AMTRAK: Completely nationalize, rebuild and then give to the workers

[csziggy]

22. A lot of the RR right of way has been converted to recreational trails

At least here in Florida - one of the things Florida has done right, IMO.

Actually, it's a national movement: http://www.railstotrails.org/index.html but here in Florida, it has provided a lot of hiking, biking and horse riding trails in many places where that would not have been otherwise possible.

I would love to have better rail transportation. Right now I am in a position where I cannot drive long distances (carpal tunnel problems make it hard to hold the wheel) and my husband cannot drive at all for at least the next month.

I have a trip planned (from Tallahassee, FL to Louisville, KY) in October, and this morning was checking out ways to get to my destination other than driving. Flying would take LONGER than driving the 600 miles and would require changing planes once at a minimum and more likely four times (and would cost six times as much as the gas to drive). The time required does not take into account the time needed to clear TSA, either, so add a substantial amount of time to that, too.

I could take a Red Line bus from Tallahassee to Jacksonville, the train from Jax to DC, then from DC to Indianapolis, then have to take Greyhound from Indianapolis to Louisville - which would take about the same amount of time as it would to drive and LESS time than flying, but the leg from DC to Indianapolis is already sold out (?!) and they don't do any checked baggage.

If my husband can't drive by October, I will have to cancel my trip since none of the alternatives are practical or affordable.