I used to get lots of great information from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics at http://www.bts.gov Unfortunately they've redesigned their website and I can no longer find the statistical tables I used to be able to get with just a few easy clicks. But you might want to try it anyway to see what you come up with.As for your three topics: 1. large passenger capacity, trains have a lot to offer there.
2. Low accident rate. For the relatively few trains Amtrak runs, the number of derailments seems rather high to me. Most of these were due to poor track maintenence, which is largely out of Amtrak's control
3. Faster transportation. Not in this country. This country once had the fastest trains in the world, but we let the infrastructure got to pot, and now we've got some of the slowest trains in the world. With the exception of the Northeast Corridor the top speed of American trains is about 30% slower today than in the 1940s.
Add a 4th, fuel efficiency. For intercity trips over 100 miles Amtrak trains have the best energy efficiency per passenger mile, slightly beating out even motorcycles. I would show you the statistics, but I can no longer find them on the aforementined BTS site.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
The Del Monte Club Car
[This message has been edited by Mr. Toy (edited 10-20-2003).]
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