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Re: doesn't sound like you've done much rural existence
Author: T37HC
Date: 05-10-2019 - 13:01
"What about all those towns that the trains pass through without stopping?"
You mean the towns like Blaine and Pueblo (not through but near in Pueblo's case) that are desperately appealing to Amtrak for service?
A station doesn't have to be in your hometown to be useful. Parents living in Cashmere (where amtrak bypasses) can drop their kids off in Wenatchee for a summer trip to visit their grandparents in Whitefish.
"In fact there are a few entire states Amtrak doesn't serve or run through."
You know how many billions it would cost to get an Amtrak line to and through Anchorage.
Bring back the Pioneer -- they've been trying for years.
"The Pioneer, the Amtrak passenger train linking Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City and Denver -- and many small rural towns in between -- was losing $20 million a year when it was shut down in 1997"
Since 1997 Boise metro area has almost tripled in size. Many other towns on the route have also grown (Ontario, Baker City, La Grange and etc). Need some anchor cities otherwise too cost prohibitive. Use common sense and a route can be relatively cheap.
"why didn't all those little burgs dry up and blow away in the 1960's when passenger trains were dieing left and right?"
I'm sure these burgs would survive without internet, USPS, doctor's office and a fire station as well. Survivability isn't the issue, quality of life is.
You mean the towns like Blaine and Pueblo (not through but near in Pueblo's case) that are desperately appealing to Amtrak for service?
A station doesn't have to be in your hometown to be useful. Parents living in Cashmere (where amtrak bypasses) can drop their kids off in Wenatchee for a summer trip to visit their grandparents in Whitefish.
"In fact there are a few entire states Amtrak doesn't serve or run through."
You know how many billions it would cost to get an Amtrak line to and through Anchorage.
Bring back the Pioneer -- they've been trying for years.
"The Pioneer, the Amtrak passenger train linking Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City and Denver -- and many small rural towns in between -- was losing $20 million a year when it was shut down in 1997"
Since 1997 Boise metro area has almost tripled in size. Many other towns on the route have also grown (Ontario, Baker City, La Grange and etc). Need some anchor cities otherwise too cost prohibitive. Use common sense and a route can be relatively cheap.
"why didn't all those little burgs dry up and blow away in the 1960's when passenger trains were dieing left and right?"
I'm sure these burgs would survive without internet, USPS, doctor's office and a fire station as well. Survivability isn't the issue, quality of life is.
