This may be sacrilegious for this forum, or maybe this is already talked about in another topic. Feel free to delete nonetheless.
I've been wondering lately:
What would happen if Amtrak failed? This is virtually impossible in the current state, but I've been considering.
Would passenger rail improve through new companies providing intercity service? Would private rail companies provide a better product than Amtrak?
Would existing companies/agencies expand to provide intercity service, such as MTA, SEPTA, Metronorth, Metra, MBTA, etc...
Would a phoenix rise from the ashes and build Amtrak back better?
Would freight railroads provide service again?
OR
Would rail travel cease to exist altogether save for a select few companies (Brightline, etc..).
Would other forms of traffic spike?
Would transportation patterns actually remain rather unchanged (especially car traffic), and all of our whining about the good of trains be proved wrong.
I do think it's fascinating to think about.
Essentially, what would your predictions be for passenger rail and transportation overall in America should Amtrak cease to exist.
I've been wondering lately:
What would happen if Amtrak failed? This is virtually impossible in the current state, but I've been considering.
Would passenger rail improve through new companies providing intercity service? Would private rail companies provide a better product than Amtrak?
Would existing companies/agencies expand to provide intercity service, such as MTA, SEPTA, Metronorth, Metra, MBTA, etc...
Would a phoenix rise from the ashes and build Amtrak back better?
Would freight railroads provide service again?
OR
Would rail travel cease to exist altogether save for a select few companies (Brightline, etc..).
Would other forms of traffic spike?
Would transportation patterns actually remain rather unchanged (especially car traffic), and all of our whining about the good of trains be proved wrong.
I do think it's fascinating to think about.
Essentially, what would your predictions be for passenger rail and transportation overall in America should Amtrak cease to exist.
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