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Amtrak funding
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Elvis, <br /> <br />Sorry for the delay. I got kinda busy. I'm sure you know how it goes. Your math looks OK based on our assumptions, mainly that an express train has to earn $320k or more to 'earn its keep.' Your conclusion that sleeper service might make it and that coach probably can't is right along with what I have been saying all along. The economic conditions necessary to support passenger rail don't exist in the US right now. <br /> <br />Another fellow is proclaiming that an HSR network with the real fast trainset can make money, at least enough to cover the operating costs (what is that BTW, the fuel, crew, and engine maintanence?). I don't think so because it assumes there are enough people wanting to go to the same destination from the same point of origin and they all want to leave at about the same time. I don't think this is valid. The reason I think this is because the airlines can't fill a plane (in most cases) to go from one point to another and a plane holds far fewer people. That is why they use the 'hub system'. A plane load of Delta passengers leaves one location to go to a hub where they are placed on another flight to their destination. Both planes fly at near capacity. It is the ability of the airlines to shuffle passengers at the hub that allows them to make a profit. FedEx does the same thing. <br /> <br />If you translate that into the rail model, you can never get costs and travel times down where they are attractive. The result is that you have to only provide service on the prime routes. This leaves out a vast majority of the country. And this is why I object to the funding comming from the Federal Government. The system that operates at a near break even level provides service to a fraction of the citizens. The system that provides service to everyone loses money hand over fist. And this proposal still wants to take the cost of the roadbed off the books. <br /> <br />This is why I think the people who benifit from a successful Amtrak should bear the costs. It appears to me that it may be able to work in the NEC where commuter service can be provided and the cars will run with plenty of passengers. And if the NEC states want to form a regional authority to work this out with Amtrak then I can live with that. But I don't think it is wise or moral to waste money operating Amtrak at a loss. If it is moral to waste money like this in one industry, why not others? I'm not saying that money isn't being wasted in other industries, I'm just saying it isn't right. And Amtrak appears to be among the worste. <br /> <br />Nice chatting with you. - Roy
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