tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511643995538639686.post4320119935269377414..comments2024-02-21T08:11:46.123-05:00Comments on My Rail Musings: Intercity Rail Competition Part 2The Rail Enthusiasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08716370779057151520noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511643995538639686.post-41789999560194654992011-03-16T20:47:53.164-04:002011-03-16T20:47:53.164-04:00#6 put all the infrastructure of passenger corrido...#6 put all the infrastructure of passenger corridors in the public hand<br /><br />This probably means buying a bunch of class1 freight railroads, splitting up infrastructure and operations, then putting the operations back into private companies -- these may actually be worth more now, because these new freight companies don't have to maintain tracks.<br /><br />Then create bidding processes for every line of passenger operation, giving multi year operating contracts to private railroads.<br />Amtrak can stay as is, but they have to start competing for reals to continue operating lines. The railroads would get subsidies for unprofitable routes; whoever can run the service with the least subsidies gets the contract. Profitable routes don't have to be bid out. All operators have to pay track fees that helps keep the infrastructure in a state of good repair, and expanding.<br /><br />With some remaining public control, expansion and ticketing can be planned better than with private railroads operating passenger service on their own tracks, which they probably don't wanna do, anyway. Freight makes more money right now.ant6nhttp://www.cat-bus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511643995538639686.post-22805256781041107422010-09-13T03:03:50.016-04:002010-09-13T03:03:50.016-04:00To David:
Times are different. What was deemed fea...To David:<br />Times are different. What was deemed feasible 40 years ago is obsolete. The days of the entire railroad industry being in survival mode are over. The generation that thought passenger rail was on its way out is itself retiring and is being replaced by more forward thinking people.<br /><br />As far as no private capital goes, that is changing. With the PRIIA of 2008 as law, there are already private investors lining up to spend money on HSR. So, it's not at all impossible to believe that just one or two hosts could bid on existing routes. Any railroad not named Union Pacific could wise up and use passenger service as an expansion of its business plan. After all, the railroads can't stagnate. As a matter of fact, I'm working on an upcoming entry on how public-private partnerships could make the hosts get back into the operating side of things.<br /><br />To Helen:<br />" In fact, it seems that the less pressure an individual rail company has to make money, the less of a subsidy that they need."<br /><br />If anything, Warren Buffett's acquisition of BNSF may actually lead to that company deciding to operate an overnight route, even if it's temporary thing. After all, Matt Rose only has to report to Buffett rather than a bunch of impatient stockbrokers on Wall Street.<br /><br />As far as turning Amtrak into a nonprofit, I'd rather see the company broken up into a few pieces so that way each part of the country would get the special attention it deserves rather than it having to wait its turn. <br /><br />Thanks for reading this entry and I appreciate your comments.The Rail Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716370779057151520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511643995538639686.post-46191189706738106552010-09-09T15:13:50.113-04:002010-09-09T15:13:50.113-04:00I agree. Passenger rail does not make money anywhe...I agree. Passenger rail does not make money anywhere in the world. In fact, it seems that the less pressure an individual rail company has to make money, the less of a subsidy that they need.<br /><br />My personal preference would be to make Amtrak a private non-profit like Korail (or the BBC).<br /><br />I like that you have several alternatives. Probably the best solutions have not been thought of yet.<br /><br />(Thanks for linking to my blog.)Helen Bushnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14177708490995175178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511643995538639686.post-61759927870717975332010-09-02T16:28:53.291-04:002010-09-02T16:28:53.291-04:00You keep imagining the host railroads have any int...You keep imagining the host railroads have any interest at all in operating varnish. They don't. Ideally, in their eyes, all pax rail would go away, and short of that, they want to keep it as small as possible. If there was private capital interested in it, it would have happened.David Gunnhttp://dgunn.pei.canoreply@blogger.com