 Amtrak operates a nationwide rail network, serving more than 500
destinations in 46 states. Forty-one of Amtrak's 44 routes lost
money in 2008, said the study by Subsidyscope, an arm of the Pew
Charitable Trusts.Stephen Van Beek, president of the Eno
Transportation Foundation, a think tank, said the analysis could
help guide decisions on how to spend $8 billion set aside for
high-speed and intercity rail in a $787 billion economic stimulus
bill. Rail planners may decide that spending the funds on high-speed
rail makes more sense than slower intercity rail, which the Amtrak
numbers show need higher subsidies.
Subsidyscope says its review counted certain capital expenses
that Amtrak doesn't consider when calculating the financial
performance of its routes, namely wear and tear on equipment, or
depreciation.
Leading the list was the train traveling between San Antonio and
Los Angeles -- the Sunset Limited -- which lost $462 per passenger.
Taxpayers subsidize the losses to keep the passenger train service
running.
The Northeast corridor has the highest passenger volume of any
Amtrak route, greatly enhancing efficiency. The corridor's
high-speed Acela Express made a profit of about $41 per passenger.
The more heavily used Northeast Regional lost almost $5 per
passenger.
Passenger rail systems throughout the world lose money and
require government subsidies to cover operating expenses.
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Marcus Peacock, project director for Subsidyscope, said his group's
analysis should lead to more scrutiny for the Amtrak routes that are
losing the most money.
Van Beek cautioned against holding passenger rail service to a
higher standard than other forms of transportation.
"Let's not hold rail up and say it needs to make money, when
highways don't make money, transit doesn't make money, and a lot of
small airports don't make money, and they all get subsidies," Van
Beek said.
The Government Accountability Office had previously said the
omission of depreciation substantially understates the capital
expenses associated with Amtrak's routes.
Amtrak officials said they're working with the Transportation
Department to come up with a fair way to determine capital expenses,
but the method used in the report unfairly burden routes whose
equipment was sold and then leased back.
[Associated Press;
KEVIN FREKING]
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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