Comments on: Not All Trains Are Alike http://uprooted.jessicareeder.com/2010/02/not-all-trains-are-alike/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:01:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jessica Reeder http://uprooted.jessicareeder.com/2010/02/not-all-trains-are-alike/comment-page-1/#comment-1537 Jessica Reeder Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:25:43 +0000 http://uprooted.jessicareeder.com/?p=2228#comment-1537 Hi Jim! Rail-friendly in principle, sure. The reality is always more difficult, though it seems like real strides are being made toward upgrading our train systems. So exciting. I wouldn't be so quick to blame everything on Bush, but I definitely agree that the system's been pretty weak for a while. That's a shame: Amtrak is a beautiful idea. Did you know that freight trains still have right-of-way over passenger trains? That causes huge delays throughout the system, which leads to a major decrease in ridership. One way or another, it's worth fighting to get the trains running as they should. I think it'll happen, hopefully sooner than later, and I'm willing to keep riding the trains even if they're not perfect. Totally, totally excited about the idea of high-speed trains. Hi Jim!

Rail-friendly in principle, sure. The reality is always more difficult, though it seems like real strides are being made toward upgrading our train systems. So exciting.

I wouldn’t be so quick to blame everything on Bush, but I definitely agree that the system’s been pretty weak for a while. That’s a shame: Amtrak is a beautiful idea. Did you know that freight trains still have right-of-way over passenger trains? That causes huge delays throughout the system, which leads to a major decrease in ridership.

One way or another, it’s worth fighting to get the trains running as they should. I think it’ll happen, hopefully sooner than later, and I’m willing to keep riding the trains even if they’re not perfect.

Totally, totally excited about the idea of high-speed trains.

]]> By: Jim Loomis http://uprooted.jessicareeder.com/2010/02/not-all-trains-are-alike/comment-page-1/#comment-1533 Jim Loomis Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:50:09 +0000 http://uprooted.jessicareeder.com/?p=2228#comment-1533 You're right about the condition of some of the trains. But remember: for eight long years, the Bush administration did its best to starve Amtrak to death. In fact, one of the Bush budgets had ZERO funding for Amtrak which would have forced the railroad to shut diwn in 90 days. At one point, Amtrak had more than 100 rail cars in storage because they didn't have the money to perform minor repairs or routine maintenance. Still, trains are definitely the way to go and, fortunately, we now have a rail-friendly administration in Washington. You’re right about the condition of some of the trains. But remember: for eight long years, the Bush administration did its best to starve Amtrak to death. In fact, one of the Bush budgets had ZERO funding for Amtrak which would have forced the railroad to shut diwn in 90 days. At one point, Amtrak had more than 100 rail cars in storage because they didn’t have the money to perform minor repairs or routine maintenance. Still, trains are definitely the way to go and, fortunately, we now have a rail-friendly administration in Washington.

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