Even if that’s true, so what? Do you judge a highway project on how long it will take to pay for itself through direct revenue from the people who use it?
I am not sure roads and railroads are a fair comparison. After an investment is made and a road is built/rebuilt, anyone who happens along can go ahead and use it. Is that the same for the high-speed railroad? Roads are considered part of civic infrastructure (such as electricity, water, sewer) - I don’t think railroads are, at this point, at least in the US.
I am an occasional Amtrak customer - primarily from Sacramento to the SF Bay Area. That train (Capitol Corridor) runs frequent trains to and from, makes a few stops, is fairly reliable, and is generally full when I use it (weekdays). The cost is a bit more than driving, but when you factor-in parking, in SF specifically, and the time you may spend sitting in traffic, the cost is about a wash if not better to be on the train. And the train allows you to do something other than driving.
I have only taken the long-distance routes a couple times, and the experience is quite different. The train is infrequent, slow, and usually not on-time. Delays are usually by multiple hours (not minutes).
I initially heard the primary issue with the long-distance routes is they are sucking resources ($$, people) away from more useful/popular routes. I would rather invest in strengthening existing short and medium distance regional routes connecting population centers (such as Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner, etc.) than continuing to support the least profitable, longer distance routes. The heck with nostalgia - if your trip is over 300 miles, take an airplane.
Don’t get me started on the CA high-speed rail fiasco.
I thought you already were.
Railroads are not considered part of public infrastructure in the U.S. I guess my question is, why not?
Think of how much government involvement (and investment) there is in the infrastructure of air travel. And it’s not just physical things, like airports and navigation systems; there’s a lot of manpower and expertise involved in certifying designs, investigating accidents, and providing weather and other info to pilots. It’s all available to anyone who wants to learn how to fly, but very few people do. It mostly supports an industry that carries people from one place to another for money. And I think it’s been ridiculously successful. Airlines, big and small, carry vast numbers of people for very low cost and in great safety.
Neither roads nor airports are a perfect, direct comparison to rail travel, but I think they’re similar enough to be interesting.
The typical driveway doesn’t need to deal with semi trucks driving over it at 70 MPH all day long. A freeway will have thicker pavement and a deeper base.
This is the best way to judge a project because if the users don’t think it is worthwhile to pay for it then why build it in the first place. This is not always possible so other times they have to be paid for by such things as gas taxes which imperfectly target the users.
I thought I’d try Houston to Las Vegas. Guess what? No train service, period.
So for the hell of it, I did Houston to Los Angeles. One way for SWMBO and me is a 3 hr, 43 minute flight on United for $426.40. Okay, let’s look at Amtrak.
To start with, there is a 4 hr, 35 minute BUS ride from Houston to Dallas just to catch a damn train! :eek: The overall length of the trip is about 59 hours and involves three train changes. Total cost for SWMBO and me: $680.80.
Pass.
Sunset Limited, New Orleans to LA (pdf). Lowest cost available today for 2 passengers on Sept 20 is $324.
The Sunset Limited only runs three days a week, so if you chose an off-day, that may explain the reroute. Still 36 hours, including that 2-hour 45-minute layover in San Antonio.
Used to be Jacksonville to LA. Wish it still was. My SO hates going to airports much and actually getting her on a plane is out of the question so both of us visiting my relatives in Beaumont is virtually impossible. She refuses to be cooped up in a car for that long, taking a bus would involve two transfers in the middle of the night, and taking Amtrak would result in us arriving in New Orleans too lake to check in anywhere respectable.