Anyone hear Norman Minata talk Amtrak on National Public Radio?

[jeaton]

The NPR news anchors at least try to maintain an objective attitude, but I detected a tone implying something like "Are you nuts?" from the interviewer.

Meanwhile Mineta continues to chant the rant. Either Mineta and the other Bush people are incredably STUPID or they believe that if they keep singing the same old song, eventually every enough people will suspend their disbelief. At that point, regional and long distance passenger service can die and the administration can blame the individual states for the failure of the "plan".

Here is the really stupid part of the whole thing. The administration is willing to pony up 1 1/2 to 2 billion bucks as there share of the cost of a reformed system, as long as the states that want passenger service go with a dollar for dollar match. Fat chance that any of the states have anything close to that to spare.

As for the "reformed" service being any more cost efficient than the present set-up? Anybody that believes that wouldn't have the business knowledge to set up a lemonade stand.

Jay

[Anonymous]

States and multi-country agencies will have no choice but to contract for commuter corridors. Which will bust their budgets and wreck their current commuter rail projects. But no one wants to operate long distance routes.

[AntonioFP45]

Problem now is that ridership on all of the long distance trains has jumped! His plans call for the elimination of most of the long distance routes!

He is very determined to ensure that Amtrak no longer be funded as in the past, in other words, effectively killing long distance service. Hopefully enough senators and the public will push for the defeat of Mineta's plan.

Remember, with very few exceptions, once an Amtrak train is eliminated it doesn't come back! With interstate gridlock on the rise Amtrak is viable. And please don't tell me to fly or catch Greyhound! My last flight was a bumpy nightmare on a 737. I drove the buses part-time for 10 years. They get stuck in traffic too!

[Anonymous]

He wants to pay for the maintance of the track but the operation of the trains would be contracted out? Okay here while we are at it lets just fund the US Post Offices Buildings and contract out the actual Mail Delivery to Federal Express or UPS? Does he know that Amtrak Rents track from Freight railroads at exorbante Rates?