The Japanese are experts in running railroads. Why don't we just invite them to run Amtrak?
Their expertise would fall into the trashcan if someone said "Gee, besides all of that, go serve Siberia".
Our people do not lack the expertise of how to run a railroad ~ they simply lack a market for what they are selling.
Senator Charles E. Schumer (D - NY), said, "Eliminating Amtrak wouldn't just cost us billions of dollars in operating funds for the trains and the business people and tourists they bring here, it also shreds the safety net we'll need in case - God forbid - our airspace is shut down again like it was after 9/11."
The Administration’s proposal is seen by some as basically flawed because of the length of time, and money, that would be required to actually shut down Amtrak.
“Earlier today, President Bush sent to Congress his proposed budget for FY '06. It provides no funding for Amtrak. In contrast, this year we are spending $1.4 billion, of which $1.2 billion is from a federal appropriation to support our operations and capital programs across the country."
Not one freeper read between the lines? All but $200M of their budget was stolen? ...Six/sevenths of their budget...stolen.
>>The Japanese are experts in running railroads. Why don't we just invite them to run Amtrak?
The big issue is to do as the Japanese did in '85, privatize and decentralize a huge public trans. service.
Japan has dozens of small, local area trains, and one decentralized national train split in to several branches. If Amtrack were to be sold off, I'm sure quite a few companies could make money off a Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Fran link up, and the South could link up for cheap as well. Private train companies in Japan make LOADS of cash, and own baseball teams, malls, and advertising companies.
Once people resign Amtrack to actually making money, the money making will begin.
The Japanese railway is privatised. They split it into several large regional companies. Apparently, it works.
Regards, Ivan