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Hassles of Air Travel Push Passengers to Amtrak

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<p>[quote user="NittanyLion"]</p> <p>[quote user="ontheBNSF"]</p> <p>Enough with the Amtrak has to be profitable crap</p> <div style="clear:both;">[/quote]</div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="clear:both;">That's my sentiment.  Government operations exist to provide security and services to their citizenry.  Amtrak doesn't make money.  So what?  Neither does the DoD, FAA, NASA, the National Parks, NIH, or anything else.  USPS is bleeding money like it has hemorrhagic fever and people are fighting tool and nail for it.  Amtrak's a public service that enough taxpayers want and that's that.  I think WMATA is horribly managed and will never make a profit, but I accept that as the reality of the situation.  Instead, I complain about the terrible service they provide because that is something that can be altered.  Profitability is not a requirement for a government sponsored operation.  Its a device to improve the viability of an area as an economic center. [/quote]</div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="clear:both;">None of the federal agencies that you cite are commercial enterprises. I don't know anyone who has suggested that they should earn a profit, although the FAA, National Parks, and USPS cover most or a significant portion of their costs via user fees.</div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="clear:both;">Amtrak is a commercial enterprise.  It competes with commercial airlines and commercial bus companies for passengers. It also competes with automobiles, which are not commercial activities.  </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="clear:both;">Why should commercial air and commercial bus operators be expected to cover their costs through their fare structure and earn a return for their shareholders whilst Amtrak is given a pass?  </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="clear:both;">No commercial operator should be supported directly by the government. Subsidies should be eliminated and each mode should be placed on a level platform.  Any government sponsored infrastructure required to support commercial transport operators should be paid for by the users in proportion to their usage. If the country took this stance, with some of the changes that I have advocated, passenger rail could possibly compete in a few relatively short, high density corridors.</div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="clear:both;">As to the argument that the taxpayers want it, they certainly don't show it by their arms length transaction decisions.  Less than one per cent of Americans choose the train for intercity travel, which is defined as a trip between two cities that are located at least 50 miles apart.</div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="clear:both;">I like trains. I ride them frequently. But I don't think that they should be treated any differently from any other commercial enterprise.</div>
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