Amtrak food service: every $1 in sales costs $1.70

[berzerker60]

No the problem is that government is extremely inefficient and often corrupt. If the roads were privately (or at least locally) funded, they could be maintained for half the price that the government spends. It's just like our public education system - we have some of the lowest scores in the 1st world even though we spend 3x more than anyone else.

This is just an article of faith in conservative circles, and there's no arguing against it because of that, but there's no objective reason to believe it's anywhere near as strongly or universally true as believers seem to hold it. For one, there's vast inefficiency in private markets too, though it's harder to measure since they aren't accountable to Congress and the press. For another, a lot of government "inefficiency" is that it has to take on jobs we need done but no one in the private sectors wants to do, like provide education to the destitute and offer loans to build nuclear power plants.
http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/2945
http://www.uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/Private-Roads-Public-Costs-Updated_1.pdf

Public schools aren't really on average worse than private or religious schools. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/opinion/19wed2.html
America's schools - both public and private, but varying drastically by state and district - do spent a lot per pupil compared to more effective school systems in other countries, but "government inefficiency" is a bad reason to blame when most of those ahead of us have purely public schools. Unless you think Finland is the land of libertarian self-interest? http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923110.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Finland

Back on topic, I agree riding Amtrak isn't the best experience, but I am excited about the prospects for high-speed rail lines they're proposing in the Northeast. Getting from DC to NYC in 90 minutes would be amazing, and it wouldn't have the problem current Amtrak does where commuter trains get stopped for long periods to freight can go by, because freight gets priority.

 

[CycloWizard]

Meanwhile, the private train/bus system in Germany makes money hand over fist. People get where they are going on time. If something bad happens and they don't get you there on time, they will pay for your taxi to drive you 500 km to get you there on time.

Every day about 276,000 employees are committed to providing mobility and logistical services for customers around the world, as well as controlling and operating the related transport networks in the rail, land, ocean, and air freight transport sectors. In the 2011 financial year, DB AG posted revenues of about 37.9 billion euros, as well as operating profits (EBIT) of 2.3 billion euros before special items.

It is possible for rail/bus services to make money. It's not possible for government-run rail/bus services to make money. I guarantee it doesn't cost DB money to sell Coke.

 

[K1052]

Meanwhile, the private train/bus system in Germany makes money hand over fist. People get where they are going on time. If something bad happens and they don't get you there on time, they will pay for your taxi to drive you 500 km to get you there on time.

Since DB isn't at all comparable to the transportation and policy problems in the US....

Also, it wasn't privatized until the mid to late 90s.

 

[alkemyst]

One more reason the Government shouldn't be running businesses.

QFT. The poor can walk. Forget their votes. Forget those that want to 'foot the bill' for their infrastructure as well.

If it's not profitable, our government shouldn't be in it.

 

[werepossum]

Weerd. In my state all road building is done by private companies.

I guess the people of Tennessee just aren't paying attention to who they are electing to political office, then holding them accountable. Le me guess, Tennessee is a Red state?

In Tennessee too all roads are built by private companies, but it's extremely difficult to break into that market. Smaller companies that try typically get told their bid wasn't quite correctly filled out so it was never opened, and the same handful of companies build all the roads. It's so bad that in one local case a company was over a year behind on a two year road widening project and they were promised a large bonus if they finished within another three months. Just before the deadline they opened up the closed lanes, proclaimed it finished, and collected their big bonus. Then they re-closed the lanes and resumed work. In that case at least, public outcry was so loud as to make them return the bonus. In this particular case that system was thrown out and the road directly bid by the County, with timely inspections and performance bonuses AND penalties.

And Tennessee isn't just a Red State, it's THE Red State - with the possible exception of Wyoming. Still tons of Democrats in state government though.

 

[Jhhnn]

Meanwhile, the private train/bus system in Germany makes money hand over fist. People get where they are going on time. If something bad happens and they don't get you there on time, they will pay for your taxi to drive you 500 km to get you there on time.

It is possible for rail/bus services to make money. It's not possible for government-run rail/bus services to make money. I guarantee it doesn't cost DB money to sell Coke.

Heh. your misrepresentation of the German rail system is profound. It is not *private*, but rather *privatized*, receiving huge subsidies as contract awards from various govt entities employing them.

In many cases, various govt entities actually own the system & the rolling stock, contracting out operations & maintenance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Bahn