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Re: President Trump and Amtrak's long distance trains
Author: Erik H.
Date: 11-14-2016 - 13:49
I doubt Trump personally really cares about Amtrak. If a bill came to his desk to kill it he'd sign it, but he wouldn't make it an issue for Congress to address.
The Republican Congress, however, would love to axe it, or at least all of it except the NEC. They already have a laundry list of things to kill off - the ACA, the Department of Education, among other things...
There are fewer than 4 million rides on the long distance trains. People are up in arms that 20 million people might lose their health insurance. The state subsidized trains will continue to operate, just with different operators rather than Amtrak.
Amtrak will go away, the foamers will whine and complain, but most of America will forget about Amtrak after a year and if there really, truly was a market, someone - whether it be a bus company, an airline, or a private company that thinks they can make money off rail, will step in. And since most of the long distance trains pass through solid red parts of the country, then they can be reminded "you wanted less government, you got it. You want Amtrak back? Don't vote for less government."
The Republican Congress, however, would love to axe it, or at least all of it except the NEC. They already have a laundry list of things to kill off - the ACA, the Department of Education, among other things...
There are fewer than 4 million rides on the long distance trains. People are up in arms that 20 million people might lose their health insurance. The state subsidized trains will continue to operate, just with different operators rather than Amtrak.
Amtrak will go away, the foamers will whine and complain, but most of America will forget about Amtrak after a year and if there really, truly was a market, someone - whether it be a bus company, an airline, or a private company that thinks they can make money off rail, will step in. And since most of the long distance trains pass through solid red parts of the country, then they can be reminded "you wanted less government, you got it. You want Amtrak back? Don't vote for less government."
