by Noel Weaver
There are probably at least 20 corridor type routes that could be operated with proper state support and at a much less cost than more LD routes and providing much better service to the areas in question as well. In a few cases the LD trains serve some of these areas with one or possibly two daily trains but in most cases the LD trains do not provide a really useful in state service because of the hours that some corridor points are served.
Many state governments will not touch rail passenger service with a "ten foot pole". They are the losers, look what has happened in California, New York, Illinois, Oregon, Washington and the other states that do support passenger trains, they have growing areas and overall the residents and business are better served than with more and more highways and expensive airport expansion. Much of the time the leaders of state governments are beholden to the highway lobby that does not want one dollar spent on rail expansion of any kind. Certainly that is the case here in Florida which would be an ideal state for much instate passenger service. The Florida East Coast will prove the anti rail wrong in a few years, you watch.
What will happen in the future? Maybe something but it will be expensive and the longer the states wait do do the right thing the more it will cost them.
Noel Weaver
Many state governments will not touch rail passenger service with a "ten foot pole". They are the losers, look what has happened in California, New York, Illinois, Oregon, Washington and the other states that do support passenger trains, they have growing areas and overall the residents and business are better served than with more and more highways and expensive airport expansion. Much of the time the leaders of state governments are beholden to the highway lobby that does not want one dollar spent on rail expansion of any kind. Certainly that is the case here in Florida which would be an ideal state for much instate passenger service. The Florida East Coast will prove the anti rail wrong in a few years, you watch.
What will happen in the future? Maybe something but it will be expensive and the longer the states wait do do the right thing the more it will cost them.
Noel Weaver