NOT GOOD FOR AMTRAK

[Ben Higdon]

Consider the amount of money that is lost to road and bridge maintenance, pollution, travel safety, and others, and not intending to open a new can of worms...government subsidy of low cost oil, including but not limited to a large military presence (even if you're not considering the wars) in the mideast to keep the prices stable. How much does it cost per minute to even keep one additional aircraft carrier in the mideast to ensure the free flow of oil shipping? This is what comes to my mind first.
With these concerns in mind I don't think Megabus is bad at all. Overall though I don't think the Amtrak detractors dig too deep thinking of why its "more expensive".

[TSB]

I had not wanted to get into a debate that I had repeatedly during my 37 year career in railroads. But...

Unlike other modes of transportation that enjoy (to varying degrees) only capital or facility subsidies, Amtrak
receives massive operating subsidies. There is a world of difference. The former are "hard" assets.
They may be used for an extended period of time by competitors that may use the asset so long as they
do so profitably or at least pay their own way. So highways, airports, waterways, etc. are used by truckers, taxis, airlines shipping and the sort as well as private citizens for their personal use. In all cases there are use fees
ranging from license plates to some hefty rental and use fees. NO operating expenses are paid and the competitors
must, for the most part, withstand their own profit/loss consequences.

Passenger service itself is not the contaminating agent here. Where population density is adequate (Boston to DC)
passenger service can and does pay its own way. I have no problem with them. Unfortunately, that situation will
also become true in other parts of our country. When it does, I will acknowledge the need. I will never support
operating subsidies and especially the massive ones of the past where taxpayers were and continue to be forced
into paying more than $400 on a less than $100 ticket. These operating subsidies vanish upon being issued.
They have already been spent and without the discipline of a profit mandate breed further wasteful spending. It
always has and always will happen.

I have further arguments with real workable solutions to end the wasteful part of passenger service, but they will never overcome the self-interest turf protection of the overpaid political appointees in Lafont Plaza.

Nor will it quiet those that have an unquenchable thurst to suckle at the public teat.

[Michael]

I nominate TSB for President

[J T]

Nor will it quiet those that have an unquenchable thurst to suckle at the public teat.

BANG!

[PAT.C]

MR TSB ROCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Saturnalia]

AMEN TSB!

TSB for head of the US Department of Transportation!

[Standard Railfan]

a clumsy, inept, highly-subsidised socalist entity and a flexible, self-reliant free enterprise entity.
The economic loser (Amtrak) will not go away. It will continue to suck tax dollars and survive only
with massive subsidises and all political impediments their government union hacks can throw in
the way of the free enterprise endeavors.

That would be the "flexible, self-reliant free enterprise entity" that utilizes a " highly-subsidised" highway and road system that "will continue to suck tax dollars and survive only with massive subsidises" all the while investing no capital into the infrastructure. The use of a publicly funded right of way becomes an operating subsidy.

[Saturnalia]

wouldn't ordinarily put it here, but here is the list of "grants" aka subsidies for Rail-related projects for TIGER IV:

http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/pas ... channel=41

[TSB]

Just to be clear;

The self-reliant free enteprise systems I had in mind were freight railroads.

The Tiger IV projects went to Amtrak stations and passenger lines.


I am done with this.

[NSSD60M]

Been Amtrak-in' for 36 years now, so no matter what any of the high-dollar, out of touch, big-wigs think, I'll sure stand by the stories I've heard over the years from real everyday people. This comes from working on, along side, and behind the scenes, and making the trains keep rollin'.
When you hear from someone that only has $150.00 or so travel budget to get from Chicago to Omaha and back, and how grateful they are that "the train" was their only means, that's what makes the 36 years worth it. As well as the negative, "above-all-the-rest," trash talk, taken with only a grain of salt.

[dmitzel]

Just to be clear;

The self-reliant free enteprise systems I had in mind were freight railroads.

The Tiger IV projects went to Amtrak stations and passenger lines.

While I don't disagree that the freight rails pay their own way - cost of capital and otherwise - not all the Tiger monies are going to passenger. There's more than a few CREATE projects in Chicago that are freight-centric.

You know, despite all the rhetoric having multi-modal options - freight and passenger - benefits everyone. Speeding the flow of traffic on both modes benefits both as well.

And this opinion is coming from someone professionally employed by a major motor freight carrier - who rides AMTK 365-364 every so often to CUS, connecting to Metra to the western suburbs (and on business). It seems not all business-oriented folks are anti-passenger rail either, considering what Gov. Snyder is doing with MDOT. I certainly agree with him, and hope more Republicans can come to their senses - rather than blather inflexible ideology. The projected growth in US population and freight/cargo tonnage-mile and passenger miles through 2035 and beyond demands options outside of concrete - whether runway or highway.

Trains - both passenger and freight - are the most efficient means to move loads of people or material inland. We'd be crazy to ignore that, unless we just wish our infrastructure to continue to deteriorate while competitors (read: China, India, Brazil, Russia) keep investing circles around us. Face it - we're a large country with a growing population, and rail is most efficient when moving freight over 500 miles or passengers distances of less than that.

[Typhoon]

Been Amtrak-in' for 36 years now, so no matter what any of the high-dollar, out of touch, big-wigs think, I'll sure stand by the stories I've heard over the years from real everyday people. This comes from working on, along side, and behind the scenes, and making the trains keep rollin'.
When you hear from someone that only has $150.00 or so travel budget to get from Chicago to Omaha and back, and how grateful they are that "the train" was their only means, that's what makes the 36 years worth it.

I am so glad that I am able to help pay the cost of that person's trip to Omahain my taxes, I hope he/she remembers me while I am picking up shifts of OT to cover my family's trip to Florida....

[hoborich]

I am so glad that I am able to help pay the cost of that person's trip to Omahain my taxes, I hope he/she remembers me while I am picking up shifts of OT to cover my family's trip to Florida....

You'll need a lot more OT shifts to cover the three billion we send to israel. God forbid this government actually provides any services to the american people for the taxes we pay.

[NSSD60M]

I am so glad that I am able to help pay the cost of that person's trip to Omahain my taxes, I hope he/she remembers me while I am picking up shifts of OT to cover my family's trip to Florida....

You'll need a lot more OT shifts to cover the three billion we send to israel. God forbid this government actually provides any services to the american people for the taxes we pay.

Couldn't have stated it better myself, Hoborich. Way to nail it!
Maybe someday the misled will wake up to that concept. Someday... But probably not. Republi-cons wouldn't let that happen now, would they...

[hoborich]

Here's a little more. 53 cents of every tax dollar goes for military spending and war. Less than a penny of your tax dollar goes to Amtrak.

[J T]

When you hear from someone that only has $150.00 or so travel budget to get from Chicago to Omaha and back, and how grateful they are that "the train" was their only means, that's what makes the 36 years worth it.

Why was the train their only means? Chicago to Omaha via Greyhound is only $68.

[PAT.C]

to get from Chicago to Omaha and back,

HEY JT - ROUND TRIP.

AMTRAK... $108 ONE WAY
http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak

BUS...$61.20 /$ 68 ONE WAY.
https://www.greyhound.com/farefinder/step2.aspx



SelectDepartTrainImage
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
From: Chicago - Union Station, IL (CHI)
To: Omaha, NE (OMA)

Lowest Price
Morning
Afternoon $108.00
Evening
Shortest Trip
8 hr, 55 min
$108.00

[J T]

I was on Amtrak's site trying to get a one-way fair from Chicago to Omaha on the Zephyr but it kept giving me an error message and no price. Thanks for finding that.

I keep getting this message when I entered the departure and arrival cities of Chicago and Omaha:

Problem with Availability: At least one portion of your trip is unavailable. Revise your travel dates and times so we may search for other available options.
[Error ID: 578S]

I get that with any date I put in.

[PAT.C]

I get that with any date I put in. / SPEAKING OF DATES - WHEN IS THE NEXT BEER SUMMIT ???

[Typhoon]

I am so glad that I am able to help pay the cost of that person's trip to Omahain my taxes, I hope he/she remembers me while I am picking up shifts of OT to cover my family's trip to Florida....

You'll need a lot more OT shifts to cover the three billion we send to israel. God forbid this government actually provides any services to the american people for the taxes we pay.

Since I am not in favor of economic aid to any foreign country, your statement is pointless.