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The Value of Long Distance Passenger Trains

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[quote user="oltmannd"] [quote user="Sam1"]Unless one was at the executive table when the idea of using Thruway bus service to expand the reach of California Amtrak's trains was birthed or has access to the minutes or one or more of the persons present, it is impossible to know who initiated the idea.[/quote] No, it is possible.  There is a quasi-independent version of Amtrak called "Amtrak California"  that calls the shots - and funds - the California Amtrak service.  It was there that the integrated feeder bus network was created.  Up until then, Amtrak Thruway bus service was just a few routes, here and there. <a href="http://www.amtrakcalifornia.com/index.cfm/about-amtrak-california/">http://www.amtrakcalifornia.com/index.cfm/about-amtrak-california/</a> "These two California train routes (San Joaquin and Surfliner)  and numerous Thruway bus routes, collectively referred to as Amtrak California, are funded and managed by Caltrans, but operated by <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/" target="_blank">Amtrak</a> in addition to Amtrak's own interstate trains - the Coast Starlight®, California Zephyr®, Southwest Chief®, and Sunset Limited®. " A very similar thing is going on in NC.  The NC DOT is deeply involved in their service.   Amtrak is pretty much just the contract operator in both cases. [/quote] There is nothing in the referenced document that tells us who initiated the idea for Thruway buses to extend Amtrak California.  Or who initiated the idea for state supported trains.  It may have been the state DOT, or Amtrak, or a combination thereof.  That's my point.   Unless one is a fly on the wall when the executive decision makers (federal, state, Amtrak, etc.) decide, or has access to meeting minutes or one of the participants, one does not know for sure who put forth the idea. It could have been the state, Amtrak, a consultant(s) and some little green men who acted simultaneously. I am not a fan of Amtrak. Monopolies are not very efficient. And government monopolies are even less so. I would privatize it in a minute. But that does not mean Amtrak has not had some good ideas from time to time.
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