I sent the following e-mail to the President, both of Mississippi's Senators, and the Representive of my District. I doubt if it will have much effect, but my opinion will be heard! "It is an illogical and unfair policy for the Federal Government to expect that Amtrak should bear 100% of its capital and operating expenses, and to be a for-profit company. All other public passenger transportation systems in the U.S.A. are provided with Municipal, State, and/or Federal funds to assist with their capital and/or operating expenses. "The Airline Industry is provided with airports, terminals, and airway control at Municipal, State, and/or Federal expense. The Interstate Bus Industry is provided with roadways, highways, and traffic control at Municipal, State, and/or Federal expense. Urban and suburban mass transit systems are provided with facilities, roadways, traffic control, and operating funds at Municipal, State, and/or Federal expense. "Please change the fundamental policy regarding Amtrak and declare that it is a publicly supported national passenger transportation system. Recommend and authorize Federal funding to support Amtrak capital and operating expenses. Entice all States to provide their fair share to support Amtrak capital and operating expenses. "Thank you,"
Good Luck Hank! Its only fair. If that doesn't work, maybe they could resurect the Rock Island passenger service. Weren't they the only profitable passenger service still in the black after all the others went belly up to the Covernment controls? We may have to have a revolution to clean out the bribery (excuse me, I should say the Lobbists (same thing), out of our government. If not, we may end up a nation of peasents rulled over by a few Kings of Industry who pull the strings of our puppet government. My opinion. So there!
Watash, The Southern and the Rio Grande stayed out of Amtrak and ran their own passenger trains for many years after June 1, 1971. I read that both companies understood that well-run, first-class passenger trains were excellent advertising for their freight service, and wrote off any losses as marketing expenses. I believe both companies gave up after 6-8 years when it became obvious that Amtrak did not intend to provide reliable, if any, connecting services and ridership had dropped to nil .
