Yes, it is strange how much effort is put into killing AMTRAK. The reason might be as simple as the fact that the powers that be do not want passenger rail to be successful in any way, shape or form. So, while every other industrial nation makes massive rail and transit investments, we continue with the hope that "happy motoring" will last forever, even if it takes an ever increasing portion of our corn crop (leading ultimately to dramatically increased food prices and all sorts of environmental problems) and a 50 cent/gallon subsidy (that dirty word) to produce the stuff. Now just picture what kind of rail passenger system we could have with a 50 cent/gallon subsidy.