Norfolk Southern only said it would be interested in OPERATING the commuter service. NS did not say it would fund the commuter operation. In fact, NS noted the service would have to be fully funded and mesh with its freight operations before it would be considered. Probably being considered for the same reasons the railroads are opposed to breaking up Amtrak. It's called fear of the unknown. They already know what they are dealing with in Amtrak.

FWIW, Georgia is starting to be proactive about passenger rail, primarily thanks to John Craft. I think a few politicians have an interest too, as well as the finest ex-president remaing alive today. But mostly John. And Terry Coleman.

North Carolina is happily working with AMTRAK and NS, and looking at expanding westward. The trend everywhere (including Iraq) is for the US or state governments to subsidize rail service with tax dollars. If the feds really want to save some real money, I reckon we could provide some better directives.........

TJ's worms - why has AMTRAK never done autotrain apart from serving EisnerWorld? Seems to me that hauling a family car across the country to save vacationers that endless drive through not much west of the Mississippi and east of the Rockies would be a great marketing strategy.

dave

Dang it Hume, where are those emoticons?!? I need the "laughing like an uncaffeinated fool" one here . . .

(Dave, you funny guy, you know that?)

;)

JAC

I had only brushed by this thread but after talking to TJ (thanks buddy) the topic got my dander up and since it involves taxes well I just had to make a post and provide my 2 cents worth.

A couple of points concerning some of the previous posts regarding gov't grants and funding. First off there is a difference between government maintaining roads, waterways and airports. These are all means of transportation open to and used by the general public. I can get in my automobile and drive on any Interstate highway or road in the US. I can put my boat in the water and traverse any navigable river or lake and I can take off and land my private airplane on any public airport in the country. I cannot put my personal high railer or locomotive and operate on any railroad. Now I do not agree with private and specific subsidies to the airlines, bus companies or private ferry service and I also don't think my tax dollars should be flushed down the drain to maintiain a passenger rail service that is not profitable so someone can get a ticket to travel at less than cost of the service performed.

This is my big compaint with the city's transit authority. I am forced to pay a sales tax on goods I purchase to subsidise soe poor b*stards transportation costs to work. I maintain my own transportation needs why is it I am forced to subsidize someone else's transportation by supporting the bus line?

AMTRAK is the same thing. Our taxes are used to create and support a transportation system that is subsidized so someone doesn't have to pay the full cost of the service they get from the railroad. Then the government forces private corporations to permit them to operate on their property sometimes interfering with their operations.

Now the airlines aren't perfect, does anyone know how they create their rate structures? I don't think they know. I fly approximately 50,000 miles a year and I can fly from Columbus, Ohio to Los Angeles for $300.00 but a flight to Atlanta can cost me $700 to $900 dollars. Go figure.

The government doesn't subsidize my company, we have to make our own profits. I wish the government would cut ALL funding and subsidies to the airlines and AMTRAK. Let them create a rate structure that will earn them a profit. If they can't operate profitably then let them close up shop; I know my company would have to.

Now TJ and I are friends and we have discussed this in the past but as much as I enjoy railroad tourist operations. Now if a local community wants to support a museum or organization that's fine and I'll gladly pay for a ticket to enter when I visit. But enough of the big federal grants from taxes. Cut the pork, reduce my taxes and I'll have more $$ to donate and spend supporting those organizations I want to help support and that I enjoy.

***steps off soap box***

rant complete (for now)

Greg

Well, I know that in my city (Washington DC) if we ended subsidy to the subway and the bus lines private transportation would instantly become nearly unusable. Our highways are well over capacity right now. If you tossed the bus and subway riders onto them by raising fares to 100% cost recovery the highway network would crash, instantly.

Around here, most drivers look at every Metro rider as one more person they're not fighting for lane space with on the Beltway. We view the system--Metro, highways, everything--as one transportation grid, and generlaly try to invest the money wherever it will relieve the most congestion. Sometimes that's a new flyover junction on I-270, sometimes it's Metro.