[Mind-numbed Robot]

However, nobody ever wants to put up private money to build light rail. It's a boondoggle that can only be built with massive amounts of subsidies from people who will never ride it. And only after they underestimate the cost and overestimate ridership.

But look at all the union jobs it creates. Unions are the big problem for all railroads. When Amtrak was first started, after the continuing bailout of Penn Central, the unions negotiated a deal so that if any union worker were laid off by Amtrak that worker would get six years severence.

Incidentally, my first comment was intended as humor. Obviously, not very successful.

[sionnsar]

I enjoy trains. But a trip on Amtrak back around 1980 pretty much ensured that unless their rates come down considerably and their service up in proportion, I’ll put up with the annoyances of airplane travel.