-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
QUOTE: Originally posted by Dunkirkeriestation If I remember right there are a least 100 or more Federal Programs that get more then a Billion dollers of Aid. "The Catolog of Federal Domestic Assitance lists thousands of programs that get money from the Feds" So why keep picking on Amtrak? Is it because the NEO conservitives hate any thing that is even remotely Communistic? I mean that have a national system of transportation that everyone can afford is too much like welfare(Socialism!). The fact here is that Airline Lobbyists hate Amtrak because many people who have the time when there on vacation would rather Ride the train or take the bus. When someone else is footing the bill such as there company that work for then of course they have to fly. The Airlines lost 23,000,000 people or more to Amtrak and Buses last year. If amtrak was gone they would have a unrestricted monpoly.
QUOTE: All Amtrak riders are would-be flyers? Really? How so? What about driving?
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Quentin
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd QUOTE: Originally posted by Dunkirkeriestation If I remember right there are a least 100 or more Federal Programs that get more then a Billion dollers of Aid. "The Catolog of Federal Domestic Assitance lists thousands of programs that get money from the Feds" So why keep picking on Amtrak? Is it because the NEO conservitives hate any thing that is even remotely Communistic? I mean that have a national system of transportation that everyone can afford is too much like welfare(Socialism!). The fact here is that Airline Lobbyists hate Amtrak because many people who have the time when there on vacation would rather Ride the train or take the bus. When someone else is footing the bill such as there company that work for then of course they have to fly. The Airlines lost 23,000,000 people or more to Amtrak and Buses last year. If amtrak was gone they would have a unrestricted monpoly. The airline lobbyists hate Amtrak? Really? Which ones? All Amtrak riders are would-be flyers? Really? How so? What about driving? Airlines are a monopoly? Which one? Delta or American? USAir? United? Are you trying to make the case that a billion isn't too much to spend for what we get from Amtrak? If so, I'm not sure your talking points line up well with your arguement. In your opinion, why do we have Amtrak? What is Amtrak's mission?
QUOTE: Originally posted by DSchmitt What is the justification for publically owned transportation services? Until the mid 1900's, transportation was provided by private enterprise in most of the country.
QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623 QUOTE: Originally posted by DSchmitt What is the justification for publically owned transportation services? Until the mid 1900's, transportation was provided by private enterprise in most of the country. Dschmitt, You are sort of answering the question. Private companies weren't making it and were going bankrupt or eliminating services. Hence the reason amtrak was formed. Shrek
QUOTE: Originally posted by shrek623 QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd QUOTE: Originally posted by Dunkirkeriestation If I remember right there are a least 100 or more Federal Programs that get more then a Billion dollers of Aid. "The Catolog of Federal Domestic Assitance lists thousands of programs that get money from the Feds" So why keep picking on Amtrak? Is it because the NEO conservitives hate any thing that is even remotely Communistic? I mean that have a national system of transportation that everyone can afford is too much like welfare(Socialism!). The fact here is that Airline Lobbyists hate Amtrak because many people who have the time when there on vacation would rather Ride the train or take the bus. When someone else is footing the bill such as there company that work for then of course they have to fly. The Airlines lost 23,000,000 people or more to Amtrak and Buses last year. If amtrak was gone they would have a unrestricted monpoly. The airline lobbyists hate Amtrak? Really? Which ones? All Amtrak riders are would-be flyers? Really? How so? What about driving? Airlines are a monopoly? Which one? Delta or American? USAir? United? Are you trying to make the case that a billion isn't too much to spend for what we get from Amtrak? If so, I'm not sure your talking points line up well with your arguement. In your opinion, why do we have Amtrak? What is Amtrak's mission? oltmannd, So is it our government's best interest then to throw millions of dollars at numerous airlines that are far more mismanaged than amtrak is? Your idea that these 23 million people would be driving instead of flying is insane. If you were traveling from somewhere in Washington (State) to somewhere in Illinois by train, and then that train were taken away, you would drive a car as your next option? People use trains and planes for a similar purpose on many levels, one of which is speed of travel, ease of travel, and comfort. Greyhound is also similar in these catagories except for speed of travel. If people have a choice they will usually choose those modes of travel for those reasons. I think the airlines would LOVE IT if amtrak were practically eliminated. Those 23 million would have to find some other way to travel and you can bet many of them would fly. If the airlines had even 2 million of these switch to flying it would help them incredibly. I can think of many areas of government that should be overhauled or eliminated before cutting amtrak funding. Shrek
QUOTE: Originally posted by CopCarSS QUOTE: All Amtrak riders are would-be flyers? Really? How so? What about driving? I agree...the airline industry need not fear Amtrak. Having traveled both quite a bit between Denver and Chicago, I can assure you that the marketplace is completely different. I'm always one of the rare individuals on the train that contemplated flying on each trip. Generally each person on the train wants to be on the train. The problem with Amtrak is that they've been given a long time to make themselves profitable, and have yet to do so. I'm not necessarily sure that its Amtrak's fault, either. Supporters are always quick to point out the success of trains in Europe, and elsewhere. It's a different place, and a different situation for Europe, though, and I don't think it's a fair comparison. The best way to make Amtrak profitable would be to change the American mentality about travel. I think the government is actually doing their best at this right now through the TSA. I can not tell you the absolute, unmitigated joy I experience when I can get on the train without having to be there 3 hours early to be strip searched and treated as a suspected felon for wanting no more than to board an airplane. If we keep it up, I have a strange inclination that a lot of people will change their trip planning to include trains, buses and cars. The biggest leap, however, that Amtrak would make would be even further investment in high speed service between key gateways. The initial expense would be high, but if done correctly, I'm sure they could become profitable, and be able to keep their more traditional service in place. [2c] Chris May Denver, CO
QUOTE: Originally posted by drfizzix .... not to mention that this time the "beef" with Amtrak is coming from a man that has no hesitation on spending $ 40 million of taxpayer money to throw himself a party...
QUOTE: TSA, strip search horror stories and all, the airlines are currently running ahead of the pre 9-11 passenger totals. Airports may be like prison camps and airplanes may be like cattle cars, but flying is cheap and fast.
QUOTE: Originally posted by CopCarSS QUOTE: TSA, strip search horror stories and all, the airlines are currently running ahead of the pre 9-11 passenger totals. Airports may be like prison camps and airplanes may be like cattle cars, but flying is cheap and fast. Is it? On really long distance stuff, I'm sure it is. One can't compare flying across the Atlantic to taking a steamship. However, I've turned Denver to Chicago in 13 hours before (granted that was perhaps a bit above the posted limit, but not terribly so). Nominally, the flight between the same points in about 3 hours. But consider the following: It takes me about 45 min. to get to DIA. Depending on travel conditions and such, its suggested that I arrive as early as 3 hours before my flight. Let's call it 2, though. There's the three hour flight time. Assume 45 minutes to get from the gate to baggage claim, and get my luggage. There's a 1 hour drive from either Chicago airport to my hometown. That's 7 and a half hours. Faster? Yes. Worth the trouble of prison camp airports, and cattle car planes? It depends. Lately, Amtrak has been the prefered method of travel. Just a personal preference. But still a lot better to me that the TSA nonsense. Chris
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