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I agree with you up to a point. Nevertheless I do see a need to trim some fat, especially in parts of the West where there isn't enough population to support a profit. I am of the opinion that high speed trains (150-190 mph) will work well along the east coast, to the midwest, down to Texas, and in California. Possibly even earning a profit at least operationally. I could see a line in the future to the Denver area east of the Rockies, but I do not see in my crystal ball high speed lines thru the mountain passes. I have ridden the California Zephyr, there are 37 tunnels west of Denver. The trains Amtrak operates out west, except for California, are all big money losers, and always will be. As long as the states of Washington and Oregon support the Cascades trains, I would keep them in operation. The Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, and even the Sunset Limited west of San Antonio as far as I am concerned can be eliminated. All of these trainsets would be better used offering more frequency for the Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, the Capitol Limited, the Cardinal, and the Sunset Limited east of San Antonio. I have done a state study of population which showed that almost 240 million of America's 280 million live in the states that Amtrak should operate in and with more frequency.... As I stated before Amtrak should eliminate the transcontinentals and should concentrate on building high speed rail east of Rockies to cities of at least 5 million in metropolitan population. For example these cities should be linked by high speed rail first, that is over 5 million in metropolitan population: Boston, New York City, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington-Baltimore, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa-St.Pete, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, St Louis, Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland. Not to mention San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. Then we should connect to the cities with a metropolian area of more than 2 million: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver, Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, and Phoenix. Some would place the Piedmont area of North Carolina into the mix. After we have accomplished this, we would have a very good high speed rail system. A lot of cities too many to list would be included just by being along the routes connecting to these large metropolitan areas. The total population along the routes of cities more than 200,000 (there are 97 of these) add up to 180 million. There are a lot of cities smaller than 200,000 (there are hundreds and thousands) along these routes or within 50 miles of these routes. It will be less than the state level 240 million but much higher than the city level of 180 million, My guess is around 220 million.....linked by high speed rail. Distance, less than 8,000 miles @ 15 million per mile (Florida's numbers)=$120 billion....
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