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[quote user="Andy Cummings"] Two other notes on this story. Note how the reporter sets up this paragraph: If CSX were to advocate for high-speed rail, he said, “it’s then ‘why aren’t you donating part of your infrastructure to that?’ which I can’t do and be true to my obligation to my shareholders.” TRAINS readers should be able to spot the problem here from a mile away. Of course CSX isn't going to "advocate" for high speed rail, nor is any other freight railroad. As Ward says, they're in the business of moving freight and providing for their shareholders. Ward saying he won't advocate high speed rail and saying he's opposed to high speed rail are two different questions. They're somewhat blurred all throughout this article. <div style="clear:both;"></div> [/quote]  <o:p></o:p> I don’t see what you mean when you suggest that the reporter set up this paragraph (I added emphasis in blue).  When I read it, I assume that except for the words, “he said,” the entire three lines were said by Mr. Ward.  It does seem rather awkwardly written because it is quoted as spoken, and spontaneous speaking is sometimes rather cryptic in its word structure.   <o:p></o:p> When I read the three lines, this is how I interpret him:  <o:p></o:p> He is saying that he is not advocating for HSR because if he were advocating for HSR, then it would follow that he should be willing to donate part of his infrastructure to HSR.  He is not willing to do that because he uses his infrastructure to make money and passenger trains don’t make money.  <o:p></o:p> I can only think of three reasons why people oppose HSR and/or refrain from advocating HSR:  <o:p></o:p> 1)      They oppose the public spending for it. 2)      They don’t want trains running next to their house or on  their hiking corridors. 3)      They run a private freight railroad, and don’t want to reduce its profitability by sharing their infrastructure with a government-run passenger operation.  <o:p></o:p> I speculate that Mr. Ward is not opposed to HSR for reasons #1 and #2, but is opposed to HSR for reason #3 to the extent that it pertains to his railroad.
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