Biden's Plan : calls for improvements to Amtrak’s high-traffic Washington-Boston corridor & expanded service to Houston

[Dopo]

Haters = "It's too expensive"

But have no problem with all the government subsidies to make airline travel affordable.



The Odd Case of Taxpayer Subsidies to Small Airports

Created in 1978 to ease the transition of rural airports and small communities to a deregulated airline system, the so-called EAS was supposed to expire in 10 years. But more than 30 years later, it's still with us and costs taxpayers nearly $200 million a year. It is also fast becoming the metaphoric poster boy for wasteful government spending, entrenched interests, political gridlock, and (surprise!) an airline industry so completely clueless that it demands more money to operate the supposedly "essential" flights even as the nation is struggling to find ways to spend less.

Essential Air Service is also expensive. Passengers in EAS communities pay far more than average Americans to fly. One example from Nevada: The fare from Ely to Las Vegas is $149 one-way (or 67 cents a mile) even though Great Lakes receives $1.86 million in EAS subsidies to fly the route. So few travelers use the Ely-Las Vegas service that the subsidy works out to more than $3,000 per flyer. By contrast, Southwest sells Las Vegas to Chicago nonstops for as little as $153 one-way—about 10 cents per mile.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Haters = "It's too expensive"

But have no problem with all the government subsidies to make airline travel affordable.



The Odd Case of Taxpayer Subsidies to Small Airports

Created in 1978 to ease the transition of rural airports and small communities to a deregulated airline system, the so-called EAS was supposed to expire in 10 years. But more than 30 years later, it's still with us and costs taxpayers nearly $200 million a year. It is also fast becoming the metaphoric poster boy for wasteful government spending, entrenched interests, political gridlock, and (surprise!) an airline industry so completely clueless that it demands more money to operate the supposedly "essential" flights even as the nation is struggling to find ways to spend less.

Essential Air Service is also expensive. Passengers in EAS communities pay far more than average Americans to fly. One example from Nevada: The fare from Ely to Las Vegas is $149 one-way (or 67 cents a mile) even though Great Lakes receives $1.86 million in EAS subsidies to fly the route. So few travelers use the Ely-Las Vegas service that the subsidy works out to more than $3,000 per flyer. By contrast, Southwest sells Las Vegas to Chicago nonstops for as little as $153 one-way—about 10 cents per mile.

I think those subsidies should cease, at least from the feds. If states or localities want to subsidize them, they can come up with the money.

[naners1]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I think those subsidies should cease, at least from the feds. If states or localities want to subsidize them, they can come up with the money.

The airlines received $25 billion back in Sept 30 2020. Then every in individual airline received more billions until the end of the year.
Then for 2021 they got the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” for an additional $14 billion. Anyone who is not blind can see how much pull this industry has. While at the same time Rail has nearly zero.


https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/pres...0the%20payroll.
https://simpleflying.com/us-airlines...ment%20support.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by naners1

The airlines received $25 billion back in Sept 30 2020. Then every in individual airline received more billions until the end of the year.
Then for 2021 they got the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,” for an additional $14 billion. Anyone who is not blind can see how much pull this industry has. While at the same time Rail has nearly zero.


https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/pres...0the%20payroll.
https://simpleflying.com/us-airlines...ment%20support.

I don't think any industry should deserve special treatment and favors when other industries don't. Cars get favored too (obviously) - remember how GM and Chrysler got bailed out, which should never have happened? ("Oh but they have unionized workforces so they deserve special treatment" - poppycock). Airplane manufacturing gets special treatment (basically, this means Boeing). Along with agriculture, oil and gas, green energy, housing (and I do work for the housing industry!) etc. None of the special treatment should happen, certainly not by the feds.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I think those subsidies should cease, at least from the feds. If states or localities want to subsidize them, they can come up with the money.

And guess what's going to happen
the states with more political power will get money from the Feds to pay for it

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

It takes about 20 hours last I checked, to go from Houston to El Paso. You are not traveling the entire time, but waiting... for the freight trains to pass. There is a long wait in Alpine, TX because of the wait time for the freight trains to pass. There is also a long wait in San Antonio. It is not like you can leave the station, and there is nothing to do while waiting. Great if you want solitude.

It also takes about 20 hours to leave Texas, even traveling the entire time. It's that big!

The Triangle cities are close to each other and they would be the more likely candidates for rail trips, not interstate routes. But they are also drivable and a car is needed for last-mile trips.

Originally Posted by WRM20

"it's too expensive" is a valid criticism if it's something like cross country rail where 5 people a day would actually ride the train(it may be more, and probably is more, but you get the point that there will never be an occasion when 200+ people will board a train in Houston to travel to Los Angeles). We can't, as a society, afford to please every last person.

The train--especially HSR--is a perfect alternative to the security theater enforced by the TSA at the airport. The security checks are the most humiliating experience of all travel modes and some checks are not even done by other Developed nations (e.g. shoe checks).

The plane takes 3.5 hours from IAH to LAX. HSR train would take about 18 hours. Driving comfortably on the interstates involves three 12-hour days.