[PGR88]

Amtrak is what you get when the government subsidizes a dying industry.

Its dying because its government regulated, mandated and controlled - and has been, increasingly so, for at least 110 years.

What would passenger rail travel be if it were completely deregulated and thrown open to human initiative, free-investment and free-management?

We will never know.

[Dr. Sivana]

What would passenger rail travel be if it were completely deregulated and thrown open to human initiative, free-investment and free-management?

In this country, not much, because air travel is more efficient. Sharing with freight lines does not work well because most freight moves more slowly.

You would probably still have a viable northeast corridor, and maybe a couple of routes between well traveled cities (e.g. Dallas/Houston, LA/San Fran), but for passenger travel, cars and planes make the most sense, and roads efficiently serve multiple purposes. Even in a radically free market, who would want to build a rail to Chicago? If the city decays, the route is worthless. Passenger rail days are past in large, developed countries.