Some of you may have already read this, but I thought this was interesting, especially being in the Washington Post.
Off Track
Tuesday, May 3, 2005; Page A20
TRAINS COST taxpayers too much. Every 10,000 miles that a train passenger traveled in 2002 cost federal taxpayers $200 in subsidies, compared with $6 for passenger jets and $4 for long-distance buses. Amtrak, the main operator of passenger trains across the country, has proposed ideas to fix this madness, and so has the Bush administration. Now Congress has to act.
rest of article
My thoughts:
Every article I read, every person I talk to comes up with a different number on how much the Sunset Limited loses per passenger. First its $300 then its 250 then its 466. But they all seem to agree that Amtrak has cost $29 billion since it started.
Where does the author get the idea that intercity buses are $4 per pax, and carry way more than Amtrak does? I don't get it.
He probably read Joe Vranich's book.
Off Track
Tuesday, May 3, 2005; Page A20
TRAINS COST taxpayers too much. Every 10,000 miles that a train passenger traveled in 2002 cost federal taxpayers $200 in subsidies, compared with $6 for passenger jets and $4 for long-distance buses. Amtrak, the main operator of passenger trains across the country, has proposed ideas to fix this madness, and so has the Bush administration. Now Congress has to act.
rest of article
My thoughts:
Every article I read, every person I talk to comes up with a different number on how much the Sunset Limited loses per passenger. First its $300 then its 250 then its 466. But they all seem to agree that Amtrak has cost $29 billion since it started.
Where does the author get the idea that intercity buses are $4 per pax, and carry way more than Amtrak does? I don't get it.
He probably read Joe Vranich's book.
