W-G,
It would be terrific if some of the new “stimulus” money were invested to buy new laser-straight right-of-ways. That change would eliminate delays caused because trains need to slow down to take tight-radius curves.
It would be terrific if some of the “stimulus” money were invested in high-tech road bed. For example, the “express tracks” between New York and Boston have many miles of “high speed” rail spiked to decaying wooden railroad ties. Those ties simply cannot be trusted to “handle” the stresses of trains moving over them at high speed.
It would be terrific if some of the “stimulus” money were invested in modern train signals and modern scheduling software. Then, more trains could use the same track, with less time lost from being “held” on sidings.
But I suspect that, once again, the “stimulus” money will be used to subsidize some of Amtrak’s operating costs, primarily salaries, perks and pensions.
Monopolies really do NOT operate for the benefit of their customers, do they?
Of course not.
That's precisely why the Freight Railroads should not be allowed to have monopoly ownership of the tracks and rail right-of-way.
The infrastructure itself (tracks & stations) should be government owned and maintained). Then private freight and passenger rail can all operate and compete fairly on the same track. Just like the airlines do in our airways and airports. Just like our trucking and busing companies do on our highways, and just like our barge and passenger ferries compete on our rivers, canals and waterways.