Forget gas; we need a plan to keep passenger trains rolling

AMEN!

While we are at it, lets not forget that the fastest trains possible may meet the corporte needs of post modern America, but that they will not meet the needs of a huge baby-boomer retirement and semi-retirement explosion.

The largest generation will be slowing down as they should. Having been the most mobile generation ever, the whackiest generation will probably not sit still for sitting still. Yet many will change from seeking a direct route from point A to point B to a wandering syle of movement.

Any wise energy conservation and earth-friendly policy will take this into consideration.

The Seattle Times: Opinion: Forget gas; we need a plan to keep passenger trains rolling:

"Here we go again, blaming everything on the oil companies for the spiraling cost of gasoline. How about we try something positive for a change, say, restoring our passenger trains?

For decades, Europe has paid double what the U.S. pays for gas, and just look at the trains they have. Every day, thousands of passenger trains, conventional and high-speed, whisk tourists and business people across the continent.

Of course, Europe has a plan for trains. Addiction prevents that here. So addicted have Americans become to the automobile we have forgotten all that railroads were. and could be again.

Indeed, our plan would begin with some national soul-searching about why we lost our passenger trains in the first place. On May 1, 1971, the railroads deeded to Amtrak just 180 trains. As late as 1960, the railroads had operated at least 5,000."