It is time for Americans to realize that we are never going back to the days of cheap oil and cheaper gas. Our individually based transportation system, otherwise known as the automobile, may not be history but will change dramatically in a world where gas is $6.00 or more a gallon. It is time for the second most efficient transportation system in the world to reemerge.
Rail is beat only by big transport ships for efficiency, but isn’t limited to ports or deep river traffic. It can be used as light rail for local commuter traffic, long distance high speed passenger rail, or heavy cargo. Rebuilding the system will not be cheap, but it is critical for America that we find new Rail Barons.
The US Government must encourage the expansion of rail, either though AMTRAK style subsidies, or tax incentives to encourage private companies to enter the field. Yes, its not the same experience as a car. You can’t carry your private chunk of personal space. Rail is a more community based experience. But we are not going back to the days of cheap gas and the sooner we start building for the future the easier our transition to a different civilization will be.
Travelers Shift to Rail as Cost of Fuel Rises
WASHINGTON — Record prices for gasoline and jet fuel should be good news for Amtrak, as travelers look for alternatives to cut the cost of driving and flying.And they are good news, up to a point.
Amtrak set records in May, both for the number of passengers it carried and for ticket revenues — all the more remarkable because May is not usually a strong travel month.
But the railroad, and its suppliers, have shrunk so much, largely because of financial constraints, that they would have difficulty growing quickly to meet the demand.
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