johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

It looks like Amtrak will be getting High Speed Trains at last, they are only about 20 years behind the times !

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/amtrak-awards-northeast-corridor-high-speed-train-order.html

You have to wait another few years before it happens, even if then.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It will probably be another twenty years. We'll have to let all the groups involved fight it out. When they start building their system, rails will be old hat, with the rest of the world using maglev. We have too many powerful financial interests that are holding back our progress.

FrankR Loc: NYC

Agreed; in this case I would put the oil and automotive industries right at the top of the list.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Years ago, when CB radios were popular, I was on a long trip, listening to truckers. As we approached one section of highway, they mentioned how they had to slow down. I cut in and asked why. Having the trucks go slower gave a slight edge to the railroads. Freight trains have priority over passenger trains here.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

My late wife and I took a trip to Chicago about 10 yrs ago on Amtrak, a 5hr drive took us over 7 hrs. The train was over an hour late arriving at our station. The first hr was 35 miles, the car A/C wasn't working, changed cars in St.Louis, they ran out of snacks and beverages ] before we traveled 60 miles, the majority of the passengers were rude taking two seats there was no real place for luggage. The return trip was just a bit better,it took only 6hrs and we took our own snacks and beverages .The cost was $140 saved money, no way , I could have driven it in less time had more room all for two tanks of gas or less
We took the Train because Ruthie had never ridden on one.
My first and last trip on Amtrak!!!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

The rail system here will never in my lifetime support High Speed trains.!!!!!!

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

2021 eh! We won't have finished talking about HS2 by then - let alone make a decision. And the trains are being built in North America, not Japan like ours (if it ever goes ahead).

Ka2azman Loc: Tucson, Az

I don't know how you get that information about freight trains vs. passenger but the regulatory agency over RRs in the entire USA, (Alaska and Hawaii included) the FRA (Federal Railroad Agency) under Title 49 (Transportation laws for trucks, trains, planes etc.) has strict control over such action. Within its rules, it specifically states that passenger trains have the right-a-way. If the individual RRs violate this, they get fined for each and every violation, even if it happens on the tracks they own.

39 years with the RR industry and dealing with the FRA at times, they are serious about this. Don't know how many times I've sat in a sidings waiting for a passenger train to pass, before we could go.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I've heard horror stories like yours from others. Amtrak has been having problems with accidents of late. Collisions, derailments, scheduling, not leaving and arriving on time, and poor service. And being government subsidized, it should be better. Worst of all is the Greyhound Bus.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Based on your experience, I'll take your word for it. I've been hearing about freight priority for years from all sorts of sources who claimed they knew. It looks like it's been an ongoing court battle.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-who-goes-first-amtrak-or-freight-train-20160429-story.html

Big Bill Loc: Phoenix, AZ

If, by "passenger trains" you mean, Amtrak, then no, they don't. At least by contract.
Amtrak trains get preference over the controlling railroads trains; that's written into the contracts. In practice, though, Amtrak has been in a constant struggle to maintain that preference.
Along with needing to spend money to keep the tracks Amtrak uses to a higher standard than that needed for their freight trains, the continuing increase in freight traffic after a slowdown during the recession is putting the railroads in a bind. Add to that the fact that Amtrak has genuine problems in maintaining its own schedules that are no fault of the host railroad, and problems will occur.

Big Bill Loc: Phoenix, AZ

"And being government subsidized, it should be better."
I found this to be a bright spot of humor. Did you intend this?

mtbear

AMTRAK is my favorite way to travel after driving. Once I'm onboard I put away my watch and read, before I know it I've arrived. The south leg to the west coast through the Grand Tetons is my favorite with the Great Lakes run to the east my next. I've done Chicago to Carbondale many times on the City of New Orleans. If I really wanted to get some place quickly, I fly, but I don't enjoy the detachment. By the time AMTRAK gets around to high speed rails somebody will have invented a Star Trek transporter.

Big Bill Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Several years ago we needed to go to Florida to catch a cruise ship.
My wife said, "Why don't we go by train? It would be cheaper than driving."
So I checked. From Phoenix to Ft; Lauderdale would take more time than driving, and cost more, including motels.
Plus, the route would take us through Chicago and D.C., with train changes at both.
Given Amtrak's record of arriving on schedule, we would need to allocate several extra days to make sure missed connections didn't see us arriving after the cruise ship left. No economies there.

Our first (and only) Amtrak trip was in the late 70s, from LA to San Francisco (that's what the tickets said).
Departure was supposed to be at 9:00am. We left at 10:30. Arrival was supposed to be at 7:00pm or so. We arrived after 1:30am the next day. In Oakland. With no Amtrak transportation to the San Francisco terminal.
The farce included a dining car fire that forced the train to stop in the middle of a vast cornfield, with no way for the fire engines to get to the train. We watched them on the road while they watched the car burn to the frame. Just try to imagine the fun everyone had while the railroad and Amtrak tried to solve that problem.

No, for me, driving is far, far better than Amtrak.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Amtrak has cost the government over $45 Billion in subsidies in the past 44 years. Which means they need financial help constantly. And they are still losing money. Mismanagement of money is the likely cause. Yes, they should be better.