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How Trains Can Preserve 'America the Beautiful'

Posted by: Michael Dudley

3 June 2006 - 7:00am

Alfred Runte, author of "Allies of the Earth: Railroads and the Soul of Preservation", calls on the United States to revive its passenger rail service in order to conserve energy and preserve the natural landscape.

"A single railroad track, just 6 feet across, has the capacity of a superhighway 10 times wider. As for energy savings, even the most conservative studies give trains an advantage of 4 to 1 over cars and airplanes. Sure, railroads cost money to build and operate, but has anyone looked at the airlines lately -- $36 billion in losses just since 9/11. How about the cost of highways? In 2005, Congress authorized $286 billion for them, even as critics pounced on Amtrak for losing $1 billion.

If operating railroads means to 'lose' money, then operating highways means the same. Asphalt breeds red ink, too. Conversely, if Americans consider highway construction an investment, so is the cost of saving trains."

Full Story: Forget gas; we need a plan to keep passenger trains rolling
Source: The Seattle Times, May 30, 2006
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