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elleng

(130,753 posts)

19. Rail transportation has been DEregulated over the years,

Wed Oct 10, 2012, 02:28 AM

Oct 2012

including 'the flow.' (I USED to be one of the regulators.) Rail infrastrucure VERY expensive to nationalize and maintain. No one WANTS to provide passenger service; very expensive. Rail carriers persuaded govt. to take over passenger service in 1970. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak

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Amtrak Ridership Hits Record High Amid GOP Attack. [View all] elleng Oct 2012 OP

Here's hoping TSA doesn't start jamming probes up the asses of train riders Kennah Oct 2012 #1

That's why we take it instead of flying. AllyCat Oct 2012 #9

I rode Amtrak from Oregon to North Carolina last year. Speck Tater Oct 2012 #2

Could you tell me, how much did that run? I'd like to go from WA. to CT. freshwest Oct 2012 #4

Last year, our family of 4 took part of that route (Empire Builder-Capital Limted) AllyCat Oct 2012 #10

Did you guys get a Pullman cabin, or whatever it's called now? freshwest Oct 2012 #17

cabins were more expensive one way than the whole fare for all 4 AllyCat Oct 2012 #25

I got a sleeper room on a trip from Portland to L.A. a couple years ago Speck Tater Oct 2012 #29

My Sister takes the Empire Builder From Minnisota to Chicago, then the Capital Limited to Pittsburgh happyslug Oct 2012 #37

I rode from NJ to FL round-trip twice. athena Oct 2012 #34

I love Amtrak. Love it, I tell you. JDPriestly Oct 2012 #3

And no car seats for the kids! n/t AllyCat Oct 2012 #11

Kids ride upstairs! JDPriestly Oct 2012 #13

There should be some Obama-Biden Voters Cha Oct 2012 #5

Why are they out to privatize our best and finest? Seems vulture capitalistic to me. SleeplessinSoCal Oct 2012 #6

Passenger transportation of any kind is very expensive, elleng Oct 2012 #8

No one has EVER made money moving paying passengers happyslug Oct 2012 #38

Right. Look at European passenger rail, elleng Oct 2012 #41

For the same number of passengers or quantity of freight transported... AdHocSolver Oct 2012 #18

But if you can have a lot of people who buy gasoline and pay gasoline taxes, Trucks are cheaper happyslug Oct 2012 #39

will dems vote to kill it in the name of deficit reduction while the military rapes the budget? nt msongs Oct 2012 #7

And this is another organization that the republicans want to privatize. BVictor1 Oct 2012 #12

Freight carriers didn't want the burden of passenger service, elleng Oct 2012 #14

I travel long distance in exactly two different ways: cliffordu Oct 2012 #15

When I took a 24 hr Amtrak trip back in 2003 I thought the meals in the dining car were excellent. kestrel91316 Oct 2012 #30

My Dad retired from Amtrak, and he worked for the railroad before there was an Amtrak Kennah Oct 2012 #16

Rail transportation has been DEregulated over the years, elleng Oct 2012 #19

I live in China. I prefer the Chinese train system to the airports everyday of the week. Suji to Seoul Oct 2012 #20

We are taking our annual trip from Virginia to seattle on amtrak in a couple weeks peacebird Oct 2012 #21

Republicans hate subsidizing Amtrak wilt the stilt Oct 2012 #22

I'm taking my first Amtrak trip next week! OnionPatch Oct 2012 #23

I have family in Milwaukee and would love to take Amtrak LA to MW but I couldn't do it sitting up in kestrel91316 Oct 2012 #31

Cell phones and internet access. Who wants to drive? /nt Festivito Oct 2012 #24

Yup! No one cares if you use your phone. Outlets at nearly every seat. AllyCat Oct 2012 #26

If AMTRAK put a heated baggage car in the back, and beside it put MADem Oct 2012 #27

+1 Blue Owl Oct 2012 #33

Several years ago my daughter went by train from Chicago to madmom Oct 2012 #28

And here Romney/Ryan want to KILL Amtrak by privatization Blue Owl Oct 2012 #32

Because they are brainwashed by Faux News. Auntie Bush Oct 2012 #35

Just think what it could do if it had decent service KamaAina Oct 2012 #36

The Amtrak train I took from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. Aristus Oct 2012 #40