Mr. Ed
Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
- Location
- Central NY
Freight trains more profitable than passenger train transportation
- Thread starter Mr. Ed
- Start date
JustDave
Well-known Member
Freight has always been the mainstay of railroads in the US, at least during most of my life. Passenger service was marginally profitable in my younger days, but became a corporate loss, which is why Amtrak took over around 1970. Passenger service only exists now because it is vital in many rural areas far from airports, but it's not worth the main railroad's time and energy. Even Amtrak threatens to stop offering daily service, until a senator from some rural state steps in to help fund it.
At one time rail service was gracious, with lounge cars, full service dining, and dome cars, until airlines took over and made it exciting and fast. But at one time passenger trains, while slow, were made as comfortable as humanly possible, and I loved the various colors and with F7 engines that matched the streamlined cars. Now we have Amtrak which it as basic as transportation gets. Maybe a step up from taking a bus.
But if you want to bitch about loss of service and comfort, take a look at the airlines today, which have become flying meat wagons.
At one time rail service was gracious, with lounge cars, full service dining, and dome cars, until airlines took over and made it exciting and fast. But at one time passenger trains, while slow, were made as comfortable as humanly possible, and I loved the various colors and with F7 engines that matched the streamlined cars. Now we have Amtrak which it as basic as transportation gets. Maybe a step up from taking a bus.
But if you want to bitch about loss of service and comfort, take a look at the airlines today, which have become flying meat wagons.
VaughanJB
Scrappy VIP
I think it musty be somewhat due to America's love of the car. Americans drive everywhere, and shun rail. That said, I used to take the metro into DC when I lived there. In the UK the mentality is a little different. I'm in Essex, and spent many years working in London. There was never a time when driving into London was a reasonable option. The vast majority of people take the train.
Flying? Boy, it's rough these days. The seats are smaller by 5 inches legroom and 2 inches in width than the 80's. Air Hostesses are now having to deal with ridiculous behavior from customers who don't seem to understand common courtesy. I mean, there are real animals flying these days.
On seat size, the seats haven't gotten even smaller in recent years, but this is of no help, since *I* have grown larger.
Flying? Boy, it's rough these days. The seats are smaller by 5 inches legroom and 2 inches in width than the 80's. Air Hostesses are now having to deal with ridiculous behavior from customers who don't seem to understand common courtesy. I mean, there are real animals flying these days.
On seat size, the seats haven't gotten even smaller in recent years, but this is of no help, since *I* have grown larger.