity. Since many seem to believe that the glory days of the train are over, the hobby would seems to me to appeal more to particularly cultural conservatives.
But I will admit I am sort of a "black-and-white" person at heart, and just feel that some things appeal to certain segments of the population. For instance, Japanese animation and comic books are said to be the domain of mostly male, well-educated, high school and college students, and also liberal. I am also a fan of Japanese animation and regularly visit another anime-related messageboard. Although the male-female ratio there is about even (perhaps with even more females), most of them seem to be rather well-educated and, ahem, liberal. (Not all, of course, but most.)
I consider myself mostly moderate liberal, but I do not have a totally visceral, irrational hatred of conservative people. In the end, yes, I feel Amtrak is a troubled, yet necessary portion of our transportation infrastructure. Some organizational changes could, and should, be made, such as in how the trains are run. (Perhaps two trains a day should be run down the major corridors, so that certain cities such as Toledo and Cleveland on the Lake Shore Limited or Phoenix on the Sunset are not served in the dead of night.) If Amtrak were taken away, especially in the Northeast, airfares would go through the roof since one other transportation alternative would simply vanish.
I guess I meant for the first half of this post to point out that it seems quite a bit of a paradox to me that the people who most support Amtrak seem to not be the ones you would think of when you think of railfanning. And vice versa.

I dunno, I just haven't met many young railfans (I'm 21). And maybe it's because I live in a largely conservative area, but I've always been afraid to ask about the politics of local historians and fellow railfans. I've always been afraid I'd lose some good friends.

[Anonymous]

I got in trouble last time I posted against the republicans, I'm an independent. I don't think Amtrak is going anywhere. I mean that in both ways. The gov't will never fund it to its needs, plus the govt will never dissolve it. Amtrak is stuck in limbo forever.

My biggest beef is the amount that airlines and truckers get via federal funding for highways and airports and Amtrak get left behind.

[espeefoamer]

I am a conservative,but support Amtrak.I believe that if the government would adaquatly fund Amtrak we could have a world class rail system.I do not hold out any hope of ever seeing this happen.

[jchnhtfd]

Politically? Indescribably mixed up. Royalist, fundamentally... but you guys are right on...

[Anonymous]

Just visited the AAR website and saw Amtrak results for November.

Carried over 2 million passengers which is up 11.7% from 2002. All
long distance trains were up in double digits.

They must be doing something right !!!

[Anonymous]

I wonder how many politicians from either party support Amtrak by actually riding the trains on a regular basis. I suspect only a handful actually do, and that's probably a generous 'guestimate'. It's ironic that none of the politicians wants to speak too loudly about actually slaughtering Amtrak, yet they b*tch and moan about what it will cost to keep it on life-support--and giving it a last minute reprieve. Pity Mr. Dunn; what's he to do when faced with two-faced monsters across the table? I'd like to tell the boys in D. C. to put up or shut up. This bickering year after fiscal year has grown tiresome.

RIDE THE TRAINS--AND GIVE YOUR CARS A BREAK, AMERICA![soapbox]

[daveklepper]

My comment is on the High Speed Rail entry. Summary: Stop spending money on fuel cell and Hydrogen research and put that money into more 125 mph practical corridors outside the NE Corridor. Dave

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SuperChiefFan

I wonder how many politicians from either party support Amtrak by actually riding the trains on a regular basis. I suspect only a handful actually do, and that's probably a generous 'guestimate'. It's ironic that none of the politicians wants to speak too loudly about actually slaughtering Amtrak, yet they b*tch and moan about what it will cost to keep it on life-support--and giving it a last minute reprieve. Pity Mr. Dunn; what's he to do when faced with two-faced monsters across the table? I'd like to tell the boys in D. C. to put up or shut up. This bickering year after fiscal year has grown tiresome.

RIDE THE TRAINS--AND GIVE YOUR CARS A BREAK, AMERICA![soapbox]

I know that all the DE politicans (Biden, Carper and Castle) ride the Acela to DC to commute. I was also in the local Amtrak station when Lieberman arrived to campaign.

[Supermicha]

The problem is like everywhere the money. But its everytime the same. In my opinion, no big railroad co., which rides only passenger trains, can exist for there own. The german railroad subdivision for passenger transport needs more then 10 billions a year from the gouverment, the freight subdidvision has a lot of money over. The best form of a state passenger railway is the half-private version i think, so the state has a chance to control.

Micha

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by talbanese

QUOTE: Originally posted by SuperChiefFan

I wonder how many politicians from either party support Amtrak by actually riding the trains on a regular basis. I suspect only a handful actually do, and that's probably a generous 'guestimate'. It's ironic that none of the politicians wants to speak too loudly about actually slaughtering Amtrak, yet they b*tch and moan about what it will cost to keep it on life-support--and giving it a last minute reprieve. Pity Mr. Dunn; what's he to do when faced with two-faced monsters across the table? I'd like to tell the boys in D. C. to put up or shut up. This bickering year after fiscal year has grown tiresome.

RIDE THE TRAINS--AND GIVE YOUR CARS A BREAK, AMERICA![soapbox]

I know that all the DE politicans (Biden, Carper and Castle) ride the Acela to DC to commute. I was also in the local Amtrak station when Lieberman arrived to campaign.

Really now...well that's cool. Very cool. That's enough to make me pack my backs and move to Delaware! I applaud Biden, Carper & Castle. I wonder what their individual impressions are of ACELA service? If it's positive, I would hope they'd use whatever influence they wield to encourage the addition of other high-speed rail corridors in other parts of the country. [:)]