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Wisconsin & Southern receives $17.1 million in state aid
Wisconsin won’t help fund passenger rail but they’ll give $17 million to a for profit freight railroad. Their politicians are bigger idiots than I thought they were.
Dennis, calling Wisconsin politicians idiots, is an insult to idiots.
Government funding for passenger service is called “socialism” by some.
Government funding for freight is called “corporate welfare” by others.
The money comes from the same place (taxpayers) so what is the difference?
Government funding for passenger service is called “socialism” by some.
Government funding for freight is called “corporate welfare” by others.
The money comes from the same place (taxpayers) so what is the difference?
Government funding for passenger service is called “socialism” by some.
Government funding for freight is called “corporate welfare” by others.
The money comes from the same place (taxpayers) so what is the difference?
Government funding for passenger service is called “socialism” by some.
Government funding for freight is called “corporate welfare” by others.
The money comes from the same place (taxpayers) so what is the difference?
Government funding for passenger service is called “socialism” by some.
Government funding for freight is called “corporate welfare” by others.
The money comes from the same place (taxpayers) so what is the difference?
The difference is that freight service will generate enough revenue and profit to pay back the loan portion, whereas passenger service has proven over and over to be a guaranteed loser. Sad but true.
That is very true Dennis very well said
Yes, funds for a for profit freight railroad that operates on 700ish miles of track that was going to be abandonded by class 1s. The 11 mile line was abandonded by the UP. The state owns almost all of the 700ish miles, the WSOR operates under a service agreement with the state. As part of that agreement, the state owns the tracks, and therefore pays 80% for maintenance/upgrades, with 16% covered by the railroad, and the remaining 4% by the local rail commisions the particular line runs though.
Not only does the state give funding to for profit railroads (yes plural), they also give funds to companies who yse those railroads to expand.
Oh yeah, they do fund passenger rail too. It’s called Amtrak!
Interesting comment from someone from Illinois a state that is billions in the red, taking on more debt, raising taxes with no solution in sight. Yet Wisonsin now has a surplus and is operating in the black. Maybe because we don’t throw money at guaranteed losing propostions. This one may or may not pay for itself, but it has the potential to do so.
It will be nice to see the line reactivated. I took a chance to venture East to the site in late October. The firm that was contracted to clear the right-of-way had done an outstanding job to that point. It also looked if the right-of-way had been cleared and resurfaced heading Southeast out of Plymouth. I’m sure some of the locals may not be thrilledto have a railroad once again running in their back yard, even if only 3-5 times a week. Also of note, it will be interesting to see the tracks,… once again running down the sidewalk in downtown Sheboygan Falls, something I haven’t seen in 20 years.
Dennnis, our governor far from representing the people of Wisconsin, is an ALEC puppet whose mission is to perpetrate and enhance corporate welfare. And Mr. Guse, not surprisingly, is silent on this item.
Hmmmm. I think 17 million is a bit different than 1.2 Billion. I hope Illinois spent their $42 million well. and don’t forget, the Hiawatha, which is a successful/real train, still got $2 million. Meanwhile, our state is basically solvent, while Illinois…who nows? Plus, the Packers are better than the Bears - so there.
More jobs and more growth with a better ROI when investing in freight.
Charles- “And Mr. Guse, not surprisingly is silent on this one.” Also what I was thinking. Lol.
Yes, by all means lets get rid of any state funding for these branch lines so that companies no longer have any rail options and move somewhere else. Good bye jobs and tax revenue. Illinois people really shouldn’t comment on anything in Wisconsin.