Are Americans Ready to Love Trains Again?

[marmar]

https://m.

[Timewas]

1. Big mistake

IMHO, never should have dropped rail as a transport or shipping option.

[elleng]

8. Its NOT been dropped as a shipping option,

they gave up on passengers #### years ago, >>> Amtrak.

[Timewas]

9. They gave up

Almost the entire infrastructure that would allow better options for cargo also..They still use it but not enough.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

16. Perhaps you could elaborate. Thanks. NT

[Hiawatha Pete]

3. My wife & I have traveled extensively by rail throughout North America

My wife & I have traveled extensively by rail throughout North America as we prefer it to flying & driving and have logged roughly 100,000 miles across both the Amtrak and VIA Rail (Canada) systems.

In fact we have a website promoting rail travel & showcasing the various different Amtrak & VIA train routes with plenty of pics:

[link:https://northamericabyrail.info/|

The video in the OP makes a good point, billions are spent on roads and air transport - while passenger rail gets chump change.

This in spite of the fact that Amtrak has been breaking ridership records for over a decade.

Interesting video, thanks for posting!

[Timewas]

10. IF

I wanted to travel by train I would first have to drive about 150 miles and then pay for parking and all same as air travel .. it is not generally available except larger population centers..same as air..

[Hiawatha Pete]

13. AND

For millions of others, the train is more convenient. Train stations are almost invariably located in the centers of towns, while airports are out in the sticks (probably one of the reasons for Amtrak's ridership records).

Don't believe me? See the pics on my website at https://northamericabyrail.info

[cyclonefence]

4. We travel by train a lot

and we especially enjoy overnight trips--or trips that take several days. It's fun to ride in a roomette or bedroom, and if you get an Amtrak Master Card, you accumulate points to reduce the cost (which is generally higher than flying). We pay for everything with our Amtrak card and make several trips a year for free, paying with points. Meals are included with first-class (sleeper) tickets, and we've met so many interesting people in the dining room, where you must sit where they put you.

If only Amtrak could repair the tracks--the ride is bumpy along several routes--but it's so much fun.

[Hiawatha Pete]

6. Long-distance trains account for 40% of Amtrak's passenger-miles.

One counterpoint to the video, which tended to showcase Florida's Brightline and Amtrak's Northeast corridor: Long-distance trains account for 40% of Amtrak’s passenger-miles.
https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/the-folly-of-discarding-long-distance-passenger-trains/

[Vogon_Glory]

14. Passenger rail: The mid-1960's versus now

If present-day Americans could see the variety (and occasionally frequency) of long-distance passenger rail routes available in the mid-1960’s compared to now, they’d be amazed.

Leaving the Mid-West and Northeast Corridor aside, people would be amazed at the choices of routes they’d have: Minneapolis-St Paul direct to Kansas City. Houston to Dallas and Dallas—Fort Worth to Denver. Kansas City direct to New Orleans—just to name a few.

Amtrak is woefully under-funded and under constant attack by fibber-tarian (so-called Libertarian) ideologues and politicians drawn from the billionaire class.

It should be expanded and it’s aging long-distance rolling stock should be replaced.

[Hiawatha Pete]

15. So True!

So true!

Here is an article from All Aboard Ohio that backs up exactly what you said in your post. The article is somewhat dated but it's clear that the "so-called budget hawks" is a reference to those same repub congresscritters who have been trying forever to kill Amtrak as a mobility option for Americans.

Road/air subsidies: huge, growing & safe; Amtrak’s are small, shrinking & attacked:
http://allaboardohio.org/2012/09/21/road-air-subsidies-huge-growing-safe-amtraks-are-small-shrinking-attacked/

Even the Amtrak route map of the 1970's contained several routes that do not exist today. I was really excited when the Obama Administration began to explore the possibility of restoring the North Coast Hiawatha/North Coast Limited route from Chicago to Seattle via southern Montana. If you're interested, here is the actual Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha Passenger Rail Study, I found it an interesting read:

http://nrvrc.org/nrvpassengerrailstudy/resources/research/national/Amtrak_North_Coast_Hiawatha_Study.pdf

The Obama Admin was also exploring the possibility of restoring the old Amtrak Pioneer & Desert Wind routes as well. Too bad it all became a moot point once the repubs took the House.

Incidentally I was fortunate enough to ride by rail as a passenger on the old North Coast Hiawatha route through Montana. It was on a (somewhat pricey) tour train known as the Montana Daylight which ran on the ex-Northern Pacific line from Sandpoint, ID to Livingston MT via Missoula that I rode in 2003.
The train doesn't run anymore, it's all freight-only today.
Should you be interested, you can see pics & a video of the train & route on my website at https://northamericabyrail.info/usa-west/the-montana-daylight/

Cheers,

Pete