Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by morseman To all those who suggest privatizing Amtrak I suggest they look at all other countries and their passenger rail systems HIGH speed trains, Frequent service, Up to date equipment, dedicated tracks, maintenance facilities, I'm sure the list could go on and on. All other countries realize the importance of passenger rail and appropriate funding for same. I say all other countries, perhaps this is a blanket statement but what other largely populated country undercuts and attempts to disolve its passenger trains as the U>S> [/quote] You must remember though that all those other countries have rail systems that are either government owned and/or open access. They also have tax policies that discourage the use of private vehicles, such as gas taxes that are far above what is needed for transportation infrastructure maintenance. They use most of their gas taxes for their general budgets. Although taken as a matter of fact, the concept of "no money making passenger trains" has not truly been tested. A private rail passenger operation would have to conform to any other business model, e.g. provide a product or service that people will pay for at a price that exceeds the cost of providing that service. If indeed there are viable rail passenger corridors, ones in which it is more beneficial for the traveller to take a passenger train than it is to either fly or drive, then that rail passenger service should be able to make money. If the costs of maintaining a rail right of way was equalized with the costs of highway and airport maintenance, who's to say a private rail passenger service could not make a go of it?
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag