re: #141 Great White Snark

The majority of rail track used for long distance transportation in this country is privately owned. The Northeast Corridor is the exception, not the rule, when it comes to Amtrak.

You are aware of this, right? The current private rail owners want nothing to do with providing passenger service. Outside of the Northeast Corridor, it is not a money maker. They would rather the trains not be on their track, because it takes up capacity that could otherwise go to freight. The reason it exists at all is because the government has decided there is a benefit to this service existing even if it does not make money.