Can railroads ever prosper in the USA?

Question

I'm a romantic. I love the idea of taking trains places. Hate flying- it is a nightmare, between the security, crowded airports, delayed flights etc. Sure, trains are slower. But they could be faster. Before air travel, trains were the way to travel long distance in comfort. You could sit down to an elegant meal in the dining car, have live entertainment, walk around etc etc. European countries seem to have embraced rail and you can go between cities so easily. Why doesn't it work in the U.S.?? Does anyone want to see trains make a come back?

Answer 1

Yes; but it will need a classic change of thought.  We need to get away from the "Look out for #1", "I like the freedom of the car", "planes are so time-worthy".

BS AND MORE BS!

Passenger rail is the most efficient multi-passenger system; you get more passenger miles per gallon:

1.  Average car -- 1 passenger, 23 mpg = 23 passenger-miles

2.  Aircraft -- on average 100 psgrs; average flight?  around 500 miles, making 50 000 psgr-miles; using 10 000 lbs of fuel; 5 psgr-miles per lb; each lb is about 3.5 gal; roughly 18 psgr miles-gallon

3.  Rail -- Average ridership -- 200; most psgr locos get 3.1 mpg -- 620 psgr-miles.gallon.

Plus -- 50 000 people die in auto accidents per year;

somewhat less in aircraft [current figures escape me]; rail is by far safer [<60 deaths in the 38 years of AMTRAK] (can't count the 49 at Bayou Canot --  that was greed and love of money that murered those souls)

So, rail is more fuel efficient, safer, and a LOT of fun!  Who knows what will happen, but you can be sure most of it will be good.

Answer 2

They already are.

For intermediate distances, say 700 miles or so, it is much cheaper than flying.  Recently the wife had to go to LA from far northern California.  Airfare, including plane changes and resulting layovers, $1400.  Round trip on Amtrak, $136.  An eighteen hour ride along the California coast line.

We're going to see our son in Kansas this spring.  Round trip train fare, with a compartment for two people = $1200.

Ya can't beat it with a stick.

Answer 3

Look at their profit statements. Freight railroads are very very profitable even since deregualtion 20 plus years ago.

What is NOT profitable and never was is passenger travel, not by itself.

Any nation that has first class passenger service is subsidized in one way or another.

Trains are still a  very comfortable way to travel, we are just funded at such a miserly level that schedules are an embarrasment.

The route near where I live has a 40% increase in ridership since 2004, a clear demonstration that many people WILL ride if they have the option.

Answer 4

As Hoghead said, trains have already made a comeback of sorts.  I am a member of the Amtrak Guest Rewards program (Amtrak's version of a Frequent Flier program) and ride the train when I can.

The "romance of the rails" attracts some riders, but economics (gas > $3.50/gallon) will attract even more.

Your point about the US not investing in rail is sad but true.  Some states have also made their own investments (California, North Carolina) but other states do not.

Trains will never be the prime mode of choice like they once were, but at least they can play a part in the transportation arena.