I have traveled to other countries, thanks to my 20 years in the USN. One of the nice things I liked about Japan and Italy was the ability to go almost anywhere in the country without having to: 1)drive a car, 2)take a bus, 3)fly, 4)save a fortune to ride the train. These countries as well as Europe have affordable and reliable train systems. My feeling is that because in America even if you can’t afford a vehicle there are lenders out there that will lend you money. Americas dependence on cars will never allow the rail to be a viable means of transportation, for not everyone can afford the price of the joke called AMTRAK, and those that can afford the price can’t afford to take time out to relax and enjoy a relaxing ride. I say relax for if you take the train due to poor track conditions, delays and such you can’t be in a hurry, so do as the people in the philippines do, (traffic stinks here in the philippines), sit back and don’t worry. A little off the track, sorry. Allowing the railroads to run passanger trains wouldn’t work because there is no money in it, (isn’t that the reason AMTRAK was formed to begin with?). And until the government coughs up more money, (from where I haven’t a clue), the infrastructure isn’t going to improve. So enjoy the airports and the road, unless the american mindset radically changes from the president downwards, that is where we are headed, a society without passanger trains.
ben
yup…You’re right. Until we physically seperate the american from his automobile and realize the importance of rail travel, amtrak will continue to be a joke. We will never seperate the american from his automobile tho, thats why I have always thought that the only way to make amtrak a winning venture is to make all long distance trains carry auto carriers so the passenger can have his precious automobile when he arrives at his destination. the bus lines and airlines cannot do that. And, yes amtrak was formed by the government to help the railroads get rid of money loosing passenger train routes…on may 1st 1971 amtrak cut some 200 passenger trains. the trains the railroads wanted to cut for years but the I.C.C (another government agency) would not let them, sighting need in rural towns. (of course these rural towns do not have amtrak service today) indeed, amtrak is in trouble. I’d like to see the books to see where the hell all the money is going!
Gentlegiant I like you would love to see where and how Amtrak used all of the government subsidies in the past thirty years. But it is my understanding we would have to pass a course in Government Gobbledygook in order to understand the true meaning of the horse manure in the bound pages. It is my understanding that only one person id fiftyy can pass the course in Government Gobbledygook. Good Luck!
Japan is about the size of California. Italy is the size of Arizona. The fact you can take a train anywhere when you’re there has very little to do with the “mindset” of the people - it’s geography. The USA is too big for a proper passenger rail system.
The passenger trains in those countries you mentioned exist because the citizens of those countries are willing to pay the taxes to have their governments build and otherwise financially support rail passenger service. In our country we want to keep every dime we make to spend only on the things to meet our individual wants. I could be nice and say that we are not very charitable, or I could call it greed.
It may take a little effort to go through the numbers, but you will find some very detailed reports on the Amtrak web site telling where the money comes and how it is spent. It may be a little difficult to understand, especially for a person who can’t balance a check book, but otherwise, it doesn’t require a masters degree in accounting or finance.
Try it out
Don’t forget that it appears that many people would rather have hiking trails than railways ( see post on western maryland scenic ry ) I wonder if my kids can make a living on a hiking trail?
Randy
Yesiree right on the $$$$$$$$[:D][:p][:o)]
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Originally posted by bbryon
The prices here in the U.S. is too high to ride the rail. I take the train from Phila. to NYC about 6 times a mo. If I take the Acela when it is running I need two banks to pay for the trip
Stop complaining. Acela is for people who want to pay for speed. Ditto Metroliner. Use the Regional Express or Clocker. And if that reasonable coach fare with a cafe car yet for you to use is too pricey, take SEPTA and NJT with a same-platform transfer in Trenton at less than 1/3 the cost of the Acela ticket. And you might even talk the engineer into letting you ride the front platform. (I have!) And if that is too pricey, leave Philadlephia on the PATO Franklin Bridge line, go upstairs at the Camden, NJ Transportation Center, enjoy a wonderful ride the River Line NJT diesel interuban to Trenton for something a buck fifty, and then go upstairs into the Trenton station and buy your ticket on the NJT train to New York, the total for about 1/5th the Acela ticket. Evereyone in the USA should be as lucky as you are in having so many Railroad CHOICES for your trip!
…Wow…Didn’t think anything of rail transportation with that much variety existed in this country…Probably doesn’t anywhere else.