Posted on 08/12/2010 6:52:11 AM PDT by Willie Green
The federal government has the chance to rebuild the nation's passenger rail service by upgrading Amtrak's aging fleet of locomotives. We must seize that opportunity.
The idea is for Amtrak to secure loan guarantees under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program to revitalize its fleet with higher-speed, diesel-electric locomotives that would reach speeds between 110 and 124 mph. Up to $35 billion is available under the program, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's website.
If it happens, GE Transportation, as the top locomotive manufacturer in the United States, would be poised perfectly to compete for the Amtrak contract.
The idea is good for Amtrak, good for GE Transportation, good for GE's 4,000 Erie employees, good for its 700 Grove City employees, good for GE's 250 suppliers in Pennsylvania alone and, most of all, this is a great idea for America's traveling public.
In recent days, the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership has led support of the plan, and they deserve credit for doing so. First Erie City Council stepped forward in support, followed by Erie County Executive Barry Grossman, County Council and Mayor Joe Sinnott.
The plan would give Amtrak's fleet better fuel efficiency, lower emissions and higher speed. GE Transportation has said the new locomotives would deliver an estimated fuel savings of 15 percent "and an emission reduction of approximately 60 percent" compared to the older locomotives still in service.
(Excerpt) Read more at goerie.com ...
You do understand, of course, that those revenue tariffs on imported goods will be paid by American citizens who are already overburdened by taxes and stand to see another hike come January 2011.
If that's what they want to buy, then it OK with me if they pay the tax on it. At least then they'll have jobs making tax-free stuff for the rest of us instead of collecting unemployment.
“Passenger rail systems are not only more fuel efficient per passenger-mile compared to individual automobiles, they are also much more durable and have longer ecoomic lifespans.”
All this might be true if you could accurately predict future demand. You can’t, which means huge investments in road beds that go where no one wants to go. We have been through this before. Trains go from train station to train station, cars go exactly where you want to go. There is a huge disconnect between these two realities.
I don’t buy that.
Rail travel and mass transit is useless. It is only for high density clusters. If you want to kill property values then you suck all the business and move it around rail travel stations near the high rises owned by insiders.
Mass transit will NOT fix congestion, it will just force people to cram into stink filled cattle movers.
I don’t buy that.
Rail travel and mass transit is useless. It is only for high density clusters. If you want to kill property values then you suck all the business and move it around rail travel stations near the high rises owned by insiders.
Mass transit will NOT fix congestion, it will just force people to cram into stink filled cattle movers.
What Willie’s not telling you is that Amtrak doesn’t treat depreciation of capital assets as an expense. So, if the railroad rolling stock is treated as “free” for accounting purposes, yeah, it’s cheaper than the cost of purchasing and replacing an automobile.
All this might be true if you could accurately predict future demand.
The future demand can be predicted just as accurately as for a road or highway.
Trains go from train station to train station, cars go exactly where you want to go.Trains follow the track.
There is a huge disconnect between these two realities.Yes, trains are much faster and fuel efficient.
Which came first Willie, tracks or roads?
If private industry thinks passenger rail service will make money then they will build it themselves.
No they won't.
Private industry funds politicians to obstruct passenger rail competition so that they can maintain the status quo without investing in newer, more efficient technology.
What about those of us in the West like California, you don’t see a problem with spending our tax dollars so the East coast can get new locomotives?
The crappy light rail we have here in Sacramento is a perfect example of a solution to a problem that didn’t exist. I watch the light rail train every time I’m stuck waiting for it, once a day if not twice and the cars are almost all empty during rush hour.
I wish they’d decommission it. What a waste of money.
What about those of us in the West like California, you don’t see a problem with spending our tax dollars so the East coast can get new locomotives?
Not at all.
Amtrak serves more passengers in California than any other state in the Union.
You have nothing to whine about.
Where did you get those stats. We have what, three major routes unless you count the commuter trains in LA.
I’m not whining, I’m tired of you expecting everyone here to embrace (and pay) for rail service. Do you even post in other threads?
I happen to love rail, in Europe. They actually go to even little towns and there’s main stations everywhere.
What has rail done for California?
You have a lot of nerve to expect everyone to pay for your pet project and then get indignant when people mention your rail boondoggle.
This is California, we drive.
Where did you get those stats. We have what, three major routes unless you count the commuter trains in LA.
National Association of Railroad Passengers
2008 Amtrak fact sheet by state (pdf)
Click here for other fact sheets (by train, by station, by congressional district, previous years, etc.)
In 2008, California was #1 with almost 10.7 million passengers.
New York was a very close 2nd with 10.4 million.
That does not include "pass thru" passengers such as those traveling from Boston to DC who have to "pass thru" NY without having to get on or off the train. New York had about 1.1 million "pass thru" passengers. California apparently didn't have any.
I believe that 2009 Amtrak ridership fell a little short of 2008's record numbers. But 2010 is well on it's way to shatter the previous records. Tough to say whether Cal will still be leading NY, but it certain that they're both higher than the 2008 data.
Your heard wrong. Try again in about two months.
Your heard wrong. Try again in about two months.
Even private lines are dangerous.
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