Gary Peever Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Another prime example of why governments
> shouldn't be in the railroad business..."
>
> Maybe why some California Governments shouldn't
> be: original L.A. MTA, Night Crawler, HSR, Expo
> Line over runs, VTA, NCRA, Green Line to LAX, OCTA
> CenterLine, MoonBeam, Adriana Gianturco.....
>
> South Dakota, for example, kept a core rail system
> intact in the 1980s when the Milwaukee Road left
> the state and has done a good job working WITH
> railroads ever since.
>
> But then, California has become populated mainly
> with, well you know....


As a Pennsylvanian who has made several trips to California in recent years, I am envious of the extensive network of intercity trains funded by the California GOVERNMENT.

As a Pennsylvanian, I would also point out that Conrail, planned and funded by the feds was the best thing to happen to Northeastern railroading, until Staggers came along. However, the without the $8 - $9 billion investment made by the federal government, the railroads which merged into Conrail would have most likely experienced the same fate as the Rock Island and Milwaukee Road west of Minnesota.

As Pennsylvanian, I would additionally point out that the state has invested in a clearance program to allow Conrail and Norfolk Southern to run doublestack trains across the state. I have yet to read anywhere that this investment was money not well spent.