Why it makes no sense to pit the Northeast Corridor against the National Network (hint: it's the economy, stupid)
December 11th, 2015
December 11, 2015 - National Association of Railroad Passengers
Like the man once famously said, "There you go again."
Newspapers and media outlets up and down the Northeast Corridor are once again buying into the mythology that Amtrak's NEC operation is profitable, and thus the railroad could be a going concern if it were just freed from its yoke of long-distance service.
It's a tidy, compelling narrative. Trouble is, it's just wrong.
Editorial boards in Washington, New York and Boston don't seem to be clamoring for Metro, MTA or the MBTA to be profitable. Yet they insist that the public-transportation network operating on a national scale is a waste of time and energy unless it spins off profits.
Let's be clear. Public transportation exists for the same reason that highways, waterways and air traffic control exist. They are vital pieces of infrastructure critical to economic growth and the attraction of private capital. NARP believes voters and editorial boards should consider intermodal and rail as they would any other transportation investment.
Read more: http://www.narprail.org/news/blog/why-it-makes-no-sense-to-pit-the-northeast-corridor-against-the-national-network-hint-its-the-economy-stupid/
Like the man once famously said, "There you go again."
Newspapers and media outlets up and down the Northeast Corridor are once again buying into the mythology that Amtrak's NEC operation is profitable, and thus the railroad could be a going concern if it were just freed from its yoke of long-distance service.
It's a tidy, compelling narrative. Trouble is, it's just wrong.
Editorial boards in Washington, New York and Boston don't seem to be clamoring for Metro, MTA or the MBTA to be profitable. Yet they insist that the public-transportation network operating on a national scale is a waste of time and energy unless it spins off profits.
Let's be clear. Public transportation exists for the same reason that highways, waterways and air traffic control exist. They are vital pieces of infrastructure critical to economic growth and the attraction of private capital. NARP believes voters and editorial boards should consider intermodal and rail as they would any other transportation investment.
Read more: http://www.narprail.org/news/blog/why-it-makes-no-sense-to-pit-the-northeast-corridor-against-the-national-network-hint-its-the-economy-stupid/