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AMTRAK, LONG-DISTANCE TRAINS, AND CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING

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[quote user="South Texas"] Suppose that to talk about Amtrak deficit funding, we talked about the source of the funding, the Congress. Suppose we suggested Congress concentrate only on long-term policy for long-distance trains, and that such planning allow inclusion of sleeping accommodations, dining services, and checked baggage services. Under such a plan and with plenty of advance notice, Amtrak would lose Congressional funding for regional trains, but could operate as many long-distance trains as it wished with as many frequencies as it wished, provided that the train routes each be over a certain length (presumably a minimum in the 500-750 miles range), and that Congress will fund the deficit, not to exceed a fixed amount per passenger mile or a fixed percentage of the annual loss on that train, whichever is less. The numbers would be intended to encourage long-term moderate growth of the system, but deliberately filter out over time the least financially viable routes. I would take the deal. [/quote] Not to be picky, but the Congress appropriates and authorizes funding.  It uses the people's money to pay for whatever it deems appropriate. The long distance trains are not viable financially under any reasonable scenario. I track the numbers for the three Amtrak trains that serve Texas. From 2009 to 2012 the Eagle saw an 11.9 per cent increase in its loss per passenger mile, and the Heartland Flyer saw an increase of 63.4 per cent in its loss per passenger mile. The Sunset Limited saw an 8.1 per cent decrease in its loss per passenger mile. However, its loss (49.9 cents per passenger mile) in FY12 helped it retain its status as the worst performing train in the long distance stable. A coach ticket on the Sunset Limited on August 28th or September 4th or September 11th from New Orleans to Los Angeles is $163.  The subsidy would be $995.50 per passenger. This means the passenger pays only 14.1 per cent of the cost of carrying her from New Orleans to Los Angeles on the Sunset Limited.
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