Amtrak reform article

[Amtrakfflyer]

https://news.yahoo.com/reform-amtrak-biggest-value-120008785.html

 

[Willbridge]

I read it and am not surprised. It seems familiar from following the British rail experience and the Denver bus privatization experience. In both cases the private operation evolved toward just being a labor and service contractor with no risk to the private operators.

 

[sttom]

Amtrak must share with other operators because that is a natural good, but the private companies doing the same? That's communism.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Much that is wrong in this article. NEC profitable? If so there would be private companies scrambling to take it off the government's hands. Sure its revenue probably exceeds expenses but this ignores the expensive capital investment needed to bring nearly century old infrastructure up to date. Having a government owned right of way with multiple operators competing to provide service sounds like the UK "privitisation" model and we know how well that has worked out.