tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post6112753981405574426..comments2024-02-01T04:37:41.878-05:00Comments on Cap'n Transit Rides Again: How the high Acela fares save taxpayers moneyCap'n Transithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057887736728828646noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-46502977422711083922012-10-19T00:59:01.331-04:002012-10-19T00:59:01.331-04:00Perhaps section 8 for trains is in order? Or a lot...Perhaps section 8 for trains is in order? Or a lottery? James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5862444008740250372.post-77678392331507750362012-10-18T11:33:08.589-04:002012-10-18T11:33:08.589-04:00New York-New Haven is dominated by Metro-North, wh...New York-New Haven is dominated by Metro-North, which just shows you what trains are capable of when the fares are sane and the tickets are flexible, even when the comfort level is less than great and the speed is meh. Travel time to the Midtown station is about the same on Amtrak and Metro-North, but Metro-North leaves you at a better-located station, and also has a secondary station at Harlem. Amtrak has 2,000 daily (not weekday) boardings at New Haven, to all destinations; Metro-North has 4,000 (on both weekdays and weekend days), almost all going to Manhattan.<br /><br />The high Acela fares are subsidizing long-distance trains and corridor trains, but for the most part they're subsidizing conductors, very high-maintenance equipment, and other things that raise costs far above international HSR operating costs. Metro-North fares are lower than the operating costs of Amtrak.<br /><br />Of course Metro-North is subsidized, and its systemwide operating costs are actually higher than Amtrak's per passenger-km, but systemwide Metro-North is very peaky, which raises costs. New York-New Haven is unique in that it's not peaky, so it may well be a net contributor to the bottom line since it fills seats on weekends and in the off-peak.Alonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267294744186811858noreply@blogger.com