The inherent strength of rail transportation

[Brakie]

Like Amtrak they need to quit it! There are better ways to waste our tax dollars like roads to nowhere and bridges and airports no one uses. Really I am against any government money being used for subsidies/bailouts/grants or whatever you want to call it where private enterprise of any kind is concerned.

Mike,Trains Magazine has covered this in several issues over the years.There will always be operating grants for short lines and some regional railroads through the region's Port Authority..A PA will buy a endangered rail line then offer the line up for bids to short line operators..The PA will issue a operation grant to get the wheels rolling.This grant is usually used for infrastructure like new rail and ballast..The reason is simple jobs lost means lost votes and a down turn in the communities prosperity .

Of course these lines was dumped by the major railroads because they were "unprofitable" even though some was handling as much as 3,600 car loads a year..