Most Amtrak Trains in the Midwest have 4 or 5 Freight cars attached. Some trains have more freight cars than passenger cars: Government Subsidized Frt. Service to compete with the Privately ran Burlington Northern of the world...

Amtrak should be sold in pieces to anyone willing to buy it.

Some routes would fail. Others survive. But more likely than not: Metro link and other "local" passenger services would expand their runs and begin offering city-to-city service in locations like Milwaukee-Chicago and Boston-Washington where such serivce would be likely be profitable.

The Government subsidy is what is killing American Train service. Amtrak has an unfair advantage to undercut any competition in the most profitable markets. Therefore there is no competitive service (except the airlines and automobiles) in those markets.

Amtrak does prove one point: Monopolies don't always make money...Would anyone in their right mind buy stock in Amtrak? Well guess what: You own it. And you’re stuck with it. The politicians think it’s such a great investment that they wont let you sell it.

If it’s such a great investment in the future: Lets invest the Social Security Trust Fund in Amtrak.

Scott (Laughing hysterically)