|
Index to recent news postings 2001 news archives Photo gallery Contact us Site map Rail Travel News is a twice-monthly print publication, published since
Dec 10, 1970.
|
A Quiz:
What transportation mode are we talking about? "This troubled, money-losing mode has required billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies. It has never made a profit in its many years of operation." Does the answer "Amtrak" come immediately to mind? If so, you would probably be counted among most Americans who follow news in the media. Now, let us add the following statement to the description: "Over 40,000 deaths per year result from the use of this mode." We could further add "The economic and social costs of these deaths are difficult or impossible to tally, and so are never mentioned in the media." Now it should be obvious that the answer is the U.S. highway system. And it should be clear that a double standard exists in reporting on transportation modes in the U.S. media. Passenger trains and highways both require subsidies and do not make profits in the normal business sense. But why are these statements used only when Amtrak is the subject of discussion and rarely or never in regard to highways? These ways of framing the public attitude toward the two modes seem to originate in the Federal government, and not just under the current Administration; they have existed under every Administration since Amtrak's inception. They are a way of misrepresenting or lying about the rail travel mode, bringing out negative statements about it while avoiding them in discussions of highways. Can it be because the highway mode has many deep-pocket lobbyists in Washington while Amtrak has none? Amtrak has its citizen advocates, but none coming to legislators and others with what amounts to bribes. In fact, highway funding is not discussed much in the media because it is automatic, not having to be renewed regularly as Amtrak's is. It seems rather amazing that Amtrak funding has been supported by legislators to the degree it has over the years, mostly on the basis of voter input. The people want passenger trains, and Amtrak ridership continues to increase in spite of official efforts to kill it. If Amtrak had an ongoing, dedicated source of funding like that of highways,
the nasty, lie-filled debates over passenger trains might be eliminated.
Amtrak appoints new President & CEO Amtrak acknowledges Starlight problems Refuting some myths about long-distance train travel Tunnel work is disrupting Coast Starlight service in Southern California VIA's CANADIAN is back partially on Canadian Pacific rails Amtrak funding action in the Senate Spring-summer schedule changes for St. Louis-Kansas City coming Killing Amtrak slowly from within
|
Subscribe today! For new subscribers Renewing subscribers To subscribe by US Mail Request sample copy Browse train station posters Click here
Join or donate to the National Association of Railroad Passengers.
|
