https://www.washingtonpost.com/transport...k-funding/

Just don't understand why people continue to support wasteful, nonsensical train subsidies. Doubtful these cuts hold. But they need to.

"...Trump’s proposed 2021 budget delivered to Congress on Monday includes reductions in funding to the United States’ busiest rail corridor, the Northeast, to $325 million from $700 million. Funding for Amtrak’s long-distance trains would decrease to $611 million from $1.3 billion under the plan, which intends to phase out aid for long-distance service...."

1. Long distance Amtrak should be abolished. If anyone has ever looked up ticket prices and the time it takes to get somewhere, you could fly for less, not be subjected to toilet smells for days, and what takes 4 hours to fly takes 28 hours by train. There are no decent routes east to west out of the mid-south. Its absurd. They literally make themselves as least competitive on comfort, travel time, and prices as they can. Which I guess they believe is perfectly fine if you are completely subsidized and dont need to worry about actually making money or, at least, breaking even.

2. The northeast corridor should be able to support itself without the feds subsidizing it nearly as much. That is a heavily used part of the system, and if it is well-run financially, could and should support itself.

Shut it down. It's a terrible system.

Maybe they need to get Hunter Biden back on the board? Oh, that's right his dad is no long VP. Nothing to investigate there.

(02-12-2020 11:58 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  1. Long distance Amtrak should be abolished. If anyone has ever looked up ticket prices and the time it takes to get somewhere, you could fly for less, not be subjected to toilet smells for days, and what takes 4 hours to fly takes 28 hours by train. There are no decent routes east to west out of the mid-south. Its absurd. They literally make themselves as least competitive on comfort, travel time, and prices as they can. Which I guess they believe is perfectly fine if you are completely subsidized and dont need to worry about actually making money or, at least, breaking even.

2. The northeast corridor should be able to support itself without the feds subsidizing it nearly as much. That is a heavily used part of the system, and if it is well-run financially, could and should support itself.

All of #1 is true. That being said I took the route from Chicago to Portland and it was worth the experience to see some of this beautiful country that you can't experience flying over.

Blue state problems. Frick em

(02-12-2020 11:58 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  1. Long distance Amtrak should be abolished. If anyone has ever looked up ticket prices and the time it takes to get somewhere, you could fly for less, not be subjected to toilet smells for days, and what takes 4 hours to fly takes 28 hours by train. There are no decent routes east to west out of the mid-south. Its absurd. They literally make themselves as least competitive on comfort, travel time, and prices as they can. Which I guess they believe is perfectly fine if you are completely subsidized and dont need to worry about actually making money or, at least, breaking even.

2. The northeast corridor should be able to support itself without the feds subsidizing it nearly as much. That is a heavily used part of the system, and if it is well-run financially, could and should support itself.

The long distance route are akin to overland cruises where journeying thru the scenic portions of the US are the main attraction. The long distance routes are also the justification for Amtrak’s budget as they provide service to multiple states for congressional by in.

A greater investment should be made in the NE Corridor IMO as that is where Amtrak can really get paid. Unfortunately they don’t own all the trackway and the route needs significant upgrades. As most of the airports in the NE are at runway capacity, HSR would be a viable alternative if it were planned correctly.

As far as things to cut funding from this one is perfectly fine by me.

The DC to NYC and back trains can sell out and be full of business people. Maybe downsizing is the way to go for Amtrak...of course the govt. does not understand what that means.

(02-12-2020 11:48 AM)bullet Wrote:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/transport...k-funding/

Just don't understand why people continue to support wasteful, nonsensical train subsidies. Doubtful these cuts hold. But they need to.

"...Trump’s proposed 2021 budget delivered to Congress on Monday includes reductions in funding to the United States’ busiest rail corridor, the Northeast, to $325 million from $700 million. Funding for Amtrak’s long-distance trains would decrease to $611 million from $1.3 billion under the plan, which intends to phase out aid for long-distance service...."

It would make sense to you if the currently subsidized carbon and congestion costs of cars were taxed appropriately.

(02-12-2020 12:53 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 11:48 AM)bullet Wrote:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/transport...k-funding/

Just don't understand why people continue to support wasteful, nonsensical train subsidies. Doubtful these cuts hold. But they need to.

"...Trump’s proposed 2021 budget delivered to Congress on Monday includes reductions in funding to the United States’ busiest rail corridor, the Northeast, to $325 million from $700 million. Funding for Amtrak’s long-distance trains would decrease to $611 million from $1.3 billion under the plan, which intends to phase out aid for long-distance service...."

It would make sense to you if the currently subsidized carbon and congestion costs of cars were taxed appropriately.

Serious question...what does congestion costs of cars actually mean and what is taxing it appropriately?

(02-12-2020 12:35 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 11:58 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  1. Long distance Amtrak should be abolished. If anyone has ever looked up ticket prices and the time it takes to get somewhere, you could fly for less, not be subjected to toilet smells for days, and what takes 4 hours to fly takes 28 hours by train. There are no decent routes east to west out of the mid-south. Its absurd. They literally make themselves as least competitive on comfort, travel time, and prices as they can. Which I guess they believe is perfectly fine if you are completely subsidized and dont need to worry about actually making money or, at least, breaking even.

2. The northeast corridor should be able to support itself without the feds subsidizing it nearly as much. That is a heavily used part of the system, and if it is well-run financially, could and should support itself.

The long distance route are akin to overland cruises where journeying thru the scenic portions of the US are the main attraction. The long distance routes are also the justification for Amtrak’s budget as they provide service to multiple states for congressional by in.

A greater investment should be made in the NE Corridor IMO as that is where Amtrak can really get paid. Unfortunately they don’t own all the trackway and the route needs significant upgrades. As most of the airports in the NE are at runway capacity, HSR would be a viable alternative if it were planned correctly.

The entire NE Corridor is full of established (and expensive) towns and cities. There isn't a snowballs chance in hell HSR is happening there? Even if they found the money to purchase all the land, you think those people are going to allow trains buzzing through the middle of their towns, backyards, workplaces, and schools at 120 MPH? HSR isn't going to happen anywhere other than somewhere like Bismarck to Fargo. Why not try it somewhere like there first and see if it is viable before you impact millions of lives and trash property values that people have worked their whole lives to establish on their little .15 acre lots that have been subdivided 20 times over the entire stretch. Ship has already sailed on this.

(02-12-2020 01:01 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 12:35 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 11:58 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  1. Long distance Amtrak should be abolished. If anyone has ever looked up ticket prices and the time it takes to get somewhere, you could fly for less, not be subjected to toilet smells for days, and what takes 4 hours to fly takes 28 hours by train. There are no decent routes east to west out of the mid-south. Its absurd. They literally make themselves as least competitive on comfort, travel time, and prices as they can. Which I guess they believe is perfectly fine if you are completely subsidized and dont need to worry about actually making money or, at least, breaking even.

2. The northeast corridor should be able to support itself without the feds subsidizing it nearly as much. That is a heavily used part of the system, and if it is well-run financially, could and should support itself.

The long distance route are akin to overland cruises where journeying thru the scenic portions of the US are the main attraction. The long distance routes are also the justification for Amtrak’s budget as they provide service to multiple states for congressional by in.

A greater investment should be made in the NE Corridor IMO as that is where Amtrak can really get paid. Unfortunately they don’t own all the trackway and the route needs significant upgrades. As most of the airports in the NE are at runway capacity, HSR would be a viable alternative if it were planned correctly.

The entire NE Corridor is full of established (and expensive) towns and cities. There isn't a snowballs chance in hell HSR is happening there? Even if they found the money to purchase all the land, you think those people are going to allow trains buzzing through the middle of their towns, backyards, workplaces, and schools at 120 MPH? HSR isn't going to happen anywhere other than somewhere like Bismarck to Fargo. Why not try it somewhere like there first and see if it is viable before you impact millions of lives and trash property values that people have worked their whole lives to establish on their little .15 acre lots that have been subdivided 20 times over the entire stretch. Ship has already sailed on this.

You have to pick the right route. By that I mean either air rights over expressways or overhead transmission line ROW. From Wilmington, DE to Chester, PA the route follows 1-95. The NJ Turnpike is a wide freeway that in some areas is paralleled with I-295. There is also an O/H transmission line alongside as well. Not saying that it won’t be expensive but aligning along the expressway would increase speed and have lower acquisitions costs.

(02-12-2020 01:21 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  You have to pick the right route. By that I mean either air rights over expressways or overhead transmission line ROW. From Wilmington, DE to Chester, PA the rote follows 1-95. The NJ Turnpike is a wide freeway that in some areas is paralleled with I-295. There is also an O/H transmission line alongside as well. Not saying that it won’t be expensive but using the aligning along the expressway would increase speed and have lower acquisitions costs.

Then I could wave at it as it goes by my office.

(02-12-2020 11:58 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  1. Long distance Amtrak should be abolished. If anyone has ever looked up ticket prices and the time it takes to get somewhere, you could fly for less, not be subjected to toilet smells for days, and what takes 4 hours to fly takes 28 hours by train. There are no decent routes east to west out of the mid-south. Its absurd. They literally make themselves as least competitive on comfort, travel time, and prices as they can. Which I guess they believe is perfectly fine if you are completely subsidized and dont need to worry about actually making money or, at least, breaking even.

2. The northeast corridor should be able to support itself without the feds subsidizing it nearly as much. That is a heavily used part of the system, and if it is well-run financially, could and should support itself.

Willing to bet the overseers of this are making bank. Hence why it needs to be subsidized.

(02-12-2020 12:53 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 11:48 AM)bullet Wrote:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/transport...k-funding/

Just don't understand why people continue to support wasteful, nonsensical train subsidies. Doubtful these cuts hold. But they need to.

"...Trump’s proposed 2021 budget delivered to Congress on Monday includes reductions in funding to the United States’ busiest rail corridor, the Northeast, to $325 million from $700 million. Funding for Amtrak’s long-distance trains would decrease to $611 million from $1.3 billion under the plan, which intends to phase out aid for long-distance service...."

It would make sense to you if the currently subsidized carbon and congestion costs of cars were taxed appropriately.

Explain yourself. Be serious.

Because honestly, I don't think you know what you're saying.

(02-12-2020 01:33 PM)gdunn Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 12:53 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 11:48 AM)bullet Wrote:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/transport...k-funding/

Just don't understand why people continue to support wasteful, nonsensical train subsidies. Doubtful these cuts hold. But they need to.

"...Trump’s proposed 2021 budget delivered to Congress on Monday includes reductions in funding to the United States’ busiest rail corridor, the Northeast, to $325 million from $700 million. Funding for Amtrak’s long-distance trains would decrease to $611 million from $1.3 billion under the plan, which intends to phase out aid for long-distance service...."

It would make sense to you if the currently subsidized carbon and congestion costs of cars were taxed appropriately.

Explain yourself. Be serious.

Because honestly, I don't think you know what you're saying.

Talking point. Expect a reply after various sources are googled.......

(02-12-2020 01:39 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 01:33 PM)gdunn Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 12:53 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 11:48 AM)bullet Wrote:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/transport...k-funding/

Just don't understand why people continue to support wasteful, nonsensical train subsidies. Doubtful these cuts hold. But they need to.

"...Trump’s proposed 2021 budget delivered to Congress on Monday includes reductions in funding to the United States’ busiest rail corridor, the Northeast, to $325 million from $700 million. Funding for Amtrak’s long-distance trains would decrease to $611 million from $1.3 billion under the plan, which intends to phase out aid for long-distance service...."

It would make sense to you if the currently subsidized carbon and congestion costs of cars were taxed appropriately.

Explain yourself. Be serious.

Because honestly, I don't think you know what you're saying.

Talking point. Expect a reply after various sources are googled.......

He ain't googling.. He's waiting on Tom to come save his ass.

(02-12-2020 12:53 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 11:48 AM)bullet Wrote:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/transport...k-funding/

Just don't understand why people continue to support wasteful, nonsensical train subsidies. Doubtful these cuts hold. But they need to.

"...Trump’s proposed 2021 budget delivered to Congress on Monday includes reductions in funding to the United States’ busiest rail corridor, the Northeast, to $325 million from $700 million. Funding for Amtrak’s long-distance trains would decrease to $611 million from $1.3 billion under the plan, which intends to phase out aid for long-distance service...."

It would make sense to you if the currently subsidized carbon and congestion costs of cars were taxed appropriately.

Well maybe its still subsidized because of moronic thinking like this.

You can be for rail, but not for stupid rail. Chicago to Portland is stupid rail.
Washington to Boston works. Houston to Dallas is probably going to work where a private company is funding it.

If you spend money on Chicago to Portland, you don't have money to improve Chicago to St. Louis which might actually make sense.

Beyond 200-500 miles rail makes no sense. Planes are faster and cheaper. And 30 mph rail doesn't make sense anywhere except as local mass transit. Greyhound, Trailways and Megabus do it better than most Amtrak routes.

(02-12-2020 01:47 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 12:53 PM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  

(02-12-2020 11:48 AM)bullet Wrote:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/transport...k-funding/

Just don't understand why people continue to support wasteful, nonsensical train subsidies. Doubtful these cuts hold. But they need to.

"...Trump’s proposed 2021 budget delivered to Congress on Monday includes reductions in funding to the United States’ busiest rail corridor, the Northeast, to $325 million from $700 million. Funding for Amtrak’s long-distance trains would decrease to $611 million from $1.3 billion under the plan, which intends to phase out aid for long-distance service...."

It would make sense to you if the currently subsidized carbon and congestion costs of cars were taxed appropriately.

Well maybe its still subsidized because of moronic thinking like this.

You can be for rail, but not for stupid rail. Chicago to Portland is stupid rail.
Washington to Boston works. Houston to Dallas is probably going to work where a private company is funding it.

If you spend money on Chicago to Portland, you don't have money to improve Chicago to St. Louis which might actually make sense.

Beyond 200-500 miles rail makes no sense. Planes are faster and cheaper. And 30 mph rail doesn't make sense anywhere except as local mass transit. Greyhound, Trailways and Megabus do it better than most Amtrak routes.

I think people that advocated for cross country rail service (especiall high speed) have no concept for how large the United States actually is.