Re: #Why Amtrak is dying when we need it the most?

On Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:02:50 -0700 (PDT), mlworris@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:

>On Jun 21, 2:50 pm, Kurt Lochner <kurt_loch...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>wrote:
>> "senile, craven" <semencan...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> sniveled and whined:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > 4095 Dead remarked upon:
>>
>> > > The rolling stock of the New York City subway system consists of
more
>> > > than 6,400 cars.
>>
>> > > Amtrak, by contrast, only has 632 usable cars in operation.
>>
>> > > For the entire country.
>>
>> > > Just ... wow.
>>
>> > > Details from the New York Times article.
>>
>> > > The problem is that rail has shriveled. The number of "passenger
>> > > miles" traveled on intercity rail has dropped by about two-thirds
>> > > since 1960, and the companies that build rail cars and locomotives
>> > > have also shrunk, making it hard to expand.
>>
>> > > ...
>>
>> > > Today Amtrak has 632 usable rail cars, and dozens more are worn out
or
>> > > damaged but could be reconditioned and put into service at a cost
of
>> > > several hundred thousand dollars each.
>>
>> > > And it needs to buy new rail cars soon. Its Amfleet cars, the ones
>> > > recognizable to riders as the old Metroliners, are more than 30
years
>> > > old. And the Acela trains, which have been operating about eight
>> > > years, have about a million miles on them.

>I recall very specifically that McCain wanted to cut all Amtrak
>funding one year.  Am not sure if it speaks for an inherent dislike of
>publicly funded mass trans****t or if there was some specific issue at
>the time, but in my experience, a threat or an action to cut off all
>funding and let a form of vital ttrans****tation die is one of the
>reasons I might not vote for him, no matter how much I dislike the
>alternatives.
>Everyone is focusing on oil/gas, but we should be focusing on
>restoring mass transit between cities and within.  There are systems
>that might be able to be restored if the rail tracks are still there.
>One of the problems is that years ago when Senator Spector and others
>promoted the frieght Conrail systems, the passenger services went
>downhill.  Owner****p of the tracks is with the freight company and the
>passenger service is second priority.  There is no money in promoting
>mass transit for eleccted public officials.  They get their campaign
>monies and other goodies from promoting the highway systems used by
>truckers and built by cement lobby, and promoted by tourism, trade
>industries and your friendly AAA and gas companies.  The ppublic is
>always at the bottom of the barrel, and apparently McCain knows where
>to get his campaign money from.  So, years ago, when I and others
>fought for mass transit over the hi9ghway systems, we were villified,
>phones tapped, investigators infilitrating citizen organizations, new
>and unusual tax audits.  So, as long as we allow the officials to play
>this game, we will continue in the same path.  My bet is that Nader
>will effect more change in this area than the others.
>Keep on the need for more public and mass transit.
>best to all,
>Villa Rosa

The airline industry is cra****ng, and if the fake energy crisis keeps
up, the US will be reduced to two or three providers, each charging
ultra-premium rates.

Imagine high speed tracks, one on a side, running parallel to the
interstates in the open areas between cities.  With most of the
easement issues already addressed, it would be far cheaper than trying
to prop up the airlines, and probably pay for itself in money saved
from less traffic congestion.  

There's absolutely no way a plane can compete with the railroad for
comfort.  The big problem with Amtrak is that it has no control over
the rails it travels over, and has no funding to improve where it can.
--

What do you call a Republican with a conscience?

An ex-Republican.

http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=8827
(From Yang, AthD (h.c)

"Prosperity and peace are in the balance," -- Putsch, not admitting that
he's against both

Putsch: leading America to asymetric warfare since 2001       

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