Amtrak Long Distance Service in Trouble (Again) (RailPAC)

[SightseerLounge]

http://www.railpac.org/2014/06/11/tuesday-was-not-a-good-day-for-the-sunset-limited/


"Then came Tuesday, June 10, 2014. This writer was watching CSPAN while the U.S. House of Representatives passed its Appropriations bill for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Prior to the vote several last minute amendments were offered on the floor that were not in the original bill coming out of the committee run by Mr. Tom Latham (R-IA).

One, by Mr. Pete Sessions (R-TX) called for the elimination of the funds for Amtrak's "subsidy." That one was rejected, and was opposed by Mr. Latham.

Two others, however, were approved and are in the final bill:
One by Mr. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) again calls for the elimination of Amtrak's "subsidy" for Food & Beverage service.

The other, which is more germane to this discussion, again by Mr. Sessions, mandates that Amtrak eliminate its route that loses the most money.

Pete Sessions made it clear that meant the Sunset Limited.

Yes, a Texan opposes a train that runs through his state, but not his district. Mr. Latham did not oppose these two amendments. And so stands the potential fate of the dining cars, future long distance ridership, and specifically the New Orleans to Los Angeles train that has traveled that route for close to 100 years.

Andrew C. Selden says, "If the diners go, so will the sleepers, because average trips span four or more meal periods. Many of course are much longer. If the sleepers go, so does the core economics of the long distance network, so soon all of these trains will be at risk of discontinuance." "

[mbwright]

How about eliminating all of the other government subsidies to all other businesses.  Amtrak is small potatoes in comparison.

[Ocklawaha]

Just offer the railroads a tax credit to retake the trains on a route by route/railroad by railroad basis. This effectively kills the insane government mismanagement of Amtrak.

Idea #2, why not quit making the long distance trains subsidize the northeast corridor? Don't believe it? Check out the accounting. The NEC makes money and long-distance doesn't? Yeah, and I'm a purple unicorn.

[SightseerLounge]

How about eliminating all of the other government subsidies to all other businesses.  Amtrak is small potatoes in comparison.

Amtrak is an easy target. That's why politicians always go after Amtrak! Some Americans really believe that cutting Amtrak altogether will save America a huge amount of money! Hahahahaha! Meanwhile, the Government was over in Iraq rebuilding their railroads! Hmmmm!

[SightseerLounge]

Just offer the railroads a tax credit to retake the trains on a route by route/railroad by railroad basis. This effectively kills the insane government mismanagement of Amtrak.

Idea #2, why not quit making the long distance trains subsidize the northeast corridor? Don't believe it? Check out the accounting. The NEC makes money and long-distance doesn't? Yeah, and I'm a purple unicorn.

I never thought of a tax credit to get the railroads to run the passenger trains again.

I always hear the LD's actually subsidize the Northeast Corridor! The rumor that I always run into is: People were starting to get back into passenger trains in the early 70's, and then Conrail gave the NEC to Amtrak which threw off the balance because there had to be a huge increase in subsidy just to keep the NEC alive!