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“Even freight trains hauled by steam locos used to be faster than the freights running today.”

100 mph+ passenger service between major American cities was routine before WWII. Powered by steam locomotives.

But to do this requires a major roadbed investment and today no American railroad has track that can handle speeds like that.

After reading this whole thread, I want to say that your comments are the ones that I totally agree with. I’m not as savvy on train historical information, but I know that if the Federal Government was not in the way...we could have great rail transportation. Both passenger and freight.

I’ve seen about 70% of the USA, but there are a couple of places like Maine, and Washington State, etc, that I would like to visit.....and I don’t want to fly or take my car.

That said, it isn’t a matter of autos vs trains as some make it sound. We need both, our independence with small economical cars, and we need a great system of travel without having to expose our bodies to the TSA.

For me travel is about ‘the journey’ and not just ‘the destination’, which is what the latter... Airline travel is about. A Train can give you comfort and a visual trip without the road rage traffic and the stress of driving.

Your explanations really are what could change a negative into a positive. Amtrack is being made by our government to be like the Orient Express, an elite form of travel not everyone can afford. That’s not what we need....but it’s what they want. It’s a disappointment and money pit.

I believe Ireland has had a problem with loss of train and bus service, and with gas so expensive there, it has caused a hardship for their people to get around....government being the problem as well? Some bus and train service to Dublin, but not the real daily services needed.

Thanks for all the information because we need to see where the US missed it, and how it could be fixed with the right people in our political environment. Too many see public transportation as becoming more like EU, when it’s a practical matter. Cars are not necessarily more cheaper to operate, and young people need a way to get around without a vehicle, in towns big enough to handle a system of public transportation that makes sense.