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Larry: You like asking questions but giving no answers! <g> To put a slightly finer point on it, Amtrak was doomed because of the big lie- as you said- that it could make money *running passenger trains on routes selected for political purposes* where the private rrs couldn't. Do you really think Amtrak is dead tho? Dontcha think that congress will keep it limping along just so they don't have to really do anything about it? BTW I titled this forum PASSENGER TRAINS, not Amtrak, just for the reason you point out- that they are not one in the same topic. IF Amtrak DID die, only THEN would we have the debate you talk of. Before then, we are just the crackpots and the status qou is holy. Auto trains would be a great idea, which would make passenger service more attractive. That, and a comprehensive terminal established at all major points, where you could actually rent a car! Leave commute trains out: these are local issues. Intercity is the most likely- high speed aint gonna happen for a long time, if ever, but one thing that ought to happen in that feild is the FRA and the AAR need to develop safety standards for it so that private investment is possible at last. After all, the Texas TGV and Fox both went under because they could get no financing without first getting safety ratings from the previous Administration. I still believe that we (taxpayers) should not pay a dime for ops, only for capital improvements. So if we need to build a new interstate system for rail.... flying junctions, superelevated curvature, quadruple track, full grade seperation, Positive Train Control, Electrification, (doesn't this sound a lot like NYC or Pennsy of 1938?) Then fine. But I don't want to pay for your ticket to ride it.
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