AmtrakLoverAndHater
Train Attendant
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2005
- Messages
- 63
States with ample funds will most likely have the "best" systems. I live in California, so I am not worried that I won't be able to take the train down to San Diego.Guest_Amtrak OBS Employee said:On a separate subject, passenger rail will emerge somewhere if (actually when IMO) indeed full shut down of the long distance services takes place. I can tell you it is not going away. They just don't want Amtrak monopolizing the whole thing. It seems to me as if the Bush cronies think we should return to the business structure of the passenger rail of yesteryear. It won't work except in certain areas, and with proper funding. We shall see what takes place. But passenger rail as we know it is gonna change! I've said that for over a year now if the administration gets their way! OBS...
All of the Class 1's are fully aware there is no money to be made in passenger service, and with demand rising for premium services (intermodal) they will be hard-pressed to set aside track space for a money losing proposition. If anything, killing Amtrak now will essentially guarantee the US will never have an intercity rail system again.
Obviously this is all speculation, but the writing has been on the wall for a long time.
edit: I should also note the NEC will continue to see as many Federal dollars as the government can throw at it. I doubt that Mineta or the board will demand anywhere near as much cash from the states it serves as they will for the longhauls. And since I don't live in the NE, and although it is probably a trite thing to say, it would be my hope that a taxation without representation type of thing would prevent ANY federal dollars to go to the NEC if the rest of the system is axed :angry: