AMTRAK

ROSS CAPON, Executive Director, National Association of Railroad Passengers, July 31, 2003
CZIKOWSKY: In my Economics class, a few decades ago, the public transportation system – buses and trains – were provided as examples of parts of the economy where it is impossible to achieve profitability. Raise prices and ridership falls enough that profits can’t be reached. Decrease prices and not enough new riders appear to achieve profits. Yet, there are social benefits to keeping more people off of roads (which are paid for by the public), to provide access to people who would not be able to otherwise travel, and to allow members of Congress to conveniently travel out of Washington. Now, I hear the Bush Administration insisting Amtrak become profitable. Is that even possible? Have there been major economic changes that there is now a point where passenger rail service could become profitable? If not, what is the Bush Administration thinking?
CAPON: Profitability probably is not possible in this environment—cheap gasoline, cheap air fares, cheap or non-existent highway tolls. It is noteworthy that there is bipartisan support of Capitol Hill for ending Amtrak’s “self-sufficiency” mandate.
What is the Bush Administration thinking? Perhaps they have found a way to end Amtrak without having to say that in so many words.
CZIKOWSKY: The Keystone (Harrisburg-New York) train has no food service. I have been suggesting they hire a person from the welfare to work program to at least offer maybe a few canned drinks and prepared food (I understand there is not the room for a food service). Is this the only Amtrak line that does not offer food and drinks?
CAPON: No food service on the Chicago-Grand Rapids train, Springfield-New Haven shuttles, and some New York-Phila, trains. On the Chicago-Milwaukee run, after some years without food service, they put on a cart that goes down the aisle (like some of us remember from pre-Amtrak days). I’ll ask about that for New York-Harrisburg. I’m guessing welfare to work program would create major labor relations problems.