I totally agree with the last post. Well said.An actual rail summit is required where the best minds in railroad could sit down and plan a sensible solution to passenger-rails woes.
Like Mr. Toy said , 500 million is just a "drop in the bucket" related to the amount of funding passenger-rail really needs.
But budget money is so "tight" now, I for one do not know where fundings ( as REALLY required by Amtrak) could come from. I read today where , surprisingly , the amount federal highways will receive has been "cut" to ONLY about $30 BILLION. What a shame !!
Congress expects many states to step forward and assume MOST of the future funding for Amtrak. I don't see how this can happen , either. Most state budgets are as tight as a drum. I suppose new tax money could be generated, though , somehow.
Who knows what the future will bring ? My main concern , although I suppose it is "selfish" in a way , is that long-distance rail will become the first "victim" of Amtrak service cuts. Think of the THOUSANDS of passengers who will be without any type of passenger-rail service !!
I know Amtrak DOES have SOME support in Congress , but I fear it is simply not enough.
Since Amtrak runs through most EVERY state , one would think that ALL elected officials (at whatever level) would be greatly concerned about losing any or all Amtrak service. But this evidently is NOT the case.
Lastly, if I see Amtrak spelled A-M-T-R-A-C-K one more time in newsprint , I am going to SCREAM !!!! Does Greyhound get GRAYHOUND ? NO. Does USAir get USAire ? NO.
Is it Minetta , or Mineta ?????????????
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