Re: Why Mars?

From: Jeff Hacker (jhacker_at_usa.net)
Date: 11/19/04 

Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 21:59:57 GMT

"Bill Bonde ( ``And the Lamb lies down on Broadway'' )"
<stderr2@backpacker.com> wrote in message
news:419D04AF.4153EFAE@backpacker.com...
>
>
> Alan Anderson wrote:
>>
>> mnc@admin.u.nu (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>
>> > >>> People would take the train if it were substantially cheaper than
>> > >>> taking
>> > >>> an airplane. It isn't.
>> > >>
>> > >> Amtrak is almost always running a deal between Chicago, Cleveland,
>> > >> or
>> > >> somewhere like that to/from the east coast for under $20.
>> > >
>> > > Never heard of it.
>> >
>> > http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/WeeklySpecials
>> >
>> > There. Now you have.
>>
>> $38.70 is not substantially cheaper than $49.
>>
> Trains should be dirt cheap to operate but we have Amtrak mucking around
> with everything. If Amtrak would take high value goods like UPS and Fed
> Ex does, and use their need to be more or less on time for the
> passengers to benefit the freight shipping, as every airline in the
> country does with their air freight, the cost for a train trip from SEA
> to LAX could be five bucks or something low like that. As it is, Amtrak
> can charge more than an airline and still lose tons of money.

First of all, trains require extensive maintenance to the rolling stock and
the track. And secondly, union regulations are really strict, raising
operating costs. Thirdly, most Amtrak trains roll on tracks owned by the
freight railroads, which can hold them up for freight trains. Forthly, the
regulations severely limit Amtrak's ability to carry freight or "express,"
which the freight railroads want for themselves.
>
>
> --
> I heard Clinton buried a time capsule at his new presidential library
> sized like an overseas shipping container filled with stuff he didn't
> want anyone to find till long after his death, the real deed to
> Whitewater, the envelope for the Tyson Foods chicken payoffs, the real
> gun he used to whack Foster, the keys to the Exocet missile he took Ron
> Brown out with, copies of another few thousand illegally acquired FBI
> files on his enemies, tickets to Tahiti from the White House Travel
> Office, a few more soiled dresses, a couple of cases of well chewed
> Cuban cigars, and the unabridged version of his autobiography. That last
> one was touch and go just getting the bugger in.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Why Mars?
    ... > Trains should be dirt cheap to operate but we have Amtrak mucking around ... If Amtrak would take high value goods like UPS and Fed ... > country does with their air freight, the cost for a train trip from SEA ... freight railroads, which can hold them up for freight trains. ...
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  • Re: Why Mars?
    ... >> Trains should be dirt cheap to operate but we have Amtrak mucking around ... If Amtrak would take high value goods like UPS and Fed ... >> country does with their air freight, the cost for a train trip from SEA ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: Why Mars?
    ... >> Trains should be dirt cheap to operate but we have Amtrak mucking around ... If Amtrak would take high value goods like UPS and Fed ... >> country does with their air freight, the cost for a train trip from SEA ...
    (sci.space.policy)