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From: jis1@mtgzz.UUCP (j.mukerji)
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: AMTRAK funding.
Message-ID: <1686@mtgzz.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Feb-86 09:26:15 EST
Article-I.D.: mtgzz.1686
Posted: Mon Feb 24 09:26:15 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 06:47:28 EST
References: <991@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Middletown NJ
Lines: 46

> I sincerely doubt that it would produce continuous traffic jams all the
> way from Washington to Boston.  

I agree that that would not be the case all along the corridor. But the
closure of Amtrak would imply that the NE corridor lines between Trenton and
New York will seize to operate. Which in turn would imply that NJTrabsit
would seize to operate. That would imply infinite traffic jams at the Hudson
Crossings. Of course, in reality, it is highly unlikely that the NE corridor
will seize operations. What is more likely is that some alternative business
arrangements will be made to keep it alive. 

> Conrail's fairlure MIGHT do that. 

Huh??? Now prey why would that be the case??? As far as I know Conrail does
not handle a single passenger train of any kind in the NE corridor! I am
sure you misunderstand the role of Conrail in NE corridor. Or am I missing
something?

> I am sure that Greyhound could pick up all the northeast cooridor passenger
> traffic without any noticable change in the number of vehicles on I-95. 

Is that a considered opinion based on any traffic numbers that you have
seen? Or is it just wishful thinking?

Looks like you have not been on the NJ portion of I-95 recently. 

> I for one like trains, 

There is certainly a lack of evidence to support that claim:-)

> but I like having money to spend too.  If AMTRAK
> can't operate at or close to profitiablity then I feel it should go.  

I absolutely agree with that. But I think that Amtrak is really a red
herring in that debate. There are whole host of other programs
that cost orders of magnitude more that ought to be cut too. Maybe we should
cancel funding for the FAA. Afterall it makes no profits either. It is
indeed a complete black hole!:-)

> There are more important things to save in the federal budget.

Hmmm. Name a few.

I think it is still a good idea to write your Congressman

Jishnu Mukerji