What Stops Amtrak From Growing

[Petee]

Star Corps Industries is at Amtrak Empire Builder.

November 28 at 11:00 AM ·Portland, OR ·

Why does Amtrak Suck So Bad?

Sixty years ago, President Nixon signed the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, creating the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. We know it today as Amtrak.

For decades before that law, private railroads were required to run passenger trains even as they were being crushed by automobiles, airlines, and the new Interstate Highway System. The railroads themselves had also stopped investing in passenger service. The passenger cars were cramped, uncomfortable and over priced - a punishment almost, for being forced to carry passengers.

Freight made money. People did not.

Amtrak took that burden off their books. The new corporation was expected to run the nation’s passenger system using the freight rail network that already existed. Here is where the first problem began. Amtrak owned almost no track. It had to lease nearly everything from private freight companies.

By law, passenger trains have priority. In reality, freight companies have ignored that rule for half a century. A passenger service cannot stay solvent when it cannot stay on time. When a freight company intentionally runs trains longer than the sidings they are supposed to pull into, that is not an accident. That is obstruction. Amtrak, as a federally owned for-profit corporation, has no legal authority to sue the freight companies that cause these delays. Only the Department of Justice can do that. In fifty years, it has never done so.

Almost every administration has treated Amtrak funding as a waste to be cut. Even President Carter, a leader I respect, attempted to eliminate nearly half of Amtrak’s long-distance routes. Sixteen percent of them were cut in the end.

[Illiterate]

55 minutes ago, Petee said:

Star Corps Industries is at Amtrak Empire Builder.

November 28 at 11:00 AM ·Portland, OR ·

Why does Amtrak Suck So Bad?

Sixty years ago, President Nixon signed the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, creating the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. We know it today as Amtrak.

For decades before that law, private railroads were required to run passenger trains even as they were being crushed by automobiles, airlines, and the new Interstate Highway System. The railroads themselves had also stopped investing in passenger service. The passenger cars were cramped, uncomfortable and over priced - a punishment almost, for being forced to carry passengers.

Freight made money. People did not.

Amtrak took that burden off their books. The new corporation was expected to run the nation’s passenger system using the freight rail network that already existed. Here is where the first problem began. Amtrak owned almost no track. It had to lease nearly everything from private freight companies.

By law, passenger trains have priority. In reality, freight companies have ignored that rule for half a century. A passenger service cannot stay solvent when it cannot stay on time. When a freight company intentionally runs trains longer than the sidings they are supposed to pull into, that is not an accident. That is obstruction. Amtrak, as a federally owned for-profit corporation, has no legal authority to sue the freight companies that cause these delays. Only the Department of Justice can do that. In fifty years, it has never done so.

Almost every administration has treated Amtrak funding as a waste to be cut. Even President Carter, a leader I respect, attempted to eliminate nearly half of Amtrak’s long-distance routes. Sixteen percent of them were cut in the end.

Basically, rail is currently a slow and cumbersome way to travel.  The automobile and airlines are simply more time efficient.  And costly.  Travel may be ok on express trains between major cities.  Once trains stopped in almost every city, town, and village.  No more.  Not worth it for a couple of passengers.   I am suprised Tyrone still has a stop.

If I can drive somewhere in 8hrs or less, why take a train that will take 12 to 16hrs?

I like trains.  Someday I hope to travel across country by rail.  As for now, if I want to travel to California, I am flying.

Amtrak sucks for financial reasons.  It cant make enough money to fund its own existance.  Unless rail travel becomes more accessable and pratical or glamorous,  which takes money, rail travel in the US will never become the preferred means of travel.

[Petee]

The hustle bustle lifestyle which we all love so much.....not....is our own choice.  That also is about money.   I will take the train every time over a plane, you just get on, relax, and get off.

[Illiterate]

On 12/1/2025 at 7:41 PM, Petee said:

The hustle bustle lifestyle which we all love so much.....not....is our own choice.  That also is about money.   I will take the train every time over a plane, you just get on, relax, and get off.

If yer old and retired and don't have fixed amounts to time get things done, sure train travel would be fine.  Unfortunately, hustle bustle is part of life.  Working people are time constrained.  Vacation time is not opened ended.  Cant just tell my boss I will be back whenever.  If I am taking a 4 day weekend to go see my grandkids, I dont want waste nearly 2 days of travel time getting there and back when I could fly there in a few hrs.

 

[Petee]

Good points. That's true, but if they could build to manage short hops then it would work.