JoeBas wrote:Why does it have to be a race to the bottom? Why can't we level a playing field without someone feeling they're being "Penalized"?In addition, Col Perkowski’s point supposes a self-fulfilling prophecy: freight hosts reduce speeds due to lack of investment, Amtrak reduces system speeds and downgrades service while raising fares, fewer people due to reduced capacity and features, Amtrak raises fares higher and cuts amenities more, people complain in ever-decreasing numbers to a Congress that hasn’t been so divided since 1859 and to an uncaring FRA, the government orders Amtrak to reduce losses, and there come the Adios drumheads — but piecemeal.
And oh yeah, things aren't perfect now, so chuck the whole thing. That's the (new) American Way, right?
There is an alternative, gentlemen and any ladies who happen across this talk: negotiating a broad-base incentive tax credit and investment plan to improve freight capacity and passenger speeds. This could include allowing the Last Round of mergers between BNSF/CN/probably NS, UP/CP/probably CSX, and KCS to whoever gets the jump ball. It could also involve (blech) reduced government oversight. Y’all know I’m a fierce critic of this administration and its policies, but one thing they have is a direct line between the transportation industry, Congress, and the White House in SecTrans Chao. As a shipping company executive, she very intimately understands the need for intermodal transportation and speedy container trains out of Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, Hampton Roads, Galveston, and New York Harbor. Generally those important routes are shared by Amtrak, and would benefit both public and private interests.