Trains, Planes and Automobiles

Well, maybe just trains. Having family in Europe and having to been to Europe a few times, it's a source of amazement and irritation to me that this country doesn't have anything remotely resembling a high speed-rail system. It's just sad, in a way- because if anything, high speed trains, real high speed trains would totally appeal to the American desire for something fast that looks damn sexy. If you've never seen a TGV in person, go to France and see one. I remember staggering off the plane in DeGaulle (waiting for my sister for five hours or so) and then heading down to the train station so we could get a train to Nantes to see my other sister- and the first time I saw a TGV, well, the only world to describe it is 'sexy.' It's kind of weird to think of an inanimate object that way, but the lines of the thing, how sleek it looks? So damn sexy.

Anyway, there's a report that Amtrak is actually gaining ridership on the East Coast, but only has a ridiculously low number of cars they can use. 632. Yeah, that's right- ridiculously low! 632 cars for the entire country. How crazy is that? And now, they're running up against the fact that they don't have the capacity to meet their demands.

We need a high speed network in this country. It's one of the things that America sucks at and it doesn't have to be so. I know the car companies freak out about rail roads, but they should consider this: who gets to build the trains? Could Chrysler maybe build a train car? It's a potential source of investment for car companies and plane companies- and the government should pursue that strategy.

The problem with Amtrak is that its a tourist trap more than anything else. It needs to be an efficient method of getting people from point A to point B. We have a great freight system, so why not a great passenger system? To me, there's a reason.

Amtrak is government owned: fantastic for keeping a passenger service in existence, but shitty for growing an efficient rail service. If Congress controls your budget then everyone is Congress is going to be fighting, clawing and scratching to make sure the branch line that carries two people per day in their district stays in existence. I'm not saying the government gets out the way and lets Amtrak sink or swim- because the government has to do some stuff. Building and upgrading rail lines for high speed service across the country, for instance.

And it should initiate a plan to work with states and private companies to develop regional networks to integrate into a wider national network. It should also bring in airlines and car companies to invest in the new rail system because planes and automobiles can get some money out of real trains if they want to.

Let's consider: Mankato to the Cities is 80 miles. A direct high speed train going 200 MPH would get you to Minneapolis pretty damn quick. Think about it.

Someone should ask McCain and Obama what their plans for our trains are. And they should have serious plans.