Reply #41: Nice to know some states are providing some leverage.

[mwooldri]

Some of the railroad rights of way (and land) here in NC are owned by the State, just Norfolk Southern maintain and operate the lines.

I'd partly agree with you on the needs for passenger rail. The whole darned rail network needs upgrading to accommodate the growing need for rail, be it passenger or freight. Passenger and freight can share the rails if there is enough rail for them to share, and as long as the faster trains get right of way. It would be entirely impractical to roll out a whole entire new passenger rail network. Upgrade what we have, replace what was destroyed, get government funding for some nice Pendolino trains, and we can get a proper railway infrastructure in place.

But it'd be extremely expensive... one of the reasons why trains can't travel so fast is because the lines have too many railway crossings. They need to be eliminated - improves safety, allows for greater speed, doubling track allows for much more capacity than just single track with passing places, my gosh it would be expensive, expensive, expensive. Would provide an awful lot of jobs though...