Suburban Station wrote: ↑Mon Jul 15, 2019 11:06 am
... and the fact that Amtrak is close to ending operating deficits (which is possible only with increased commuter and state contributions).
Right, but that only means one entity gives less while another gives more. I don't see this as being a real win because it doesn't really mean passenger trains are more fiscally sound. One gov't loses less money, one loses more. As we've seen in places like Illinois, which is doing their hardest to imitate Venezuela, Blago's passenger train promises were mostly vote grabs. The free/cheap senior rides are gone, the higher-speed is essentially gone, what's left?
And it does nothing to help the organizational malaise endemic to large government organizations, because there is no incentive to do such. Remember when IP failed on the Hoosier route? Amtrak brought back the full dome for a few weeks just to make it look like they cared, because IP had one. Once the incentive to care was gone, it was back to a few horizon cars.
The new Acela: It's not Aveliable.