Is US passenger rail a thing of the past—or the future?
December 9th, 2019
December 6, 2019 - forbes.com - Michael Goldstein -
Can America’s long-neglected railroads provide a viable alternative for passenger travel, as congestion and climate concerns increasingly affect ground and air transportation? There are reasons for optimism, as perpetually put-upon Amtrak recently posted a surprise near-breakeven quarter. The state and federally supported passenger operator reported just $29.8 million in losses, an 83% improvement over last year, and reduced operating losses by nearly $400 million.
Meanwhile, a nostalgic train journey undertaken by Union Pacific to highlight railroad achievements was enthusiastically viewed by thousands of people, showing the continuing hold trains have on the American imagination.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2019/12/06/is-us-passenger-rail-a-thing-of-the-past-or-the-future/#39b27aed4ed0
Can America’s long-neglected railroads provide a viable alternative for passenger travel, as congestion and climate concerns increasingly affect ground and air transportation? There are reasons for optimism, as perpetually put-upon Amtrak recently posted a surprise near-breakeven quarter. The state and federally supported passenger operator reported just $29.8 million in losses, an 83% improvement over last year, and reduced operating losses by nearly $400 million.
Meanwhile, a nostalgic train journey undertaken by Union Pacific to highlight railroad achievements was enthusiastically viewed by thousands of people, showing the continuing hold trains have on the American imagination.
Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2019/12/06/is-us-passenger-rail-a-thing-of-the-past-or-the-future/#39b27aed4ed0