How Amtrak Fails the National Parks and America

National Parks Traveler ^ | 8 August 2018 | Alfred Runte, Ph.D.

[Publius]

The cost of first class (sleeper) accommodations on a train is almost exactly the same as first class seating on a plane. But you can get some real bargains if you book early, just like on a plane.

[Publius]

Ah, you've read Atlas Shrugged and my book on the subject. If you haven't read my book, please do so because Billthedrill and I need the royalties.

[left that other site]

Years ago, my late husband and I loaded up the Harleys on the Autotrain and went to Lorton VA. Because of that terrific trip, we were able to participate in Rolling Thunder and honor our Veterans. I hope that is not discontinued.

[left that other site]

Already read it and wrote a review! :-)

[Publius]

The airline industry already did that.

Almost, but not exactly. Southwest Airlines operates like an airborne bus service, but the other airlines use hub-and-spoke arrangements. Like a train, Southwest can hit all the smaller airports on a given linear route. The other airlines won't do that.

If you live in one of those small towns along the line, a long distance network train is the way to go, rather than drive 300 miles to the nearest airport for a hub-and-spoke trip.

[left that other site]

Also, I remember the Harvey Girls.

AND once had a sister who tried to come between me and my man.

GOD HELP HER!

[Publius]

The Autotrain makes a profit, so I don't see it discontinued unless Congress decides to zero out Amtrak without coming up with another paradigm for passenger rail travel.

This is why I've been working on the idea since 2001 -- because I firmly believe that some day Congress and a Republican administration will decide to give Amtrak the axe. God knows Amtrak probably deserves it.

[Publius]

Judy Garland: "On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe"

[Sacajaweau]

These should all be STATE Parks....and half the size.

[exDemMom]

We don’t take first class on the plane.

We do compare costs.

In January, my husband, son, and I went down to Orlando on the auto-train. The cost was comparable to flying (cattle-class) and renting a car, but the view was much better.

I still want to go back to Virginia and visit the Squashapenny Junction shop that was near the railroad tracks, if it is still open for business. The shop’s name intrigues me. I would have never known about it if not for that train ride.

I am very tempted to just buy a pass for a few weeks and travel around the country on the train after I retire.

[Truthoverpower]

My state and county Marin are ALL about trains
Here in Marin Sonoma they built the SMART train
hundred million tearing up San Francisco Blvd.
holds like 50 people Gereslly half full
Cause 19th century technology is smart don’t cha know
Oh and I know. Bullet trains. Bullet. Train.
Uh huh
Ummmmmm
You go ahead and go 160 mph in earthquake country
I’ll take a flight or drive. Thanks.

[MayflowerMadam]

When we were looking in to traveling on Amtrak I did a lot of research. We ruled it out after learning how “white folk” are treated on the trains. A great number of travelers have said Amtrak is simply a “make-work program” for blacks. There are stories of conductors forcing whites out of their reserved seats so blacks can sit there. White ladies have been forced off trains at un-manned depots in the middle of night, in the middle of nowhere.

We would absolutely love to experience train travel — but not under the current conditions.

[Publius]

The national parks were the creation of Theodore Roosevelt with a little help from the railroads and John Muir.

If you adhere to the Constitution of the Founders -- what Robert Bork referred to as the Constitution-in-Exile -- the feds can only own land that has a military purpose. Put a missile silo on a national park, and it would pass muster.

But we live under the Living Constitution, the Constitution whose meaning changes even though the words remain the same.

[left that other site]

“The Autotrain makes a profit”

Well, that’s a good thing! Profit is good. :-)

[left that other site]

That lavender dress is gorgeous!

Thanks for the link. I remember the movie in B & W, because I watched it on TV many years ago.

[Publius]

Cause 19th century technology is smart don’t cha know

FReepers love to use that argument, but it doesn't hold water. Highways are Roman Empire technology. Should we not build highways because they're 3th Century BC technology?

[nuke_road_warrior]

Amtrack came about because the Railroads wanted out of the passenger business. The quality of service on the “named” trains was steadily declining for years, published time tables were so optimistic that you were luck to leave on the same day as advertised, and cleanliness was next to nonexistent. On a trip from Los Angeles to Rock Springs, WY on the Union Pacific’s City of Los Angeles (once a premier train competing with Santa Fe’s Super Chief) in the sixties, the train was 5 hrs late leaving LA and we got sidetracked for every drag freight along the way. The coach cars were filthy and the train staff didn’t really care. The only conclusion was that the RRs wanted to drive passenger traffic to the airlines and make their money on freight. A few years later, Amtrack was born to relieve the RRs of passenger traffic (which most of them wanted anyway), to keep passenger rail service from DC to Boston, and NY to Chicago, and to create a new government pork barrel program.

If the U.S. is to regain a viable passenger rail service, passenger trains must make money, must offer something air travel doesn’t (hint, roomier seating, not being pawed by TSA, and bring back real dinning cars) and provide clean cars helpful service, and reasonably on time schedules. I don’t have the answers but I would love to eschew air travel and tour the country by rail. However, in the current environment I don’t see it happening.

[Sacajaweau]

That the Feds can only own lands for Military Purposes is wrong. They owned all the land from the borders of the 13 original states to the Pacific. As states evolved, they gave “pieces” up.

[Publius]

I’ve done a lot of traveling on Amtrak over the years, and I subscribe to publications and websites that cover rail. I’ve never heard any of the stories of which you write. Nor have I had any problems with black employees.

[Publius]

From the US Constitution, Article I, Section 8:

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;

This is why I argue that a national park is constitutional if you place a missile silo on it. (Yes, I'm being facetious, but only a little bit.)