There is a lot of discussion today regarding the fate of the Amtrak train system in the United States. Many are for it and many are against it. Frankly, I am unabashedly for it. I think that Amtrak should become a national railroad in every sense of the words.
Unfortunately the Congressional Republicans are pushing to cut the federal subsidy that was established when the private rail companies decided to eliminate their passenger rail system and the United States Government created a corporation to acquire and operate the passenger rail system. The federal government, focus on our ineffective Congress, should get fully behind Amtrak, provide full funding to not only keep the trains running, but to improve their rolling stock, and to expand their services to the smaller towns and hamlets in our country that have no reasonable access to public transportation. A major function the federal government should perform is to establish an Amtrak rail network. Currently the passenger trains of Amtrak are significantly dependent on the private rail freight company trackage which impacts the effectiveness and efficiency of our passenger rail system, and this should certainly not be the case.
Some or most of these private (stockholder owned) companies were once in the passenger rail business, but in when they encountered competition with the expanding popularity of air travel, these companies decided there was not enough of a profit center so they began the process of eliminating their specific passenger services. The federal government was very much aware that passenger rail was important to the nation and our people, so the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (later to be known as AMTRAK corporation), was formed, acquiring the rolling stock of the various passenger lines that were being eliminated by the private rail companies.
A brief Amtrak History
Every civilized country in the world (and some not so civilized), with the exception of the United States has a true national rail system. Passengers in the European countries can move rapidly and comfortably on their trains between Frankfort, Germany and Rome, Italy and points in between. Many of the rail systems in other nations offer high speed rail systems such as the Mistrale in France. The trains are clean, offer quality services and in the majority of cases are on time. People pay for these services and the fares off-set the government expenditures this keeps the passenger ticket prices reasonable. However, and this is important, they do not expect the train organizations to survive on rail fares alone. Each national system is fully supported by the central government. Whereas the United States
Amtrak system is basically a federally chartered business partially funded from the Treasury Department as directed by the Congress. The entire system is impacted by the vagaries of Congressional malfeasance and biased roadblocks. Yet the folks at Amtrak have made great strides in maintaining and improving the passenger centric services at this large transportation facility. And they have attempted to keep prices within a reasonable ceiling. While prices are actually higher than they should be, a lack of consistent support from the federal government and the right side, do nothing bunch of Congress has caused problems with this system from the start. Yet the folks at Amtrak have made great strides in maintaining and improving the passenger centric services at this large transportation facility. And they have attempted to keep prices within a reasonable ceiling. While prices are actually higher than they should be, a lack of consistent support from the federal government and the right side do nothing bunch of Congress has caused problems with this system from the start and most of those have been financial causing the passenger rail tickets to be higher than necessary.
During a previous Republican administration and the people who make up that administration’s “brain trust” established by the president and vice president determined that the best thing for Amtrak is to pass a large portion of the operations off to the various states. This was presented as a way provide relief for the federal government and lead to better and expanded service. Bullpucky, no such thing will happen. One former member of the Republican Party in Congress attempted to push off the idea of selling the Northeast Corridor section of AMTRAK to a private company, simply because that particular subsystem was very profitable.
As for the stupid idea of saddling the states with another financial obligation, just simply another idiotic scheme of the GOP outliers to cut the federal government no matter what damages that action would cost. Our state and local government organizations are already stressed from initiatives passed by the federal government in past administrations and mandated that the states pick up the tab. It make one wonder who the heck these people are, where they got the idea that the people of the United States want passenger rail services to be relegated to a couple of “commuter service” routes up and down the East and West Coasts. There are a whole lot of people who don’t live on either of these coasts and they have to travel by private auto many miles to get to a public transportation facility (airport) for their travels. Even then, because the majority do not live near a major airline hub, they are required to pay an exorbitant air fare to travel in a very uncomfortable conveyance. And in increasing instances, with very uncaring service providers.
How train travel used to be
When, as a young man in the Air Force in the late 50s and 60s, riding a train was the only reliable method for me to travel from my military assignments to visit parents and family since as a newly enlisted airman, I had no automobile, nor the income to afford to buy one. Traveling by the interstate bus system back then was a good alternative, but was not a comfortable means for long distance travel. so, the rail system of the time (then totally commercially owned and operated) was the way I was able to visit my family. Those trains were well appointed, had full service dining cars, comfortable and good services in the lounge cars and sleeping accommodations were within financial reach of a young Air Force enlisted person. Travel by train was pretty much available for the majority of our states, counties and towns. Even small villages had train stations where one could buy a ticket and the ticket master would notify the rail company who would cause their train scheduled through the town to stop for passenger pick up, even for one or two people! Trains were very available and most places were either blessed with a station or were very close to a location for a station.
But then the airlines noticed a large market in people who were riding the trains and they began to lower their fares to compete with the passenger trains, and people opted to travel by air because it was a faster mode. Passengers on the rails began to drop off, and frankly back then the airlines actually provided a great experience, with decent meals provided at no additional cost, the seats were comfortable with plenty of leg room. Of course that was soon to change. Once the airlines saw their passenger volumes begin to grow, they found several “crises” to justify increasing the price of a ticket, add special fees, the meals were no longer included in your ticket price, and the seating got smaller and closer.
Today of course there really is no competition. The airlines do whatever they wish, impose the most obnoxious fees for the stupidest reasons, their seats are uncomfortable, the bottoms rather hard (thinner cushioning), the leg room is negligible and if the passenger in front of you decides to recline his/her seat back, your tray table slams into your stomach. This simply is not found on the Amtrak passenger cars, seating is very comfortable, there is plenty of leg room and even a foot rest is there. If the passenger in front of you decides to recline, there is no interruption of your seating space. Your laptop on the tray table will still have plenty of room.
Simply stated, Amtrak is a wonderful way to travel in our country and the Congress should do the job that citizens elected them to do, FUND the Amtrak at the necessary level to maintain a viable, comfortable and desirable method of intercity and national travel.
I personally have traveled from the east coast (Washington, DC) to the west coast (Seattle, Washington) aboard the Amtrak rail system and it was a most enjoyable vacation trip including the wine and cheese tasting sessions during our travels.
Frankly, I will only travel by Amtrak and private automobile. Will NEVER take a trip on an airline again. If Amtrak doesn’t go there, I don’t need to go there either.
Musings of a Geriatric Curmudgeon 