Posted on 07/22/2010 6:10:01 AM PDT by Willie Green
WHITEFISH, Mont. — When I was 7, my mother took my three siblings and me on a train ride from my hometown of Brainerd to visit my grandmother, who lived in Staples. It was a 30-mile journey that took about 45 minutes.
The trip was faster and cheaper by car. (Gas was about 32 cents a gallon back then, and the train tickets were $2 or $3 for each of us). But Mom thought it would be a fun and educational experience. The trip was unremarkable, but the experience — complete with a conductor who hollered "all aboard!" just like they did in the movies — stuck with me.
That was the last time I'd ridden a train until a week ago Friday, when I helped chaperone a dozen high school kids from my church to a camp on Flathead Lake in Montana, near Glacier National Park.
This trip was just a tad longer than my first one. We spent 26 hours to Montana on board and 26 hours back to our departure point in Winona. And, unlike my childhood journey, we ate and slept on the train.
Now that many of the nation's rail lines have been ripped out, sold for scrap and replaced by bike trails and farmland, passenger trains are making a comeback. The Empire Builder, the Amtrak train we rode on than runs from Chicago to Vancouver, is regularly filled to near capacity, and Amtrak ridership has been steadily rising over the last decade.
In places all over the country, including Rochester, city and state leaders are lobbying for high-, medium- and regular speed passenger train lines to run through their cities.
It's pretty apparent that we gave up on rail transportation way too early in this country. It's still a safe, eco-friendly and relatively affordable way to travel — if you're lucky enough to have a destination that's along an Amtrak route.
After my journey I'm convinced that passenger rail travel has flying beat in nearly every category, but one — speed.
Some comparisons:
Leg room: There's about three times as much space between rows in coach cars on a train as there is on a plane, and the La-Z-Boy chair-like foot-rests are extremely comfy.
Freedom of movement: You will never hear a crew member aboard an Amtrak train tell you to remain seated until the captain turns off the seat belt sign. That's because there are no seat belts on Amtrak trains. That doesn't mean you won't be bounced around like a crated turkey on a semi. But you're free to move not only from one row to another or from your seat to the restroom, but also to the lounge car and the dining car, or most other passenger car on the train.
Restrooms: They're a little larger on Amtrak trains than they are on most airplanes. (You don't have to be a contortionist to change clothes in them.)
Customer service: The crews working our trains were friendly, courteous and professional.
The food: Yeah, it's overpriced. But there's a lot of variety. You can get anything from a bag of chips, pizza or a hot dog in the cafe to a $22 sirloin steak dinner in the dining car. If you're not in first class, you're lucky if you can score a bag of peanuts on an airplane these days.
Scenery: It's A-plus. The windows are wide, offering us breathtaking views of the mountains. We saw mule deer, bald eagles and a moose on our journey.
During the summer vacation season, Amtrak, in cooperation with the National Park Service, offers interpretive programs in the lounge cars on selected routes. Keith Bear, a Mandan Indian from the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, spoke and played a hand-made wooden flute during our ride home.
Security: There are no X-ray machines or grumpy TSA agents to get past at Amtrak stations. So, you don't have to worry about having your knitting needles, contact lens solution or toenail clippers confiscated. However, we did have two border patrol agents enter our car in Havre, Mont., and ask us if we were U.S. citizens. (I guess they were looking for nefarious Canadians?)
Yeah, it takes a whole lot longer to get places on Amtrak (the train travels at a maximum speed of about 65 miles per hour and makes brief stops every half hour or so). And Amtrak's overall on-time record is pretty spotty.
But it's a great travel option if time isn't an issue for you, and it allows you to avoid spending time at O'Hare Airport.
Hi Willie,
How much is the subsidy for those people to ride the train? Are you suggesting they pay anywhere close to full price?
Should say more bums want you the tax payer to subsidize their travel.
You know Willie, there is a cheaper and more effective way to stimulate passenger rail traffic: provide meaningful tax write offs for the train industry to provide it. I am pretty sure it would be cheaper to let a professional for profit train company to provide passenger rail service then to build a Government run organization. All it would require is tax write offs for running the losing business. I am sure these companies would be interested in cutting their tax bill. Just think of it like agricultural subsidies. The best part is private companies actually manage people and hold them responsible for their behavior. Do you think the metrosexuals would support private industry providing passenger rail service, or would they attack the plan as a give away to big business? Funny, leftist never get upset when a Government run entity steals their money, but watch out if its “Big Business”.
Speed and price are the two things I value in my choice of transportation.
In fact, when traveling to Manhattan from Boston on business, I would actually prefer the train if it was a no-hassle, truly non-stop trip as it would get me into Grand Central from downtown Boston in about three hours. However, as it stands today, it is a major hassle because not only do I have to park my car for $40 a day, but have to fight the city traffic getting to and from the parking garage. Then when you are actually on the train, it makes about a zillion stops along the way. I'd much rather drive my car to Milford, CT and take the metro-north commuter rail into the city.
I am hoping that transporter technology is soon developed (kind of like what they have in Star Trek) so that we can have our atoms dis-assembled and instantly re-assembled at another location. Because to be honest, commuting, whether it be by plane, train or automobile, is a major pain in the neck.
I don’t care what they say about Amtrak, I like it. We went from Los Angeles to Flagstaff and it was great! We had one of those mini sleepers.
Thank-you very much, Saundra, for the courage to defy the naysayers!
IMHO, there is nothing inherently "liberal" or "conservative" about passenger rail travel.
Yet current business interests view passenger rail as a threat and are franticly attempting to obstruct the investment that is necessary to make passenger rail a more attractive and competitive alternative in the 21st Century.
In the long run, I too would like to see Amtrak become profitable and self sustaining. But we have to make the investment in upgraded infrastructure to allow increased performance and ridership to occur before that can happen.
FWIW, the last year gas prices were at .32 was 1966. Adjusted for inflation, that’s 2.09 today.
Since most cars got much lower mileage in 1966, the cost of gas for a given trip was probably considerably higher in real terms in 1966 than today.
Comparing costs from one period to another can be challenging.
Since most cars got much lower mileage in 1966, the cost of gas for a given trip was probably considerably higher in real terms in 1966 than today.
No, that is a misconception.
I had a '66 Mustang that averaged 23/24 mpg or so.
But even the "muscle cars" of the era were no worse than the SUVs of today.
What advances were made in fuel efficiency were offset by performance sapping emissions controls.
The biggest difference between now and then is that Americans have been gradually "persuaded" to squeeze into smaller and less safe cars.
“IMHO, there is nothing inherently “liberal” or “conservative” about passenger rail travel.”
Dang Willie, you act like the “Right Wingers” are demanding the beheading of those people that DARE ride trains! Nothing can be more ludicrous! I love riding trains. I have done it even for work purposes. However, it is NOT a cost, not time, effective means of transportation in MOST of America - PERIOD!
“But we have to make the investment in upgraded infrastructure to allow increased performance and ridership to occur before that can happen.”
And THERE is the rub for most of us pesky conservatives. NO, “we” do not need to make the investment to upgrade infrastructure, etc.... Private industry/investors needs to invest in upgrading, etc... NOT “WE!”
We simply ask that you please refrain from putting your hands in MY pocket so that your dream and vision of future train expansion and usage MIGHT come to fruition!
And THERE is the rub for most of us pesky conservatives. NO, “we” do not need to make the investment to upgrade infrastructure, etc.... Private industry/investors needs to invest in upgrading, etc... NOT “WE!”
We simply ask that you please refrain from putting your hands in MY pocket so that your dream and vision of future train expansion and usage MIGHT come to fruition!
That shallow-minded, self-serving, irresponsible mantra is libertarian based, not conservative.
True conservatives are much better informed, and well aware that it is a government function to provide transportation infrastructure that promotes commerce. Regardless whether it's seaports, canals, locks & dams, roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, railroads, roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, etc. etc. etc. it is government policies and subsidies that provide the transportation infrastructure.
“...it is a government function to provide transportation infrastructure that promotes commerce.”
And again, it is a really ignorant view to think that most Americans want, or even need, to give up their personal vehicles in favor of a proven non-profitable venture.
Why don’t you promote government subsidizes for horse-drawn carriage manufactures and buggy whip shops while you are at it? I mean, if they subsidize it enough, it will create jobs with all those companies hiring people to manufacture and sell items which most Americans do not want, nor need!
Passenger trains in and of themselves do NOT promote commerce! I can guarantee that there are no people starving in their houses just screaming, “If only we had a passenger rail system, I could go to the store for food!”
If you believe this, I am sure there is a position for you in the Obama administration!
I can guarantee that there are no people starving in their houses just screaming, “If only we had a passenger rail system, I could go to the store for food!”
Actually, there are many low-income Urban Americans who are dependent on public transit not only for shopping, but also for commuting back and forth to work. Public transit is also a vital service for elderly and/or handicapped Americans who may not be physically able to safely operate their own private vehicles anymore.
Although there are a vast many issues where I disagree with liberal politics, I assure you that I am equally proud to dissociate myself from the libertarian bigots and "white flight" Private Country Club RINOs who would deprive these less advantaged Americans of the means they use for transportation to and from shopping and work.
“Actually, there are many low-income Urban Americans who are dependent on public transit not only for shopping, but also for commuting back and forth to work.”
So, they “depend upon” public transportation - as in, there is already a service available to them! More importantly, you did not defend your assertion that passenger rail service in and of itself promotes commerce. Many of those same low-income, urban Americans can walk two blocks (or less) to get their food, to their jobs, etc...
So, are those currently (highly) subsidized services not good enough? Or are you just spewing more drivel into the conversation?
So, they “depend upon” public transportation - as in, there is already a service available to them!
Which is subject to service cutbacks.
public transit riders brace for a rough ride
More importantly, you did not defend your assertion that passenger rail service in and of itself promotes commerce. Many of those same low-income, urban Americans can walk two blocks (or less) to get their food, to their jobs, etc...
I consider it a higher priority to confront ignorance and bigotry head-on.
It's totally ludicrous to assume that urban Americans can all find jobs within a mere two-blocks of home.
“I consider it a higher priority to confront ignorance and bigotry head-on.”
So, what in my statement is ignorant? Are there not people working close to home in MANY of the urban areas of America? And lord knows, we should all demand that we install a train to every company in America to ensure, just in case ONE urban American wants to ride to work there, may do so! THAT is ignorance!
Willie, you continue to expand your house of cards to develop a meme as if passenger rail cars are the only way for Americans to get to work or to eat. You want to talk about ignorance!
And exactly what is bigoted about ANY of my statements?
So, what in my statement is ignorant? Are there not people working close to home in MANY of the urban areas of America?
The half-assed way that you try to "spin" the issue is pretty ignorant.
And lord knows, we should all demand that we install a train to every company in America to ensure, just in case ONE urban American wants to ride to work there, may do so! THAT is ignorance!
And exactly what is bigoted about ANY of my statements?
big·ot·ry -- stubborn and complete intolerance of any
creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
I'd say that your intolerance of urban transit systems qualifies you as a bigot.
“I’d say that your intolerance of urban transit systems qualifies you as a bigot.”
Never have I stated that I am against urban transit systems. Not once in ANY of my posts - please show where I have ever stated this!
I would say if ANYONE is a bigot on this subject, it would be you and your delusion that passenger trains are going to cure the ills of America!
URBAN public transit systems have a purpose; however, they do not cure problems, they create them! It has been PROVEN that passenger trains (including urban transit systems) do NOT generate enough commerce to make them a viable solution to the needs of most of America!
Buses are MUCH better suited to this manner. As cities grow and constrict, bus routes can be managed and changed to serve the people of the system. Additionally, buses may not outlast a typical railcar as in longevity, but they certainly outlast the usefulness of old tracks and railcars which run to parts of the town that are decaying or already decayed (see how many tracks are no longer used in the ALL POWERFUL New York system)! The investment costs associated with trains is NOT recoverable for most systems in America today, so why do you espouse the idea that this is where America needs to invest?
Maybe someone should buy you a Lionel train set so that you can play all you want in your delusion!
I'd say that your intolerance of urban transit systems qualifies you as a bigot.
I assure you that I am equally proud to dissociate myself from the libertarian bigots and "white flight" Private Country Club RINOs...
Msr Marxist Willie, with the intolerance you spew, you're a bigot and a hypocrite! You often screech about your intolerance for libertarians. You are intolerant of the beliefs of libertarians. By your own definition, YOU ARE A BIGOT!
Willie, how can you expect anyone else to comply with your standards when you refuse to do so?
You'll find few here who will allow an intolerant bigot, such as you, to intimidate them into supporting the rape of the taxpayer to fund your bizarre train fetish. Put up your own capital!
To paraphrase Mother Marx's advise to her son, Karl; Quit mooching other people's money and go earn your own!
Willie calling people bigot is usually what liberals do.. Oh by they way, in Illinois I can count how many times Metra and the CTA had to be BAILED OUT!!! The trend is that companies is moving away from the City and into the suburbs.. Do you want that banned??? Do you want the Government to force companies move back to the city so people have no choice but take the train??
Average mileage in 1965 = 15.9 mpg.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/CAFE/HistoricalCarFleet.htm
Average mileage in 2005 = 19.8 mpg.
http://www.google.org/recharge/dashboard/calculator
Average gas cost for 1000 mile trip in 1965 (constant dollars) = $131.45.
Average gas cost for 1000 mile trip today ($2.75) = $138.89.
Not much difference.
I strongly suspect if you converted this to hours of work required to purchase the gas at the median salary the trip is much cheaper today. But it’s too early to do those calculations.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.