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Private passenger train service to begin in Florida in 2015---

Posted on 1/15/14 at 2:22 pm
Posted by I B Freeman
Member since Oct 2009
27843 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 2:22 pm
LINK

There is no question in my mind that Amtrak should be broken up and sold. Amtrak received $1.7 billion in 2013 in taxpayer subsidies. Florida Eastern recognizes the opportunity in high density population areas and certainly other folks would do the same in other parts of the country but for Amtrak.

Amtrak is a money loser here and everywhere else outside the population dense Northeast. Nevertheless our Congressional delegation votes for Amtraks subsidies under the misguided thinking that encouraging Amtrak to operate in the State is a good thing.

Amtrak has killed more people in Louisiana than any other common carrier over the last 20 years. Think of the times you hear about them hitting cars. Their ridership is terrible. Their operations are out of date and inept.

Good luck in Flordia and hopefully one day good riddance to Amtrak.
Posted by Jimbeaux28
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2007
4083 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 2:28 pm to
Can you quote some highlights of the article? Can't access on my phone
Posted by vl100butch
Ridgeland, MS
Member since Sep 2005
36833 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 2:30 pm to
one way to help fix passenger rail, bring back hauling mail on passenger trains, you could allow UPS and FedEx to haul packages as well...

if you go back and look at the history, removal of the mail cars is what killed a lot of passenger trains...

Posted by foshizzle
Washington DC metro
Member since Mar 2008
40599 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 2:50 pm to
quote:

Can you quote some highlights of the article? Can't access on my phone


Can't access at all unless you have a Wall Street Journal online subscription.
Posted by Rohan2Reed
Member since Nov 2003
75674 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 3:49 pm to
I read this this morning. Awesome stuff. Love how Jenkins calls out the bullshite government subsidized high speed rail they're trying to build in California. Florida is doing something similar privately and they're going to be finished in two years! Should be a lesson for all state governments that you don't need government dollars to get things done. Quicker and cheaper too.
Posted by TX Tiger
at home
Member since Jan 2004
39279 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 3:57 pm to
Also All Aboard Florida.
This post was edited on 1/15/14 at 4:00 pm
Posted by I B Freeman
Member since Oct 2009
27843 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 3:58 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/15/14 at 7:41 pm
Posted by Rohan2Reed
Member since Nov 2003
75674 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 7:36 pm to
This post was edited on 1/15/14 at 8:51 pm
Posted by notiger1997
Metairie
Member since May 2009
61519 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 7:39 pm to
quote:

Amtrak has killed more people in Louisiana than any other common carrier over the last 20 years. Think of the times you hear about them hitting cars


What the frick does this have to do with the debate? We have alot of stupid people around and this can't be blamed on Amtrak.
Overall, though I agree with your rant. Welcome to a world that doesn't revolve around film tax credits.
Posted by Asgard Device
The Daedalus
Member since Apr 2011
11562 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 7:41 pm to
Not high speed and doesn't even stop anywhere in the Tampa Bay Area?

Damn. I was hoping for more.
This post was edited on 1/15/14 at 7:45 pm
Posted by I B Freeman
Member since Oct 2009
27843 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 7:44 pm to
quote:

What the frick does this have to do with the debate?


It is just a fact--a private railroad could not have stood the liabilities Amtrak absorbs with our subsidies. They would much better crossings--idiot proof crossings.

Nonetheless, why subsidize a common carrier that has a horrible safety rating while safer common carriers work without subsidies?
Posted by I B Freeman
Member since Oct 2009
27843 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 7:45 pm to
(no message)
Posted by fleaux
section 0
Member since Aug 2012
8741 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 7:52 pm to
So when stupid people drive on the tracks and die, it's Amtraks fault??

Posted by GeauxxxTigers23
TeamBunt General Manager
Member since Apr 2013
62514 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 7:58 pm to
I used to ride AMTRAK along the west coast and it was a enjoyable experience.
Posted by notiger1997
Metairie
Member since May 2009
61519 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 8:02 pm to
quote:

They would much better crossings--idiot proof crossings.


It is my understanding that Amtrak uses the same non idiot proof tracks as the private freight railroad companies use.
Posted by Quidam65
Q Continuum
Member since Jun 2010
20488 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 8:26 pm to
The company that, for all intents and purposes, built the Florida east coast with passenger rail, looks to once again do it.

Interesting, and better them than FedGov.
Posted by I B Freeman
Member since Oct 2009
27843 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 8:26 pm to
They do but they travel probably 50% faster and have a record much worse than freight trains but that is somewhat beside the point.

Amtrak as essentially a government agency is not deterred by tort. Pay out on a death--who cares just use your subsidy. I doubt with no more ridership than they have any private entities would endure the liability cost relative to the revenue. Contrast that with the SP that has maybe 1000 times the revenue in the State and travels slower and has fewer death causing accidents then it makes financial sense.

Yes the liability should not be that much as it is stupid to sitting on a track with a train coming but we all know how stupid juries are in the state. LINK
This post was edited on 1/15/14 at 8:37 pm
Posted by Koothrappali
Everywhere, at the speed of light
Member since Feb 2013
59 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 8:49 pm to
quote:

It is just a fact--a private railroad could not have stood the liabilities Amtrak absorbs with our subsidies. They would much better crossings--idiot proof crossings.


That makes absolutely no sense. First, Amtrak already uses the very same crossings that the private freight companies use. How are private RR companies' liabilities any different now?

Second, can you give me an example of an "idiot proof crossing"? Hell, can you give me an example of a "much better crossing"?
Posted by Rohan2Reed
Member since Nov 2003
75674 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 8:51 pm to
quote:

Not high speed and doesn't even stop anywhere in the Tampa Bay Area?

Damn. I was hoping for more.


It's a great concept though to connect Orlando to Fort Lauderdale to Miami. What did the article say? 50 million between travel between those 3 places every year? That's a very large potential market if they can keep ticket costs down and have an attractive central station.
Posted by TX Tiger
at home
Member since Jan 2004
39279 posts
Posted on 1/15/14 at 8:53 pm to
quote:

Not high speed and doesn't even stop anywhere in the Tampa Bay Area?
Click the link I provided. Tampa has been added.
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