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On 9/3/2013 7:50 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 9/3/13 7:39 AM, iBoaterer wrote:
In article ,
says...

"F.O.A.D." wrote in message
...

On 9/2/13 8:46 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:

"BAR" wrote in message
. ..

I just went to the WAMATA.com web site and plugged in my home
address
and my work address to
see what it would take to get from home to work. It will take 1 hour
and
7 minutes and I get
to ride a bus to the Metro station, take a train a couple of stops
and
then take another bus
ride. It would take me 1 hour and 7 minutes and cost me $3.20. If I
drive it takes 25 minutes
and about 1/4 of a gallon of gas. Even figuring in insurance and
maintenance I would pay
about $2 at the most and I would get to work in less than 1/2 the
time.

-----------------------------

Just for kicks, I went to the Amtrak website and priced the
*cheapest*
one-way fare from Boston to Charleston, SC.

Train would leave Boston at 9:30 pm and arrive in Wash DC at about
7 am
the next morning.
Then a three hour layover in DC with a connection leaving at 9:55
am.
Arrive in Charleston, SC at 7:15 pm.

Total travel time: 22 hours. Cost: $289.00
I can fly there in 2.5 hours for less than that.
I can drive it in about 15-16 hours and not need to rent a car when
I
got there.

A high-speed train would have to be non-stop and average almost 400
mph
to be competitive with the airlines, time-wise.

We can't do it because we can't do it because we can't do it. I get
it.
We can't do anything anymore, and that's another example of why
conservatism is killing America, because we can't have nice trains, we
can't keep our interstates in good shape, we can't repair our bridges,
whatever, we can't do it because...we can't do it.

When we take the train to Jax, it usually works out to be a 13 hour
train trip. We leave in the evening and arrive the next morining,
after
a good night's sleep aboard the train. No long waits to clear security
at the origin, no long wait for luggage at the termination.
Compartment
includes private toilet, two bunk beds and two pretty decent meals.
Takes about the same time as driving, if I felt like driving without
an
overnight stop, which I don't like doing. Would take much less time if
trackage and equipment were a lot better, but the trackage south of DC
is mostly CSX, and it doesn't give a **** about high speed passenger
rail.

No worries about all the crap that accompanies airline travel.

About $700 round trip for two adults. Much more comfy than even first
class on a plane. Takes longer, sure, but it's overnight and you have
to
sleep. Oh, and two first class airline tickets would be about $1000.

But we can't improve passenger rail transportation because this is
America and we can't things like that anymore. I get it.

---------------------------------

Part of the cost of your travel to Jax is subsidized by taxpayers
although Amtrak has done better this year, requiring only $1.3 billion
in federal subsidizes compared to $1.4 billion in 2012.

Air travel is subsidized as well.

Sure, anything is possible if you throw enough money at it but the
demand needs to warrant the investment.

Just look at air travel as an example.

Why is it that liberals think there's simply no limit to what
taxpayers should be willing to spend to benefit a few?

Are only "liberals" willing to subsidize air travel?

Uh, highway travel is "subsidized," too. And when you ride your bicycle
on city streets, the cost of those streets, why it is subsidized, too.

Specious argument.

I posit that train travel of all sorts would be more popular if there
were more of it, if it were faster, and if the equipment were better.

And, as far as subsidies go, it is amazing what this country could
accomplish in rebuilding itself if the military budget were cut in half
and half of what is cut were dedicated to infrastructure improvement.

You are a joke. Pay your taxes. Then you can talk about spending tax
dollars. DEADBEAT!