QUOTE: Even if they could be persuaded to do so with sufficient incentives from the government there is still the danger that they would see it as a distraction.
QUOTE: From a political standpoint, it isn't going tohappen. It is hard to " force" a non-government company to do anything and would require legislation that won't be passed. The railroads actually have a pretty good lobby in Washington and lots of friends in Congress.
QUOTE: I have a hard time understanding where overhead goes away if Amtrak services are privatized. - passenger rail still needs reservations and ticketing services which freight does not need - passenger trains still need car attendents, etc. and these need to be managed - freight equipment (including locomotives) cannot be used for passenger service because of differing requirements - maintenance of passenger equipment is very specialized Where is the overlap?
QUOTE: I refer you to that pesky old Constitution, in partuicular ammendment #5...."nor shall private property be taken for public use without payment of just compensation". And if you think that's a dead letter in the face of "a compelling public interest" just look at the furor (finally) that the imperial activist judiciary created w/ the Ct. rulling on "taking" that confused public use w/ public benefit.
QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper I don't think it is a workable idea under present condiitions.
QUOTE: Originally posted by 88gta350 Now for the idea: What if Amtrak was dissolved, and the passenger business was given back to the railroads? More to the point, what if the government required the railroads to run certain passenger lines?
QUOTE: Amtrak's equipment could be given to the respective railroads in those regions as an incentive, so they would not have to invest heavily in brand new equipment,
Originally posted by futuremodal Dave M. I have made basically the same point on previous threads, so naturally your idea is a brilliant one.[8D] It should have been done at the advent of Amtrak, subsidizing the remaining private passenger services that still existed in 1970, rather than creating this ludicrous monstrosity we have today. The difference that makes the difference is that such services would have the one thing missing from Amtrak: Competitive pride between natural rivals. Even with subsidies, I expect a BNSF North Coast Hiawatha would be operated in a way that calls out a challenge to a UP Californai Zephyr, and vis versa. Oh thank goodness, for a minute there I thought you WERE 88gta350 Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar. Reply Murphy Siding Member sinceMay 2005 From: S.E. South Dakota 13,567 posts Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, September 5, 2005 10:20 PM
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
QUOTE: Originally posted by tpatrick 88gta350, since we have a problem with prison overcrowding, the government should REQUIRE you to host some prisoners in your private home. Of course you would be provided a subsidy to cover some of the costs, but you will have to find some way to make this proposition profitable or you will still come up short. And don't complain that you don't have room. Just move the kids to the basement and free up a room for the guests. And you will be happy to know the gov't is going to give you a worn out prison van to use for your guests transportation. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but maybe you get the point.
QUOTE: Didn't like my first constitutional objection? Here's another one demolishing your law to require existing RRs, retroactively, to operate psgr trains as a condition of their doing business. This time we go to the body of the Constitution, no messing around with those pesky ammendments, specifically Article 6 that prohibits Congress from passing ex post facto laws, that is, imposing penalties retroactively that weren't in efect before.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
QUOTE: [i]. It's up to the government to provide products and services that private industry can't or won't, but our government doesn't seem to feel the same obligation.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding QUOTE: [i]. It's up to the government to provide products and services that private industry can't or won't, but our government doesn't seem to feel the same obligation. Now, there's where I'd have to disagree with you. It's not up to the government. If private industry can't or won't,it's probably because there's no money in it.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding Originally posted by futuremodal Dave M. I have made basically the same point on previous threads, so naturally your idea is a brilliant one.[8D] It should have been done at the advent of Amtrak, subsidizing the remaining private passenger services that still existed in 1970, rather than creating this ludicrous monstrosity we have today. The difference that makes the difference is that such services would have the one thing missing from Amtrak: Competitive pride between natural rivals. Even with subsidies, I expect a BNSF North Coast Hiawatha would be operated in a way that calls out a challenge to a UP Californai Zephyr, and vis versa. Oh thank goodness, for a minute there I thought you WERE 88gta350 But I thought that you thought that I was really Peterson, isn't that right, Gabe? Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 7:55 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by tpatrick 88gta350, my only quibble with your idea is that governnment should require freight roads to run passenger trains. As the others here have pointed out, that would be a gov't taking of private property. A better approach would be for gov't to make it attractive for freight roads to run pax trains. Give them a chance to turn a profit. That's probably a better idea than forcing the Class I's to run passenger trains - offer them some kind of incentive to take over passenger services from Amtrak. You might just find one or two Class I's who (with the proper financial incentives) would be glad to get Amtrak off their territory and take over passenger operations. If anything else, it gets rid of the spector of foreign rights of passage Amtrak has, and Amtrak may be able to transfer that right of passage to other entities. Next thing you know, you got forced open access [}:)] on your rails. Reply Edit Murphy Siding Member sinceMay 2005 From: S.E. South Dakota 13,567 posts Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 8:10 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding Originally posted by futuremodal Dave M. I have made basically the same point on previous threads, so naturally your idea is a brilliant one.[8D] It should have been done at the advent of Amtrak, subsidizing the remaining private passenger services that still existed in 1970, rather than creating this ludicrous monstrosity we have today. The difference that makes the difference is that such services would have the one thing missing from Amtrak: Competitive pride between natural rivals. Even with subsidies, I expect a BNSF North Coast Hiawatha would be operated in a way that calls out a challenge to a UP Californai Zephyr, and vis versa. Oh thank goodness, for a minute there I thought you WERE 88gta350 But I thought that you thought that I was really Peterson, isn't that right, Gabe? Edited to try to eliminate emblematic issues. Sorry. Have a nice day! Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar. Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 8:26 PM No "bad cop" is that bad. (And the world will never know whist this cometh and wherein it goeth....) Reply Edit Murphy Siding Member sinceMay 2005 From: S.E. South Dakota 13,567 posts Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 9:08 PM Dave-honestly,other than a dislike of theBNSF, an ongoing game of flame-o-rama with Ed, and that little*obsession* thingy you have with open access, what are your railroad interests? Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar. Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 10:46 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding Dave-honestly,other than a dislike of theBNSF, an ongoing game of flame-o-rama with Ed, and that little*obsession* thingy you have with open access, what are your railroad interests? Like most folks here, I've been interested in railroads since I was a kid. (I grew up within spittin' distance of the Walla Walla Valley rail line down the main drag in Milton-Freewater OR). As an adult, I have a great deal of appreciation for the potential railroad technology has in contributing to the betterment of my country. The point is, my love of country supercedes my love of railroads. And unlike a slim majority of posters here, I also have a keen interest in the other modes of freight transportation, and would like nothing better than to see true intermodal synchronicity among barges, pipelines, railroads, and trucks, free of paper barriers and forced bottlenecks. I am sincere in my belief that railroads could return to the days of 70% market share, if current rail management could somehow be enlightened or replaced with more innovative thinkers. And yes, private rail passenger operations could succeed given the right set of circumstance regarding rights of access of the Class I properties and the comparative advantage rail can have in certain corridors. Speaking of the "flame" thing, FYI quite a number of forum participants have emailed me offline offering their support if not endorsement of some of my views. So for their sake, I'll continue to absorb the slings and arrows of the intolerent ones. Reply Edit Tulyar15 Member sinceJuly 2005 From: Bath, England, UK 712 posts Posted by Tulyar15 on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 2:12 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding QUOTE: [i]. It's up to the government to provide products and services that private industry can't or won't, but our government doesn't seem to feel the same obligation. Now, there's where I'd have to disagree with you. It's not up to the government. If private industry can't or won't,it's probably because there's no money in it. ....but if it is for the common good or is the most efficient way to do it, or requires capital above and beyond what markets can provide, then the gov't SHOULD do it. - public schools - public roads - rural electrification - police - fire - hydro power - flood control - recreation - historic preservation - et. al. You can argue whether Amtrak meets the criteria for public spending, but you can't say the gov't should never provide any services that private industry won't. ...and street lighting Even Adam Smith would have agreed that these were legitimate roles for a government in a free market economy. Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Originally posted by futuremodal Dave M. I have made basically the same point on previous threads, so naturally your idea is a brilliant one.[8D] It should have been done at the advent of Amtrak, subsidizing the remaining private passenger services that still existed in 1970, rather than creating this ludicrous monstrosity we have today. The difference that makes the difference is that such services would have the one thing missing from Amtrak: Competitive pride between natural rivals. Even with subsidies, I expect a BNSF North Coast Hiawatha would be operated in a way that calls out a challenge to a UP Californai Zephyr, and vis versa. Oh thank goodness, for a minute there I thought you WERE 88gta350
QUOTE: Originally posted by tpatrick 88gta350, my only quibble with your idea is that governnment should require freight roads to run passenger trains. As the others here have pointed out, that would be a gov't taking of private property. A better approach would be for gov't to make it attractive for freight roads to run pax trains. Give them a chance to turn a profit.
QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding Originally posted by futuremodal Dave M. I have made basically the same point on previous threads, so naturally your idea is a brilliant one.[8D] It should have been done at the advent of Amtrak, subsidizing the remaining private passenger services that still existed in 1970, rather than creating this ludicrous monstrosity we have today. The difference that makes the difference is that such services would have the one thing missing from Amtrak: Competitive pride between natural rivals. Even with subsidies, I expect a BNSF North Coast Hiawatha would be operated in a way that calls out a challenge to a UP Californai Zephyr, and vis versa. Oh thank goodness, for a minute there I thought you WERE 88gta350 But I thought that you thought that I was really Peterson, isn't that right, Gabe? Edited to try to eliminate emblematic issues. Sorry. Have a nice day! Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar. Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 8:26 PM No "bad cop" is that bad. (And the world will never know whist this cometh and wherein it goeth....) Reply Edit Murphy Siding Member sinceMay 2005 From: S.E. South Dakota 13,567 posts Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 9:08 PM Dave-honestly,other than a dislike of theBNSF, an ongoing game of flame-o-rama with Ed, and that little*obsession* thingy you have with open access, what are your railroad interests? Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar. Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 10:46 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding Dave-honestly,other than a dislike of theBNSF, an ongoing game of flame-o-rama with Ed, and that little*obsession* thingy you have with open access, what are your railroad interests? Like most folks here, I've been interested in railroads since I was a kid. (I grew up within spittin' distance of the Walla Walla Valley rail line down the main drag in Milton-Freewater OR). As an adult, I have a great deal of appreciation for the potential railroad technology has in contributing to the betterment of my country. The point is, my love of country supercedes my love of railroads. And unlike a slim majority of posters here, I also have a keen interest in the other modes of freight transportation, and would like nothing better than to see true intermodal synchronicity among barges, pipelines, railroads, and trucks, free of paper barriers and forced bottlenecks. I am sincere in my belief that railroads could return to the days of 70% market share, if current rail management could somehow be enlightened or replaced with more innovative thinkers. And yes, private rail passenger operations could succeed given the right set of circumstance regarding rights of access of the Class I properties and the comparative advantage rail can have in certain corridors. Speaking of the "flame" thing, FYI quite a number of forum participants have emailed me offline offering their support if not endorsement of some of my views. So for their sake, I'll continue to absorb the slings and arrows of the intolerent ones. Reply Edit Tulyar15 Member sinceJuly 2005 From: Bath, England, UK 712 posts Posted by Tulyar15 on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 2:12 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding QUOTE: [i]. It's up to the government to provide products and services that private industry can't or won't, but our government doesn't seem to feel the same obligation. Now, there's where I'd have to disagree with you. It's not up to the government. If private industry can't or won't,it's probably because there's no money in it. ....but if it is for the common good or is the most efficient way to do it, or requires capital above and beyond what markets can provide, then the gov't SHOULD do it. - public schools - public roads - rural electrification - police - fire - hydro power - flood control - recreation - historic preservation - et. al. You can argue whether Amtrak meets the criteria for public spending, but you can't say the gov't should never provide any services that private industry won't. ...and street lighting Even Adam Smith would have agreed that these were legitimate roles for a government in a free market economy. Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding Originally posted by futuremodal Dave M. I have made basically the same point on previous threads, so naturally your idea is a brilliant one.[8D] It should have been done at the advent of Amtrak, subsidizing the remaining private passenger services that still existed in 1970, rather than creating this ludicrous monstrosity we have today. The difference that makes the difference is that such services would have the one thing missing from Amtrak: Competitive pride between natural rivals. Even with subsidies, I expect a BNSF North Coast Hiawatha would be operated in a way that calls out a challenge to a UP Californai Zephyr, and vis versa. Oh thank goodness, for a minute there I thought you WERE 88gta350 But I thought that you thought that I was really Peterson, isn't that right, Gabe?
QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding Dave-honestly,other than a dislike of theBNSF, an ongoing game of flame-o-rama with Ed, and that little*obsession* thingy you have with open access, what are your railroad interests?
QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding QUOTE: [i]. It's up to the government to provide products and services that private industry can't or won't, but our government doesn't seem to feel the same obligation. Now, there's where I'd have to disagree with you. It's not up to the government. If private industry can't or won't,it's probably because there's no money in it. ....but if it is for the common good or is the most efficient way to do it, or requires capital above and beyond what markets can provide, then the gov't SHOULD do it. - public schools - public roads - rural electrification - police - fire - hydro power - flood control - recreation - historic preservation - et. al. You can argue whether Amtrak meets the criteria for public spending, but you can't say the gov't should never provide any services that private industry won't.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.