In re the potential loss of Amtrak story:
I don't think Amtrak is going anywhere; it's 'only' $200 Million to keep it running, and Congress has so much fun 'saving' unprofitable lines.
In fact, Congress is the reason that Amtrak is unprofitable: local Reps. and Senators demand that unprofitable lines stay running, but the subsidies don't cover the expense. Example: One line, the New Orleans to Los Angeles, gets a Federal subsidy of $350/passenger; everyone realizes that an airline ticket would be cheaper, but the Reps. don't want the line shut down.
Amtrak DOES make money though. The Washington-New York-Boston line (aka Metroliner) is popular AND very profitable. Amtrak would have a chance if allowed to shut down the unprofitable lines and build more Metroliner-style corrider services.
Here is a
link to some background on it.
Oh well...
Amtrak makes sense ( and cents) on the East Coast...elsewhere, it's highly questionable...
Meeting time. Back in a bit.
Your post: in a nutshell, Congress and the government reward failure...
To the govt you are making money when you are only 200 million in arears. Wouldn't you love to see one of us try that?