David Benton wrote:if its anything like here , they'll spend $ 9 billion on it , then sell it to the private sector for $1 billion , based on thats what its worth for a return on investment .
Since 1976, Amtrak has spent about $16 billion on capital improvements. Most of those have been to the Northeast Corridor. (That doesn't count ARRA money.) Gil can tell you much better, but if most of that is depreciated over 7 years, and 10% of that was spent on bridges and other railway structures depreciated over 30 years, the value in 2012 is depreciated down to about $2.3 billion. Then you have to add in the value of the land for the 363 miles that Amtrak owns. Congress and the Congressional Budget Office could justify a present value of under $3 billion for the whole system.
As you say, a value of $1 billion or less could be justified based upon Return on Investment.
Then after it has been purchased and the contract expires, the system will cost $117 billion to replace. That will put the new owner in an excellent negotiating position.