Should Amtrak be nationalized and upgraded to along the lines of Japan's Bullet train system?

Question

Currently the U.S. Government is looking for ways to provide stimulus to the economy. By nationalizing the public railway system and upgrading it we could help the economy and the country in many ways. A better faster railway system will help alleviate air traffic and be a more interesting way to travel and possibly use less enenrgy at the same time. Japan's railway system was nationalized for many years. After the system was developed it was then sold to the public.

Answer 1

Railfan states the issues pretty clearly... conflicts with freight traffic, conflicts with auto and pedestrian traffic, and equipment costs.

I don't see how "Nationalization" would solve ANYTHING... the USA hasn't been into Nationalization since WWII.

A Nation-wide High Speed Rail would require acquisition of HUGE amounts of land to build the rail routes... The tracks have to be placed such that there are NO conflicts with other trains, cars, and people & animals.

I personally would LOVE to see rail-travel become more effiecent and available... I commute by rail (CALTRAIN) and make a monthly trip of 80 miles by train (ACE, not Amtrak), and both systems are efficient, inexpensive and ON SCHEDULE

Answer 2

It isn't a question of should it be nationalized.  It is a question of how will you upgrade the entire with the infrastructure all ready in place.  First off, if AMTRAK is to ever be equal to Japan's Bullet Train System they should have done that starting in the 1970's.  Yes the economy was shaky, but the room was there for a high speed rail network.  So what has happened to the room many ask?  Answer is the government has found the roads and airlines to be more important than that of rail travel.  Now, the country faces more roads, government bailing out airlines and no future for a HIGH SPEED Network.  Why do I say this.  Look at the current Freight railroads in place.  CSX and NS eat up most of the east coast.  Where on earth besides those tracks do you think you are going to pave room for a High Speed Network.  CSX can't even keep up with track maintenance and NS has little to no Amtrak trains travel over its network.  So you are looking at Huge Cost in Track/Signal/Switch Updgrades.  Then what are you going to do about the Highway grade crossings?  You maybe be able to build an overpass here and there, but many towns eat up the railroad scenery.  Then you have to worry about Freight traffic.  How would a 200mph passenger train be able to keep on schedule with a 60mph freight......it just doesn't happen.  Since the Freight Railroads are Corporations, do you really think they are going to upgrade every piece of equipment, just so they can move trains at 200mph.....I don't think so.  The only way to get CSX  to upgrade and do maintenance projects is through government funding!!!  So a NATIONAL HIGH SPEED RAIL NETWORK in the U.S will never exist because we missed our chance years ago.  Even is it were to be nationalized and owned by the people, many won't buy into it because it is more money coming out of their pocket that a lot of people don't have, especially since our economy is falling into a recession.