Looking at Amtrak’s profit/loss record, I would agree that the key to maintaining a rail system in the US would be to limit the routes to those areas practically served by rail which also have demonstrated a good level of ridership. If this were followed up by improving service in those areas, a modest a mount of expansion could be entertained. The political challenge is getting the votes in the Senate for this. I suspect that Amtrak keeps many routes which literally bleed money so as to maintain the votes of senators from the states involved. But if one looks at ridership, a practical rail system would have the following routes:
Northeast Corridor
One (not three) routes down to Floria from the Corridor
A Great Lakes Corridor that would spoke out to St. Louis. This corridor could eventually have one link from Cleveland back over to the Northeast Corridor and maybe spoke out to KC eventually.
A Texas Corridor that would extend up to OKC (Dallas to Oklahoma City is one of the few profitable Amtrak routes!) This Texas Triangle (Hou-SA-DFW) plus OKC could eventually go over to New Orleans and also add an OKC to KC route should a ‘phase 2′ ever become practical. This would set up a fairly national system should a Great Lakes to Northeast Corridor ever pan out.
Then, finally, a San Fran to San Diego route, with a couple of spokes inland, could also work. As a tourist attraction, one of the existing three lines across the west could also be brought on-line again as part of “phase two”. All three of the current cross-the-west lines lose big bucks, but one loses less than the other two, and there MAY be enough market for one, at least during summer and also the winter holiday season.
Such a limited system could focus on improving quality and service, which would generate more customers. I take the train from Joliet to St. Louis for business sometimes when the timetables fit my schedule, but sometimes I need to get to St. Louis earlier or leave later and so I drive. But when I can take the train it is excellent because I can work on my laptop and have quality time to think.
Now if they could only get WIFI going so that I could read Pajamas Media while I’m travelling!
