WSJ Slams Rail Transit Subsidies

An editorial in the Wall Street Journal comes out strongly against federal subsidies for passenger rail travel.

1 minute read

October 3, 2001, 8:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Those who need to cover a distance of 400 or 500 miles, especially on business, aren't going to forsake air service for five to seven hours on the train. "You've got to get rail journeys down to about three hours to be competitive," says Mr. Cox. "That means that at a 75-mph speed, which is the speed these initiatives are shooting for, you're talking about markets of 225 miles or less." Only 4% of the nation's air travel is in such markets."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Tuesday, October 2, 2001 in Wall St. Journal

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