https://www.yahoo.com/politics/amtrak-crash-hits-home-for-lawmakers-who-respond-118880314740.html Obviously the timing is awkward, but unrelated. But one fact which cannot be argued is this will not make the situation better, nor help with safety.....
One thing which may need to be considered is seperating NEC from the rest of the system. If the NEC was not bleeding cash to try to prop up the rest of Amtrak, the situation on that part could well be much better. And the long-distance trains could be discussed seperately as a policy/political issue.
I believe there is some sort of Federal obligation to operate a train on the old High Line. Perhaps treaty or something of the sort.
Amtrak is a PUBLIC SERVICE. It Creates Economic growth by moving people too anf from their work. It does NOT need to operate at a profit. It would be nice, but improbable. It' worth to the economy is moving lots of people (750,000) a day on the NEC., Reduces traffic, saves fuel. That's where the economic savings lay!
And every year we pour more and more into roadways, which subsidizes countless businesses. Subsidize the airlines, and marine commerce.... Dump how much into "foreign aid" and so on. But won't invest in such a minimal passenger service here. Disgraceful. Shameful. :angry:
Amtrak could turn a profit, huge profits even... If it weren't bogged down by bureaucracy and unions. Sent from the magical mystery box
You hit the nail on the head. Amtrak keeps making the same bad decisions and keeps wondering why they don't get better. History proves the Amtrak concept can work. Conrail started life in the same manner as Amtrak. They were both a Government bailout program that received huge subsidies and benefits. Conrail made the right decisions, turned a profit, and eventually returned to the private sector. Amtrak has everything they need to be successful. Why won't they make the hard decisions?
When you needlessly drag around empty cars with full staff because the union says you must, it's very difficult to make any money. I can see both sides of the argument politically because of this very reason. Why throw money at a problem if you refuse to fix it. Sent from the magical mystery box
This all goes back to when the NRPC was first created. The absolutely wrong people set up Amtrak. From there onward, here we are today- Hamstrung by the opening kickoff being muffed. Same plays being called, which have never worked.
