Posted by Eric Abraham on November 29, 2005 at 15:44:00 from 64.178.230.135 user EricAbraham.
In Reply to: Re: Planning Rail Routes posted by Jock on November 29, 2005 at 04:25:51:
Very interesting - when will they (the "conservatives") realize that passenger rail cannot show a profit, and must be subsidized. I travel Amtrak whenever I can, and I enjoy it - even the Diner is tasty! Coming into Chicago once from Denver, they held the connecting train for us for almost three hours (much to the discomfort of the passengers on the other train, I'm sure). Amtrak has vastly improved their service in spite of difficulties with funding - I started riding Amtrak in the mid seventies when they were still using old equipment and the crews were surly. My fare next January, Denver to San Francisco, is almost lower than it was a year ago April. It is the one last civilized manners of travel. Amtrak has recently cut service and schedules - a downward spiral - and is still having funding troubles with the current administration who thinks train service should operate at a profit.
Remember "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" - about the elimination of public transport in favor of freeways.
Another train question - how many of you in the USA have traveled Amtrak - within the past year? last five years? ever taken a train? If we want the servoce, we have to use it! In Mr. Ransome's day, train travel was the norm, affordable and convenient, now it is the exception.
Eric Abraham - Center of the Continental USA