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Amtrak's FY 2008 Key Performance Numbers

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[quote user="Phoebe Vet"] Sam: I guess I phrased it carelessly.  I did not intend to say the numbers are irrelevant.  I meant to say that they should not be the sole determining factor in the decision making process.  For example, when a train makes 10 stops over the course of it's trip, it is not reasonable to expect that every seat will be full for the entire trip, nor is it reasonable to expect that the correct number of seats can be assigned to every train.  There will seldom be a train that meets the pure number derived goal of at or near capacity unless you sometimes have to leave people behind.  Nor should capacity utilization be determined by how many passengers ride from origin to final destination without considering the utilization among intermediate stops.  To use a train that is important to me, Many of the intermediate stops on the Piedmont's route are not served by scheduled air service. I am well aware that those benefits the europeans enjoy are paid for by their taxes, but I believe that the community as a whole benefits when everyone who is capable can go to college, not just those who can afford it, and that the community as a whole is served when health care is not a sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of the huge number of Americans who cannot afford health insurance.  I believe that mass transit falls into that catagory as well.  Our taxes pay for many things we do not personally use, and I'm fine with that. [/quote]   Presenting the results of Amtrak's operations is not a value statement.  It is a results statement.  If society wants to hoist passenger railroad trains, or anything else for that matter, it has the right to do so.  But those who sponsor it and support it should be aware of the costs.  Amtrak has 26 State Supported and Other Short Distance Corridor Trains.  Included in these is the Piedmont, which has an average load factor of 43.2 per cent.  Interestingly, the average load factor for these short distance trains is 43.9 per cent.  Although they may from time to time be chockers, with these relatively low numbers, it does not happen very often.  Collectively these trains lost $117.5 million in FY 2008 before interest and depreciation.  Only three of them covered their operating expenses. If I lived in North Carolina, I would support passenger rail service between Charlotte and Raleigh.  But I would insist that it cover its operating costs, and I would further make sure that the taxpayers knew how much they are paying for it. I am amazed at the number of  passenger rail supporters who don't know how much trains cost or how dismally they perform in the market place, which is the best method for allocating scarce economic resources, especially for commercial activities.  I am also amazed at the number of people, including those at NARP, who cherry pick the positive numbers, i.e. increase in number of riders, revenues, etc. without presenting both sides of the ledger.  Which I have done consistently!
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