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The Privatized US Rail System Is a Disaster. A New Report Makes Case for a Public Takeover (www.commondreams.org)

submitted 2 months ago by pelespirit@sh.itjust.works to c/politics@sh.itjust.works

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Just a handful of private companies control the majority of the U.S. freight rail network, leaving large swaths of the country with access to just one or two privatized railroads. The heavily concentrated rail industry's model of maintaining "supernormal profits" and delivering for shareholders by slashing investment, McDonald wrote, runs directly counter to public priorities, including expanded passenger service.

Amtrak, the United States' passenger rail corporation, is managed as a for-profit company and "runs passenger service on tracks that are typically owned by the private Class 1 railroads," McDonald observed. While private railroads are by law required to give preferential treatment to Amtrak's passenger trains over freight, "this has rarely been enforced," leading to often terrible performance.

Bringing the U.S. rail system under public ownership, the new report argues, would be transformational, allowing for greater investment in passenger and freight rail and thus helping to shift away from costly and heavily polluting on-road transportation.

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That's exactly why it shouldn't be about making money, but serving the travelers across the country. Breaking even should be a win, it would certainly be a win for the environment.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

There is a rail that goes from El Paso to Denver at least, but no passenger trains. When my dad moved to NM in the late 60s he said there was a passenger train that went all the way between the two, then I-25 was built and the train vanished.