Chance to ride the rails is a dream come true

The Dispatch ^ | Thursday, September 02, 2010 | Barbara Presnell

[Siena Dreaming]

The second to the last line lays it right out in the open with the loss of "independence".

I caught that too.

[BuckyKat]

I am a Fair Trade conservative...I believe in competing on a level playing field.

Isn't throwing "conservative" into that mix a contradiction?

[Wuli]

Is “Willie Green” actually an Obama admin plant who not only posts these notices here, but helps orchestrate the production of the pro-mass-transit funding articles in papers across the country? Inquiring minds want to know.

[guitarplayer1953]

I'd be in favor of setting a national over the road tractor trailer gas price similar to off road farm gas to cut the cost of goods.

[Wuli]

“I’d be in favor of cutting the subsidies of trucking”

What are the “subsidies” to trucking?

[guitarplayer1953]

Here in the mid west all the power lines are on poles just waiting for the next twister to knock them over and then all the electric companies come from all the states around to help put them back up. If the buried them they would only need to do it once.

[Wuli]

The $25 dollar one way fare for the 168 mile trip from Raliegh to Charlotte is a subsidized fare and NOT the actual cost of the trip. People think they are sometimes getting a “bargain” on a train trip, but they have paid a whole lot more when the tax-payer funded subsidies for the rails are added in.

[Recon Dad]

Who cares who wrote the stupid article. They're probably like you Willie. Anything that rides on rails and goes Choo Choo causes them to have an Orgasm.

[Dem Guard]

And roller coasters are the only trains that have made a real profit in the last 50 years.

[Paladin2]

"What are the “subsidies” to trucking?"

Trucks do not pay road tax proportionate to the damage they do to roads compared to cars (and SUVs).

[Dem Guard]

I was thinking about taking the train from Charlotte to Raleigh to go the state fair. For 100.00 for my wife and
I, plus parking, and additional transportation on the other end I’ll pass. I would enjoy a dinner train, but the last one I knew about in NC was sold and left the state a decade ago.

[21twelve]

We had some relatives “ride the rails” from Ohio to Seattle. They arrived at our house, and even before unpacking were making arrangements to cancel their return tickets and a book a flight for the both of them!

Part of it though was the man is a VERY picky eater. I recall as a kid going on the train alone to visit a friend that had moved away. As a 13 year old it was lots of fun. Walking around the train, sneaking into a fancy “suite” and hanging out, etc. Probably not so much fun at 50!

[Wuli]

“Trucks do not pay road tax proportionate to the damage they do to roads compared to cars (and SUVs).”]

By whose calculation; under which state’s levys; where’s the data???

[Paladin2]

My calculations. Fuel tax. You can look it up.

[Dem Guard]

When was the last time you saw any public transportation system that was actually cleaned regularly, not just having trash picked up? Charlotte has a brand new commuter train and it is getting dirty looking already. I heard the same complaint about the train between Raleigh and Charlotte. Airplanes? Taxis? God Lord! I feel like I need a mechanics jumpsuit to ride in any of them. All aboard for bedbugs! Next stop snot corners!

[Gondring]

What are the “subsidies” to trucking?

One example (check Google to learn of more): Road construction (especially with such things as the "Stimulus Package") are costs dropped largely on the taxpayer, with trucking user fees far less than the actual cost burden trucks place on the road network. When trucking pays 60% of their burden back into the system, the taxpayers are stuck with the other 40%. That 40% greatly exceeds any rail subsidies.

Also, this (PDF) has some interesting considerations.

[mad_as_he$$]

Willie, seriously you need help.

[Wuli]

“with trucking user fees far less than the actual cost burden trucks place on the road network. When trucking pays 60% of their burden back into the system, the taxpayers are stuck with the other 40%. That 40% greatly exceeds any rail subsidies. “

I asked for data and you give me more statements with no data to support them.

[Grizzled Bear]

I heard the same complaint about the train between Raleigh and Charlotte. Airplanes? Taxis? God Lord! I feel like I need a mechanics jumpsuit to ride in any of them. All aboard for bedbugs!

With your own RV you don't have these problems.

[CedarDave]

Actuallly, the standard one-way fare from Raleigh to Charlotte is only $25. However many discounts are available for seniors, students, veterans, etc. etc.

The roundtrip fare Belen-ABQ-Santa Fe (200 miles) on Bill Richardson's $450 million dollar railroad is only $9 with discounts available. Farebox recovery is 9 percent; taxpayers (local, state and federal) pay the other 91 percent. Only a couple of thousand people per day ride, many state government employees. A new Republican governor should be elected in November and hopefully will inject some reality into the fares.

Railrunner in I-25 median - typical traffic flow.