Why liberals love trains.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yep. The wife likes seeing all the missions. I think we have been to about six so far.

Bill, we're talking about daily commutes, not a stroll in the buggy.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Bill, we're talking about daily commutes, not a stroll in the buggy.

Commute? ####### is that?

[^_^ 5,021]

Commute? ####### is that?

There is such a thing as a target audience. You hate cities, you have all the time in the world and you don't commute to work. You are not the target audience

[one...two...tree 2,762]

There is such a thing as a target audience. You hate cities, you have all the time in the world and you don't commute to work. You are not the target audience

This is Bill's method of transportation.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

This is Bill's method of transportation.

Nice. Now, if I only had a garage to keep that in.

[Zero Sum 305]

Their general argument is that if train service was feasible, why is it subsidized? It's subsidized because it's a national network in a nation that does not need a national network. Look at the Amtrak map - there are routes through some very sparsely populated areas. What's the point? Decommission everything but the Northeast Corridor. The NEC is the only Amtrak line that makes money.

Great point. This goes to the crux of the issue: do we dare want to change the traveling American's car culture just a bit by investing in more diverse ways of getting from point A to point B in what is likely a more energy-efficient manner? Or do we continue to drive just to go around the block, and then some? Knowing full well that gas prices are fickle, and continue to go up because sooner rather than later, the supply will become an issue.

I think many people are so paranoid about having to walk a few extra minutes per day to a train station, or sit and socialize with other human beings... avoiding road rage, saving on high insurance costs from driving private vehicles, increasing the maintenance cost of that car as well as adding mileage that depreciates the car's resale value more- that they would rather be made to feel like a suspicious air traveler, pay to have their bags boarded and maybe lost along the way, pay for cabs/airport parking, and listen to the nut in the seat next to them that is also taking up half of their own seat space- or the baby in the seat in front crying, or the toddler behind you kicking your seat...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

the cheapest flight you will find between SF and LA is about $120 (not for early morning or evening flights though),

Book way in advance. I just checked one airline (Virgin) and they have flights for $69.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I just looked on Virgin's website - that's each way not including taxes

besides, a lot of trips, especially for business, are last minute and do not allow for advance planning

[^_^ 5,021]

This goes to the crux of the issue: do we dare want to change the traveling American's car culture just a bit by investing in more diverse ways of getting from point A to point B in what is likely a more energy-efficient manner?

Take a look at the train line between Tucson and San Antonio? Do you really think that's energy efficient? Or the route between West Glacier and Minneapolis?

If there is to be faith in trains, the network has to be reduced. Amtrak has been crying itself hoarse about how the NEC makes money but no one has been paying attention because in the annual report they lose money overall.

Sometimes, ya gotta take a step back to move forward. Amtrak ought to be operating in the NEC alone. Maybe SF-LA. And maybe in a few other lines where the economy is growing. For example, the DC-Charlotte-Atlanta line. Everything else can pretty much go and no one would notice.

ps. did you notice the oklahoma city to san antonio line doesn't actually pass through dallas? it's insanity. shut that ####### down.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I just looked on Virgin's website - that's each way not including taxes

besides, a lot of trips, especially for business, are last minute and do not allow for advance planning

The last time Bill flew the friendly skies, Billy Crystal was still hosting the Oscars.

[Zero Sum 305]

Take a look at the train line between Tucson and San Antonio? Do you really think that's energy efficient? Or the route between West Glacier and Minneapolis?

If there is to be faith in trains, the network has to be reduced. Amtrak has been crying itself hoarse about how the NEC makes money but no one has been paying attention because in the annual report they lose money overall.

Sometimes, ya gotta take a step back to move forward. Amtrak ought to be operating in the NEC alone. Maybe SF-LA. And maybe in a few other lines where the economy is growing. For example, the DC-Charlotte-Atlanta line. Everything else can pretty much go and no one would notice.

ps. did you notice the oklahoma city to san antonio line doesn't actually pass through dallas? it's insanity. shut that ####### down.

I agree. Some routes would do well to be re-routed. Others eliminated. I am sure however, that usage exists even along the most inefficient routes.

People here have to suffer a change of cultural opinion in order to use trains like other nations do.

The market has to demand a need for trains. This makes long-range HSR lines very much possible, and can be marketed as mini-vacations in themselves.

On a side note last time on Amtrak, was on the Chicago to New Orleans route. One of my friends (it was a group trip) had to hide from a DB that was drunk the entire time. I think the guy got kicked off somewhere around Memphis.

[^_^ 5,021]

The market has to demand a need for trains. This makes long-range HSR lines very much possible, and can be marketed as mini-vacations in themselves.

That market demand is there, just not everywhere. There is demand for train service in the NEC. There is demand in California.

In places where there is no demand (most of this country) we'd be much better off focusing on short-haul commuter routes that connect affluent suburbs to corporate parks. That will get people with money used to the idea. Inter-city service can wait.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The last time Bill flew the friendly skies, Billy Crystal was still hosting the Oscars.

I swam all the way to the Philippines and back.

I agree. Some routes would do well to be re-routed.

The anti-eminent domain folks will love that.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

There is demand in California.

Yes, and no. Not enough demand to make it function without subsidy. If it were profitable, then industry would have already done it. California is fraught with abandoned railways.

[^_^ 5,021]

Yes, and no. Not enough demand to make it function without subsidy. If it were profitable, then industry would have already done it. California is fraught with abandoned railways.

California is huge, so I suspect this comes down to which specific routes in the state we're talking about.