Courtesy of Parade Magazine

 

With high gas prices and airport delays, could we make our trains...

A Better Way To Travel?

By Peter Richmond
Published: November 4, 2007

EDITOR'S NOTE: After our November 4 issue went to press, the Senate approved the Lautenberg-Lott Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act on October 30. The bill is now before the House.


American spent about 3.7 billion hours stuck in traffic last year, burning gasoline whose price had soared by 60%. At the airports, security lines snake endlessly, runways are choked, and delays are common. One recent study found that, between January and August 2007, one in four flights arrived late; 159 flights were kept on the tarmac for more than three hours in August. As a result, more than half of U.S. businesses augment commercial air travel with expensive corporate jets and charters. Isn’t there a better way?

One solution is staring us in the face. Many transportation experts insist that the best answer to transportation gridlock is efficient intercity rail travel. Trains use one-fifth less energy than cars or planes. They run in bad weather. They’re business-efficient and tourist-friendly. Yet, since the early 1960's—with the exception of the Northeast Corridor, from Boston to Washington, D.C.—railroad transportation in the U.S. has become largely irrelevant. For most Americans, train travel from city to city remains an afterthought. And for good reason: Our national rail system is inadequate, relying on aging equipment and a shrinking route-map. The system sorely lacks both financial resources and government support.

“The transportation funding mechanism is skewed toward highway construction,” says James RePass, principal executive of the National Corridors Initiative, a transportation advocacy group. “The game is rigged against rail.”

In contrast, the rest of the industrialized world is investing heavily in its train systems. From border to border, Europe is wiring itself for high-speed rail. The result? Decreased emissions and increased productivity. Some predict the eventual obsolescence of air travel on the continent.

How did we fall so far behind? Blame it on our love affair with the automobile and a historical antipathy of legislators for subsidizing the nation’s railroads. Our government’s disdain for trains began with FDR, who in the late 1930s turned his back on fat-cat railroad barons asking for federal handouts. Two decades later, President Eisenhower certified our commitment to cars when he built the interstate highway system.

The current administration has been particularly unfriendly. Amtrak, which is federally funded, received just $1.3 billion last year—the same as 25 years ago. Compare that to the $40 billion allocated for highways and the $14 billion for airlines in 2006. For the 2008 fiscal year, the Bush Administration pro- posed just $800 million for the railroad—a $500 million cut from 2007. In 2005, the President proposed pulling the plug entirely on Amtrak’s subsidy.

Critics of federal funding for Amtrak argue that, since it was created by Congress in 1970, the railroad has never turned a profit and serves only a small percentage of intercity travelers. They believe the system is a waste of taxpayer money. But Amtrak’s advocates in Congress point out that passenger rail systems around the world operate with government assistance. Others add that the government subsidizes our highway system and supports many aspects of passenger air travel.

“I’m amazed at the rancor about our numbers—they are so small,” says Alex Kummant, Amtrak’s CEO. “ It costs about $1.50 for every man, woman and child to sustain this network—one cup of coffee per person. Look at highway congestion, environmental issues, the capacity of airline travel. For city-to-city transportation, we need passenger rail.”

As our airways and highways have slowed down, demand for train travel has been increasing. In fact, Amtrak ridership was up for the fifth year in a row, reaching record levels—despite the fact that a third of trains arrived late last year. In the Northeast, since Amtrak introduced higher-speed Acela trains in 2000, the railroad’s share of 10,000 daily commuters between Washington, D.C., and New York City increased from 45% to 54%.

“Train travel is the thing for a one-day business trip,” says Malcolm Edgerton, a Chicago architect who travels often from Chicago to Springfield on Amtrak for work. A recent trip, he said, “would have meant seven hours of driving, and I would have been exhausted. Instead, I left in the morning, did work on the train, got there at noon, did my thing, even had time to visit a museum. Then, on the way back, I drank Scotch in the bar car and traded stories with a salesman and another architect. The round trip was $40.”

Experts predict that, with the population climbing well past 300 million, the demand for travel will only grow. Severe weather will further add to the transportation turmoil, leading travelers to look for alternatives to air travel. Witness the Midwestern storms last winter that forced the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights in two days in Chicago and St. Louis.

An efficient Amtrak, suggests New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, could have carried riders through those squalls in style: “How wonderful is it to get on a train, look outside at the snow and say, ‘ Ho, ho, ho, here we go’?”
 
The key to improvements may be federal incentives for state investment, say train watchers of all stripes. They point to two successful projects that relied heavily on state funding. Amtrak recently expanded service from Chicago to downstate Illinois and St. Louis, where ridership is up about 50%, and major improvements were made to the Philadelphia-Harrisburg line.

In light of those successes, the newly Democratic-controlled House approved $50 million in matching funds for state Amtrak projects, and the Senate approved a similar program for $100 million. “We are on the edge of a revolution in thinking and the thinking of policy-makers of the future of transportation,” says Rep. James Oberstar (D., Minn.), who heads the House transportation and infrastructure committee. “And that future is filled with high-speed, reliable rail service.”& amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; br>
Now Congress is considering legislation that would allow the trains to rebuild. The Lautenberg-Lott Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, designed to completely overhaul the system, may reach the Senate floor this session. The legislation would commit $10 billion over four years to develop high-speed, short-haul rail corridors modeled on the European city-to-city routes. They could run between Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, N.C.; Portland and Seattle; Chicago and Detroit; Miami and Jacksonville, Fla.

“We’re sick and tired, and we’re not going to take it anymore,” says Frank Lautenberg, who co-sponsored the Senate bill. “We spend money on all other means of transportation, but we already have the best thing right in our hand.”

Private-sector involvement also could boost service and revenues. Amtrak CEO Alex Kummant would like to see private, high-end luxury trains tacked onto Amtrak’s. Others suggest putting some of Amtrak’s routes out for private bidding.

“It’s not a nostalgic thing, like, ‘Let’s save the old choo-choo,’ ” insists Lou Drummeter, a sleeping-car attendant on Amtrak’s Washington-Chicago Capitol Limited for 20 years. “It’s a 21st-century answer to our transportation problems. People want an alternative.”

Can We Catch Up?

While U.S. railways have languished, the rest of the industrialized world has been building up its high-speed rail systems.

FRANCE Last fall, Parisians celebrated the unveiling of a new 200 mph TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse) linking Paris to the German border, where it meets up with Germany’s own high-speed InterCityExpress. In April, an experimental TGV run on the Paris-Strasbourg route hit 357 mph, while French fans lined the tracks, cheering.

SPAIN High-speed trains have run between Madrid and its southern cities for more than a decade. Soon they will cover the 375 miles between Barcelona and Madrid—the distance between Washington, D.C., and Boston, a 7-hour trip—in 21⁄2 hours. There’s even talk of a rail tunnel to link Spain with Morocco, beneath Gibraltar.

JAPAN The pioneer of the bullet train, Japan has developed a 360 mph magnetic-levitation, or maglev, train that rides a cushion of air. Propelled by the electromagnetic force of magnets, these trains are designed as complete transportation systems.

CHINA Given its vast distances, China has committed a quarter-trillion dollars to its railway service. A trip from Shanghai to Beijing—the distance from Chicago to Baltimore, 18 hours by Amtrak —will eventually take 5 hours.

Leadership Needed
By greengoblin on 11/8/2007 3:24:AM

The world is changing. The cost of roadway infrastructure to support continued sprawling development is skyrocketing. Congestion and gridlock are here to stay. We cannot tax ourselves at the rate necessary to keep adding lanes and roadways to keep up with our sprawling development and keep congestion in check, let alone reduce it. We need leadership in the public and private sectors for Transit Oriented Development and a comprehensive cost effective and energy efficient public transit network centered around rail transit for longer distances and bus and van shuttles for shorter distances. Climate Change and World Peak Oil Production will mandate these changes over time anyway. The 1950s/1960s Interstate Highway Era and the cheap oil that fueled it, is coming to a close. We need to be proactive and work towards sustainable practices in both transportation and land use and keep in mind how our actions today will impact future generations. As oil prices and new and more efficient vehicle technology prices escalate, automobile and airplane travel will cater more and more to the wealthy and less and less to everyone else. The continued practice of prioritizing public funds for Aviation and Highways will leave the Middle and Lower Classes without viable and affordable transportation options.  This is NOT sustainable and certainly not healthy for America’s future generations.

Balanced Transportation Necessary

By greengoblin on 11/8/2007 3:21:AM

In order for the US to be competitive in a 21st Century Global Economy, we will need a balanced multimodal transportation network for both the movement of people and goods. Roadways, Railways, Aviation and Bike/Pedestrian facilities will need equal prioritization. We need travel choices to move people to work and school, goods to market, and facilitate recreational travel and tourism. Not everyone can drive. Non-drivers may be elderly, too young, disabled or not have the means to pay for an automobile and insurance. A healthy economy requires workers at all levels and just like housing, affordable transportation options are not only necessary but required for a healthy and sustainable economy. Many State DOTs and the US DOT have been prioritizing Aviation and Highways over Rail and Bike/Ped Travel modes. Our National Transportation System is centered around moving vehicles instead of moving people and goods. Transportation is not unlike an investment portfolio. Long term stability is better achieved through a diversity of investments, rather than putting all your eggs in one basket. US and State government officials tend to place their transportation eggs in the roadway and toll road basket and invite sprawling development that makes rail and bus transit inefficient.

Bring Back Rail Travel
By kpg on 11/8/2007 1:20:AM

I have been wondering for many years why train travel has been ignored. I would like to see far more access to rail service out here in the suburban sprawl. The highways are congested and the builders continue plowing over farm land for more sprawl. Let's get this long overdue resurgence under way. I'm looking forward to rail travel.

Great Story - America DOES Need Trains

By kevinyarbrough on 11/7/2007 11:57:PM

Great Story!, Peter Richmond. Help keep this idea alive. Train travel makes sense on so many fronts - too bad our Congress is not able to see this!

Getting there is part of the journey

By linteriors on 11/7/2007 11:13:PM

For so many, getting to a destination is just that--a means to an end and not an enjoyable experience. Travelling by train is about quality, geography, and enjoying the journey, not to mention history and nostalgia. Having grown up around trains, the chugging of a steam engine can bring a tear to my eye (and, yes, they bring them out once a year in Denver!) In this time of increased fuel prices, global warming and "rat races" everywhere, it's imperative that we use a more energy efficient mode of travel than airplanes and automobiles, even if the immediate "bottom line" is higher--in the long run we'll be much better off.

A better Way to Travel

By Leonard Wilson on 11/7/2007 10:14:PM

I want to start a campaign to get the money for Amtrak. I have make up a slogan "Relieve the strain ride the Train" I don't know how to contact Mr. Alex Kummant. Can you help me? I think Mr Richmond's article was great! I know this can be done. Thank You Leonard Wilson Writer/Producer/Director

Thirty years of travel by Amtrak

By Ann Foley on 11/7/2007 9:18:PM

My husband and I have traveled on Amtrak, alone, with each other, and with our children, over the past 30 years. We have seen our beautiful, awesome country the best way possible, while relaxing in our seats or in a bedroom. We have enjoyed eating with other passengers in the dining car and chatting with many new people in the observation car. We hope to continue to do this in our "golden years." Please keep Amtrak running, and how about bringing back some of the routes that have disappeared?

A Better Way to Travel

By mark500 on 11/7/2007 8:29:PM

I'm an avid lover of trains. Whatever it would take to further usage of train travel I would support. I've built entire vacations around taking long distance trips on Amtrak. Where's the pride of America's people? Riding a train through this great land is what America is all about. It's a shame the President's administration is so blind as to what train travel offers. Shame on them!

Further action

By sooty53 on 11/7/2007 8:14:PM

How can I get more involved in this topic to help further the cause? I feel passionate about this issue, but helpless to do anything.

By freckles39 on 11/7/2007 7:57:PM

What don't we understand about running out of petroleum and how much the airlines use? Must we be so shortsighted as not to see how spending the money now will help us in the long run?

Let's keep rail travel reality-based!

By Pullmandave on 11/7/2007 5:50:PM

I appreciated the unbiased attitude of this article. So many times, items about train travel make so much emphasis of Amtrak as the SUBSIDIZED railroad--like as though government air controllers, municipal airports on public land, airline bailouts, public highways, fire, and police departments, Corps of Engineers-maintained waterways, and the like are somehow "free?" Let's acknowledge that passenger trains--and public transit, while we're at it--are as much a public service as fire, police, and roads, instead of singling them out because they don't make a "profit." If other transportation forms were held to the same criteria, we'd be seeing shuttered airports, closed segments of freeways, houses left to burn, and rampant vigilantism--so let's get real. Each of them is a form of public investment, and it's time we acknowledge that trains are as much a part of it as anything else. And while we're at it--let's make some effort to update the highly-biased terminology. While the term is overused almost to the point of abuse, unless it's a restored or recreated version at a museum or tourist attraction, the typical modern passenger train no more "chugs" down the track than does a 747 "sputter" down the runway or a cruise liner "puff" across the water.

went to Europe---trains so great!

By rosepo on 11/7/2007 2:19:PM

This summer I enjoyed taking the trains and wondered why the USA is so far behind in this convenient way to travel. Of course, they are electric, always on time, and so quiet.

California moving forward with rail

By Malcolm Thornley Jr on 11/7/2007 2:06:PM

After the northeast, California has the next three bussiest train routs in the country: Surfliner; San Luis Obispo to San Diego, The Capitals from Sacramento to San Jose and the San Joaquins; Bakersfield to Oakland. This is because the state has worked in partnership with Amtrak. All routes have had increasing traffic which is only now being constrained by lack of equipment. The posative economic effect is obvious around the stations surved by these trains

rail travel

By chinzsuiz on 11/7/2007 1:20:PM

railroads move can move more people as well as save energy.why are all countrys putting down rails?railroads also run better in bad weather plus if you are in a accident i think you have a better chance of living.

Train Travel

By Bernard Flanagan on 11/7/2007 12:08:PM

Train travel today is inconvenient; folks living out of metropolitan areas don't have easy access. We would really enjoy Amtrak and would use it if the schedules were such that there were fewer long waits and more direct routes to destinations. You just can't get from point A to pont B without going to points C, D, and more when you want to travel halfway across the country.

would love it if trains were available

By witch_on_wheels on 11/7/2007 10:58:AM

It would be great if I could go to my summer house in Cherry Valley NY like my in laws once did, but rail service ended in the late 1950's. I would have loved to have sent my daughter to college by rail, since the colleges she attends had rail service right by it. Oneonta NY has a rich train history. unfortunately it only has freight service now. She also attended Cobleskill and there too it was only freight service, for her to come home by train it involved a 50 dollar taxi trip to Albany and a 39 dollar ticket to nyc. If it was just the rail fare it would be cheaper than driving, but the cab ride pushed the price in to the go get her myself range. We did look into the bus and it is still cheaper to go get her myself. So I feel that train travel should be improved both nationally and locally. In the suburban nyc area, if you go to the city it is great but anywhere else it is a no go. I'd love to leave my car home and take a train to work, but there isn't a bus let alone a train between the two.

Short haul improvements for all transportation problems.

By john tuomi on 11/7/2007 10:09:AM

Because of a lack of adequate funding by Washington our train service, once the envy of other countries, has been allowed to deteriate despite increasing passenger levels!! Now short haul air plane problems of congestion, lack of take off-slots and poor weather delays, should prompt Washington to provide the funding and commitment to not only save but improve nation's rail roads. We should look to Germany, Great Britian, ***an and others who have lessened the need for short-haul airplane flights by having train service,at their airports, run by the air lines featuring the same services but not with the delays caused by congested take-off slots or poor weather delays common to airlines. They have been doing this since at least 1995!!

Rail Travel

By cdwarrick on 11/7/2007 10:08:AM

We have taken 2 long distance Amtrak trips in the past 2 months. During each trip, the comfort level was high - great foot and leg room, friendly service, on time, good food and beautiful scenery!!! How can you get tht on the airlines? In this day and age, one can't say flying is quicker - you have to arrive up to 2 hours before flight for all the security checks and most of the time the flights are delayed or cancelled. Most train stations are in the center of town, easily accessible to ground transportation and sightseeing and without all the long security checks. On both trips the trains were quite full and the people were happy! Do you get that on the airlines? My father was a station agent on the RR and we traveled a lot that way. It is great to return to travel and actually feel comfortable and enjoy the trip! I hope more funding is allotted for updating the infrastructure and routing to enable more people to economically see our beautiful land while getting to their destination.

2020

By hsbarney on 11/7/2007 9:00:AM

I have said for several years and I will repeat it here, that by the year 2020 this country will wish it had every mile of railroad track that had ever been laid. I leave shortly on a five day trip across the country to San Diego to visit and work for my youngest daughter. I can get up and move around, I am not confined to a too small seat for six to eight hours. I initially had planned on returning by air, but I may just return by train. I visit Europe every few years and the train is the only way to travel. With my Eurail Pass, I go to the station, check the departure board, go to the platform, check the location of my car and wait for the train. Then travel quickly and smoothly to my destination. Yes, they still have the main train station in the center of the city for quick and easy connection to the bus or trolley system. Our "City Planners" messed up royally when they decided that trains had to leave the city center and the misguided politicians built miles of roads leading to sprawl.

Funding for Amtrak

By Ilana Wolfe on 11/7/2007 8:25:AM

As a passenger on Amtrak I appreciate the convenience, safety and speed that gets me to my destination. Our world has become smaller and smaller giving little opportunity for choice in decision making. The freedom to buy goods made in America has painfully dwindled, our food supply has been compromised leaving to wonder what is safe to buy, we have to purchase generic drugs for economic reasons. This choice is clear we need to protect and support our rail system for the environment, and for those who use and those yet to use as prices of gas continues to soar. It has been said that the squeaky wheel gets oiled. It is time for us to support legislation that would give our rail system the oil(in the form of more money) it needs to roll on.

A better way to travel

By trainfeast on 11/7/2007 6:21:AM

I take the train 3-4 times a year.I ride from St.Louis to Chicago. The big problem is they do NOT run on time, and some of the workers are not friendly. I don't care if the train is late, and you have to work longer,you took the job.I think most of the workers know that they are not going to lose there job, so they don't have to be how can we make this ride wonderful so they want to come back. Can I take a few minutes to to talk to this small child and tell him what I do on the train. Why not?

Gov't Problem

By trainlsa86 on 11/7/2007 2:35:AM

For any who think rail travel is a cost to be carried by private enterprises, remember it once was until the Fed became the number one competitor with hugh subsidies to auto (a love affair with cars was "forced" when few cars were on the road) and air travel while excluding rail. The Federal money once again needs to be allocated to bring rail back into the Transportation Dept's planning for a truely balanced system in this country. Only then can we enjoy all modes of transport when needed.

Get Amtrak back on track!

By Richard Friedman on 11/7/2007 2:18:AM

Flying is cheaper if you're very careful about the cities you choose! How cheap is an airline for a trip of under 150 miles? How EXPENSIVE would it be if the airline actually passed the full cost of the flight, air traffic control, airport construction and maintenance, and DIRECT FEDERAL SUBSIDIES to the airlines? A daily, transcontinental Sunset Limmited is woefully overdue. Bring it back Amtrak Board, you owe the American public.

Use trains instead of trucks

By jeseebeck on 11/6/2007 10:51:PM

If we used trains instead of trucks for long distance shipping, our roads would be safer and we would use much less fuel.

Updating the current train system in the US

By VLBOWMAN on 11/6/2007 9:30:PM

With gas prices going up rather quickly, we need to greatly improve our rail system as soon as possible. The long lines in our airports and the continued delays with security,delayed flights and the apparent lack of concern by the airlines about all the problems, something needs to be done. I've traveled in Europe much easier and safer using the rail system. The trains run on time, there is more leg room and storage, and using the "bullet" trains makes air travel less desirable! They are more efficient than air travel, and more reliable. The train staff also seems more friendly than your usual airport staff! With sales of our auto's declining, maybe Detroit should look into cross-training their staff into making high speed efficient trains!

Rail travel

By Ron N on 11/6/2007 9:23:PM

It is naive to believe that people have abandoned rail travel because it is unpopular. The real reason is that transportation competitors such as the automotive and petroleum industries have used political influence to cripple rail travel. The faults of rail travel are that it is very fuel efficient and it gets people out of their automobiles.

Amtrak - American Trains

By jbrow603 on 11/6/2007 9:21:PM

I love traveling by trains. My husband and I ( took 2 college kids to help with the children)took 10 of our 13 grandchildren on a 12 day train trip. Dearborn to Chicago. 4 nights in Chicago and then took the overnight train (we all had sleepers)to DC. Four nights in DC then back to Chicago for 1 night. Our Grands are still talking about the trip. There were some delays and the food service was not the best on the return trip to Chicago. Our Grands want to go to California or to Montreal/Quebec Canada in two years. Their research indicates the Canadian trains are better. As a member of NARP, I sincerely hope the government invest more money in America's trains.

A Better Way To Travel !!!!!!

By ann shirley hanadel on 11/6/2007 9:15:PM

We need public transportation of all kinds in N.J.. Trains would be lovely. I have written to the governor and the dept.of transportation.I have encouraged my young friends, to do so also. I get these polite letters back thanking me for my input.. Then I gess they go in the trash. Because of the cost of property in the northern part of the state, families have moved here to Southern ocean co and even further south. They then commute on a daily bassis by car. for lack of any other means to get to work. Poor families cannot get better jobs for lack of afordable transportation. In spite of the lack of interest and response from our dept.of transportation,who only seem to know how to widen and repave roads.The use of public transportation as increased. But poeple must drive somewhere to find a bus or train to New Yor or Phil. Help We would like to breach cleaner air again.

travel you can really relax and enjoy

By danders1234 on 11/6/2007 8:14:PM

My husband & I just returned to the Seattle area after traveling via Amtrak sleeper to San Jose for a family birthday. What an enjoyable trip we had. Yes, it is not cheap, but it is heaven compared to flying & driving takes just as long & almost costs as much. The food is great & lots of choices. Wine tasting in the afternoon. We had already decided to never fly again. Our next vacation will most certainly be on the train. The staff & fellow travelers are all much more friendly than when you fly also. Everyone should @ least one overnight train trip in their life. We feel more government money should go for trains than airlines on a permanent basis.

THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL

By TERI SEYMOUR on 11/6/2007 7:46:PM

MN.HAD A GREAT RAIL SYSTEM IN THE 19TH CENTURY. THEN THEY WENT AND RIPPED UP A LOT OF TRACKS.NOW THEY ARE SPENDING MILLIONS ON SURVEYS WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO PUT NEW ONES AND DEPOTS.AMERICA WAKE UP WE NEED OUR RAIL SYSTEM TOO.AS YOU ALL KNOW THE LONGER YOU WAIT THE HIGHER THE PRICES.USE THE DEPOTS THAT WE HAVE WAITING.WE HAVE IN MN. ST.PAUL,ST.CLOUD, BRAINERD, DULUTH AND THE LISTS KEEP GOING.

Federal money for Trains

By territ on 11/6/2007 6:45:PM

we should devote more money for both passenger and freight train transportation. People do not use the trains becuse they are so slow and schedules are not met on a timely basis. There are a lot of delays. For example it takes 7-8 hours to travel from Syracuse, NY to NYC. Car travel takes 4.5-5 hours. A fast train between these 2 cities would be used if the train could get you to NYC in 4 hours or less. There would not be the traffic or parking hassles including the expense of parking. More people from upstate would go to the city more often. There are too many semi-trucks on the highways. These trucks also cause more frequent repairs of the highway,traffic congestion, and an increase of accidents. The railroads should be picking up alot of the freight travel. Both the passenger and freight train would reduce highway repairs and it would cut down on both car and truck traffic.

A Better Way to Travel

By Jack Reiff on 11/6/2007 6:31:PM

We, as a people , have set ourselves up to be manipulated by certain industries. We stand in long lines, are scrupulously screened to wait and then pack ourselves on to or in to automobiles and planes for extended trips. Unless you go firts class the options offer very little. Yet we have a means of transportation than can whisk people from downtown locations to downtown locations, in many cases more quickly than what air travel and auto travel can provide with less energy or pollution. If congress would open up funding to rail mass transportation, making this travel more in tune with baby boomers expectations, we would be providing a great service to our traveling public. The scenery is quite nice also. The rest of the Traveling world must know something we do not, because rail travel is the preferred method to move about the Globe.

Support for rail service

By affirm on 11/6/2007 5:43:PM

Thank you for pointing out that better train service is in the national interest. Those who worry about subsidizing rail operations should look carefully at the many ways that we hide the true cost of driving cars. Don Shoup points out that cars spend 95% of their lives parked, and that parking spaces cost us collectively more than our cars or our roads--yet most of us seldom dig into our wallets to pay when we park. Streets are usually built by developers who are required to dedicate them to the city in order to build houses. Most often the cost of streets and parking spaces are included in our groceries, hidden in our mortgages, buried in the cost of our theatre tickets, etc. Similar approaches to mobility funding could level the playing field and wipe out the need for direct community support of streetcars and trains. But until fiscal traditions change, we will need to rely on public budgets to achieve the balanced transportation system that we need to serve everyone.

Transportation in US

By R. Swanson on 11/6/2007 5:20:PM

Our transportation system is a national disgrace. It is equivalent to that of a third world country. The airlines should be regulated or taken over by the government.The railroads MUST be subsidized and expanded for all the reasons sited in the Parade magazine article. Our present administation has failed us miserably in it's inadequate support of the railroads.

Why does Bush keep messing up our country!!!???

By tmt345 on 11/6/2007 3:53:PM

Bush always wants us to be ahead of everything, so why shouldn't we be ahead of everyone else in the world with train systems. He sent America to Iraq just make us look good, but we REALLY look horrible doing it and he's just doing it to get oil and raise our economy. I would ride the train systems here in Michigan, it seems our trains are constantly being torn down though and are only for transporting goods. Governor Granholm isn't helping either. I've only been on a subway in New York and it was OK and I would definitely ditch my car to ride a train to work if it isn't too full inside with people and the seats aren't too worn down. So why don't we use more trains than cars, well, I don't know.

American Railways

By music lover on 11/6/2007 3:05:PM

It's not just money that the railways need. If we don't completely rethink how and what our rail systems should be it's a waste! It's not luxury cars on our exsting railroad that's needed. The whole rail system should be "recreated". Our railroads should be "elevated", literally. A monorail system would serve a much wider audience and could reach into airports, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, all over. This may sound delusional to some but I am absolutely serious! There is no excuse for our country to waste money the way it does and let this area of need go completely ignored. We are falling way behind the rest of the world technologically in many areas and this is definitely one of them!

American Railways

By music lover on 11/6/2007 2:54:PM

It is a disgrace to our country that we have become so blind-sided and out of touch. Our rail system should be top of the line, a standard for the rest of the world to model instead of a dying dinosaur. Take a poll nationwide and you will find out that Americans would LOVE to be able to travel smoothly and efficiently across our beautiful country from city to city or shore to shore. Why is Disney the only place with enough creativity to design a monorail system that allows people to travel in, through and around without delays caused by weather or traffic? Why can we spend billions for outer space but nothing to claim a golden opportunity to show the world what we can do right here at home?

Railroad System

By BAK on 11/6/2007 2:35:PM

Railroad System 11/06/07 Peter Richmond, I enjoyed your article about the railroad system in the 11/04/07 issue of Parade. For a long time I have advocated railroads as an alternative to flying, etc. I think there is another extremely important issue to consider when thinking about improving the railroad system. Terrorism is going to have to be considered even if we don't improve the rail system, but it should be a major issue if the system is expanded.

Train travel

By dottiedolittle on 11/6/2007 2:27:PM

In 1999 I travelled from Cleveland to Los Angeles, in a compartment, with a shower.It was a bit pricier than flying, but it was very comfortable and all the meals were included. Given my druthers, I would travel by train. We really should take care of our rail system. It is a definite asset to this country that has been short changed for far too long.

Balanced Transportation System Needed

By eeandee-2@msn.com on 11/6/2007 11:59:AM

We need rail passenger service to be brought into the 21st Century! American tax dollars helped to rebuild the foreign railroad systems after WW11,yet we allowed our railroads to more or less do it alone while pouring billions of tax dollars into other modes.They had to compete with government assistance to other modes and compete while doing railroading on their own for the most part.Totally unfair to rail passenger service, there by setting up the grind lock we have today.It is time we elect and support representatives that have enough vision to give our citizens the rail passenger system they desire and need to balance the transportation picture.We can afford it.We afford wasting tax money on so many other projects and ventures that give our people no returns and deprive us of having something we really need, namely a rail passenger system that really serves the people.It is time to catch up with the rest of the world and stop playing games with the tax payers who want a great rail passenger system to help protect our natural resources and give Americans the choice of excellent rail passenger service instead of an unbalanced transportation system that has proved to flawed and not meeting the wants and needs of the people that are paying the bills.

passenger trains

By mary chaffee on 11/6/2007 11:06:AM

My son in his family live in Iowa and come to visit us twice a year in CA. Because of high gas prices they take the train and they enjoy the relaxation and views along the way. I haven't gone on the train yet but I am excited to do so. I still remember riding from Chicago to Albequerque with my mom when I was 4yrs old! They definately need to maintain and expand the rail system. Mary

train travel

By viola7 on 11/6/2007 11:05:AM

I would like to travel to Wyoming to visit family but it isn't too safe for seniors or women to travel alone.If I wanted to take a train(which I would) I would have to go to Omaha and get the train there. I'm not even sure where the train would stop in Wy.It used to be Cheyenne and Evanston,but now? We train travel revived!!!and more routes covered. The bus system is atrocious so what's left

Build new high speed train lines along interstate routes

By nickpaffett on 11/6/2007 10:32:AM

This idea was proposed in the 1970's by a Scandinavian company to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Co: Build high-speed elevated trains in the median area of interstate and major divided highways. It uses infrastructure and connecting routes already in place. Combines both systems into a complementary interstate transit system. Makes a lot of sense to me,

Multi-modal transportation is a key to efficient travel

By Fred Meredith on 11/6/2007 10:00:AM

As a travel writer specializing in the use of bicycles for transportation, I have made several Amtrak trips where mass transit and bicycling were the transportation alternatives at one or both ends of the trip. It's healthy, adventurous and energy efficient. Not only should we improve the capacity and efficiency of rail travel, but with our current national health and fitness crisis, we should encourage cycling and walking for connective transit. One step in the right direction would be provision for all bicycles on all trains and not just folding bicycles as is the current Amtrak policy. Also, more cities need to have car-free campaigns like that in Santa Barbara, California, where travelers who arrive without the benefit of automobiles are rewarded with discounts on accommodations and restaurants and other incentives/rewards for not contributing to the area's motor vehicle congestion. Trains and more trains are part of the answer.

Amtrak route

By art-writer on 11/6/2007 9:45:AM

If you would check out Amtrak's route map, it is sad to see that the ENTIRE area west of the Mississippi River has to go to either Chicago or New Orleans before going anywhere else. There are only 4 passenger trains going from East/West. North/South routes are on the West coast and one from Houston that doesn't go very far. No cross country routes from Southeast to Northwest. I would travel this country more often if there were more services available. I hope Washington is listening, (or reading, if they are able!) It is obvious that this is what the people want! Just look at the poll results.

train fare are cost prohibitive

By redlollipops on 11/6/2007 9:37:AM

I would like to be more environmentally conscious, but when the cost of train travel far exceeds auto travel, how can I comply? The round trip fare from Boston to Portland ME (approx 100 miles) is $70, or $140 when I travel with my spouse. Forget the prices for the Acela! It's like I'm living in a third world country. No advanced train travel (like Europe and Asia), no fuel efficient autos (like Brazil). Americans need to wake up, smell the coffee, and get rid of Bush!

Trains

By Ladila on 11/6/2007 8:33:AM

After living in Germany for a year without a car, it was quite apparent to me just how convenient trains can be. But we will need to develop mass transit in the middle-sized cities to realize the potential. Only when one can get on a train in, say, Memphis and arrive in Chattanooga and be able to get to the ultimate destination without a cab fare will we be in the European league of transportation. Let's stop building roads through our ever-diminishing farmlands and devote more of our tax money to mass transit in general. This is really a no-brainer for the USA.

A Better Way To Travel

By carolelanum on 11/6/2007 8:30:AM

You bet! I would love to ride the train it is much safer than airplanes. I have traveled in Europe by train. You can see the cities and the countryside better.

Can We Save Our Trains

By Phineas Van Nostrand on 11/6/2007 8:19:AM

I live in the northeast, and commuted to both New York City and Washington DC. Trains really are the only way to travel. I get a certain satisfaction rolling past some god-awful tieup on I-95 going into New York or Rt 50 going into