@Rich Melvin posted:

AMEN!

Long distance rail travel is an anachronism. It just doesn’t fit in today’s times. It is people clinging to the past, wishing for the “good old days” of rail travel. It is also a tremendous burden on all taxpayers, when only a tiny fraction of those taxpayers actually use the service.

There is a place for rail travel today, but it is in big-city commuter traffic and high density corridors, like the NEC. But if I’m going to travel more than a hundred miles, it sure won’t be on a train.

I was a free lance corporate pilot for any years. I really enjoyed flying the King Airs I flew for various companies, but I absolutely hated to fly commercial. Even so, if I need to travel from Ohio to the west coast some day soon, I’ll do it in three hours on a plane, not three DAYS on a train.

Well, everyday more and more of the people around me would rather drive a thousand miles than fly if there is a choice.  And it is more airports than it is actually flying. Voluntarily checking your self into a concentration camp is something they are willing to do less and less.  They'd rather drive their car or rent an RV and spend a day or two driving than spend hours in a prison.  If I can't drive or take a train I rather stay home.

I swear if I hear "FAA regulations require your compliance..."  one more time I might become felon.  There are good reasons incidents of craziness in airports and on planes is on the rise.