Musk is lying. Compared to Europe, Amtrak is a model of cost efficiency. [View all]

[Hiawatha Pete]

Rail lines in Europe like SNCF (France) & DB (Germany) are indeed state owned & subsidized.

And just like Amtrak's Acela, only the high speed lines like the TGV cover their operating costs (infographic below):

Meanwhile the legacy routes are highly subsidized to the tune of 75% of overall operating costs (infographic below):

In fact, compared to Europe, Amtrak is a model of cost efficiency with long distance trains like the Empire Builder only requiring a 40% subsidy.



Also, unlike flights, trains have the ability to serve multiple cities on one route: http://www.narprail.org/site/assets/files/1036/nationalnetwork.pdf

Unlike a flight from Chicago to LA, Amtrak's Southwest Chief serves over 30 intermediate stops, or 500 city pairs, on one route - many with no reasonable public transport alternative, much less an airport.

To replace that one train would require over 500 flights - creating orders of magnitude more pollution & greenhouse gasses,

Eliminating service would be discriminatory to those with medical conditions unable to fly or drive. Hopefully those left stranded by any idiotic service cuts launch a class action lawsuit against those responsible.

My credentials are I've traveled over 500,000 km on trains in Canada, the US and Europe. Don't believe me? see my website: https://northamericabyrail.info/

Amtrak has good service.