Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
[quote user="CG9602"]The objection to Samantha's last post is that loss or profit of trains is measured in terms of the revenue passenger mile. When you quote these figure, Samantha, how did you calculate the figures per revenue passenger mile ?[/quote]Amtrak's ticket revenue per passenger mile in 2007 is the total ticket revenue ($1,519,130,000) divided by the total passenger miles (5,653,581,000).  The result is $.2687 revenue per passenger mile.  These numbers can be found on Page A-2.2 of the Amtrak September 2007 Monthly Performance Report.  This report contains Amtrak's results for September 2007 as well as the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007.  During 2007 Amtrak's operating ratio was 1.45, which means that operating expenses were 145 per cent of ticket revenues.  Accordingly, the operating expenses were $.3896 per passenger mile, and the loss was $.1209 per passenger mile before interest and depreciation.    Total National Train System Revenues during 2007 were $2,153,500,000 or $.3809 per passenger mile.  Total expenses were $3,204,900,000 or $.5669 per passenger mile.  The loss on this basis was $.1860 per passenger mile.  However, total system revenues and expenses include items that are not directly related to operations, e.g. infrastructure management, ancillary businesses, federal and state capital payments, etc.  These numbers can be found on Page C-1 of the aforementioned report.These numbers are system averages.  The results for the Northeast Corridor, State and Other Corridors, and Long distance trains vary significantly from the averages.  The revenue to cost deficit is narrower for the NEC, which covers its operating costs and contributes to its fixed costs.  The loss incurred by the long distance trains is much greater than the system average.         I don't recall discussing revenues, other than to point out that NARP frequently talks about year to year increases in Amtrak's revenues and riders.  Unfortunately, it never discusses the costs, especially those associated with the long distance trains.  Cost is the other side of the accounting equation.  The key number, therefore, is how much it costs Amtrak to deliver its service and whether the revenues cover the costs.  They don't.  Some commentators have noted that no scheduled passenger trains cover their costs.  This fact is hardly the mark of excellence.  They along with competitive modes of transport should be required to cover their costs, thereby creating a level playing field where passenger trains could compete in high density corridors.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag