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William Voelz's avatar

Eisenhower went for concrete instead of rail. It was all over for trains except for freight runs and some scenic passenger routes. I like trains. But air and concrete won the battle. I have been all over Europe on first class train passes. Fabulous. On time. Smoothe. Quiet. Gorgeous Stations. Dropped you in city centers close to everything. Even transfers to water and canals. America wanted Happy Motoring and Doris Day “See the USA in your Chevrolet”. That and a two car garage. Hard to overcome.

Bill Moyers is a clown. Serious as a heart attack but a clown nonetheless.

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Casey Jones's avatar

I don't do ad hominem but otherwise spot on, I'm afraid. There are some gorgeous runs in this country and probably enough demand east of the Mississippi but the Amtrak geniuses can't even make the NE Corridor work, much less anything long haul.

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tom clark's avatar

Pittsburgh ran electric streetcars (trolley cars) from downtown out to the suburbs until well into the 70's. Now the lines and right-of-ways have been converted to light rail and the new system is working. EROEI is the killer for most existing systems in the NE Corridor, including the longer runs, and don't think the "Amtrak geniuses" don't know this.

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Glitterpuppy's avatar

Europe the size of New England

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