[PGR88]

The tracks are privately owned.

That's nonsense comment. who runs the service? who owns the railcars? who controls the pricing? Who regulates the terms of service?

In fact, Fed.gov control of passenger rail, run on privately held freight tracks, creates a situation WORSE than total monopoly.

[Jeff Chandler]

16% of rail traffic is passenger, which runs on private tracks. Freight trains are privately owned, including the freight railcars, and while they are required to allow on and give precedence to Amtrak on their tracks, it is common for Amtrak travelers to find themselves sidetracked, waiting for long slow freight trains -- far longer than the side tracks -- to pass by. That's why Amtrak can't keep on schedule.

Those (private) freight trains are loaded to the hilt and don't run until they can tack on as many cars as possible, and given barely enough power to make it over inclines. Speed is not a concern for them, only profit.

[Chickensoup]

The owners still have to give permission for trains to pass