StarTribune.com | User comments

Amtrak's annual operating loss last year was lowest since 1975, a sign of progress, CEO says

Article by: JOAN LOWY , Associated Press
Updated: January 10, 2013 - 3:05 PM

3
Comments

Newest first
Oldest first

1 - 3 of 3

mn2niceJan. 10, 1310:08 AM

But still, they are losses. Amtrak's vision is seriously flawed. Congress and the FRA need to deregulate this industry, so that others who may want to venture into providing a more cost-effective service can do so. This includes opening up the entire country to truly high speed intercity passenger rail; not just in 10 or 11 "high speed corridors." In the Northeast corridor, Amtrak's bread and butter lies in its Acela Express, which operates at high speed in only approximately 20 out of 456 miles of the corridor from Washington, D.C. to Boston. And the pace of initiating improvements is painfully slow. In the 12 years Acela has been in operation, only 20 miles of high speed track? Seriously?? China is laying well over 1,000km of high speed track every year. Just last month, they opened service on the Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway Line, 2,298km in length (1,425 miles), it can accomodate high speed trains that operate at 300km/h, making the journey an 8-hour one instead of the 22-hour one it used to take with conventional, diesel-powered trains.

a1to1newsJan. 10, 1311:05 AM

Price is too high to be comparable to flights or renting a car. Price needs to come down more to even consider as alternative long distance travel. Price is similar to flights, but takes way longer to get to your destination.

savagemanJan. 10, 13 2:25 PM

Let's have a party, Amtrak only lost $360 MILLION, last year.

1 - 3 of 3

Log In

Change Password

nation

Amtrak's annual operating loss last year was lowest since 1975, a sign of progress, CEO says

Comments

Thanks for contributing!

Comment on this story |

Post your comment:

Your comments:

from the homepage

Email or username:
Password:

Forgot your password? \| Not a member? Create a login

Current:
New Password:
Confirm New Password: