They own several sections of track and you forgot to mention that it's the most popular publicly owned transit in the US. It's not insignificant. And similarly they still maintain interest in the transcontinental railroad they just do not gain a profit or have complete control. You also fail to note that the federal government owns Amtrak so how exactly was what I said "completely false".
How exactly is state regulated state funded subway relevant to federally regulated partially federally funded railroads? It's not in my opinion but if you're going somewhere with it I'm intrigued.
Correct, it's not gigantic but for a federal rail system even the "small" Amtrak section it in itself isn't small.
Nope, I think it's skewed. If you think that small section isn't enough for governmental interest in lack of regulation I think you're absolutely mistaken.
Much like how the NYC subway is in no way related to federal rail or federally regulated rail. I don't even think mta handles hazmat in any way at all whatsoever so how does it matter in relation to chemical spills?
Again, I think you're simply not willing to connect the dots.
Btw that's 137000 miles of publicly funded highly regulated passenger rail which by your account we have 750 miles. And you claim I'm bringing up irrelevant stuff.
No that's exactly the problem I think it is. If they're mandated to turn a profit the federal government then has a perverse incentive to have weak regulation that allows greater profit margins.
dude im pretty sure disney world could arguably be classified as a private transportation company with how much transportation they have in their campus.
Of course amtrak is the most highly rated public transit system, it's the only fucking one that exists.
That's scary stuff, ammonia's no joke. It sounds like if the wind was blowing the other way several people could have been teargassed to death. Imagine if that happened in a city...
I worked as a conductor for a little while. It's a law that anything containing hazardous materials HAS to move after a certain amount of time. I personally toured over 100 cars of hazmat from one end of the yard, through town, and back around into the other end of the yard so we could say it moved.
American passenger trains are absurdly bad, I tried to book a return between two neighboring cities and evey single thing about it is stupid and expensive. I would have had to book the exact train which is annoying anyway but to make ot worse any at a useful time are are all insane prices and the train stations were both awkward and stupid. We might have to kill time waiting for our exact train but we can't do it near the station because theres nothing there.
You guys need to start acting upset that china is so fad ahead and get everyone charged up to update the railways.
I've taken the Cardinal four times and the only upsides were no TSA inspection (which they're talking about changing) and no size limits on luggage. Other than that everything was a fucking nightmare. Like, overflowing toilets with turds sliding around on the floor of the bathroom, 8 hour delays, departure time at 3am... bad. The first time I took it for the experience, the second time I took it because, "well shit happens right? Maybe it was a fluke." It wasn't a fluke. The only way it would be worth it would be if tickets were like $30.
Everybody gives the German rail flak for being late all the time and for 100 years-old technology and lacking personnel. But rail crashes are really rare. You gotta give them that. The switches may be operated by hand, but they’re safe.
That's what beginners think is the secret. The real secret is not holding people accountable and shielding them from litigious liability. Companies would regulate themselves if they had to pay for EVERYTHING the second they screw up.
its still funny to me that organ transit is just done in a vehicle, in a styrofoam cooler. They just put stickers on the back of the vehicle and call it a day.
Remember Biden deregulating the rails, allowing these corporate vultures to pick apart worker and bystander safety for quarter-of-a-percent profit margins?
69 Comments
cerement@slrpnk.net · 122 pts · 2y
Madison420@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2y
The feds still technically own large portions of the rail system, why would they throw themselves under the bus.
hime0321@lemmy.world · 51 pts · 2y
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 2y
Yeah privatization of rail was an absolute disaster
hime0321@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 2y
UltraGiGaGigantic@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
"What if we raised the prices of necessities?" - genius MBA thinking of our time.
Madison420@lemmy.world · -13 pts · 2y
They own several sections of track and you forgot to mention that it's the most popular publicly owned transit in the US. It's not insignificant. And similarly they still maintain interest in the transcontinental railroad they just do not gain a profit or have complete control. You also fail to note that the federal government owns Amtrak so how exactly was what I said "completely false".
hime0321@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 2y
msage@programming.dev · 3 pts · 2y
You forgot to add x100 to your calculations - it's <0.48%
hime0321@lemmy.world · -4 pts · 2y
msage@programming.dev · 4 pts · 2y
Yes, and now make that into percentage, not just a fraction.
Mr_Buttpiss@lemy.lol · 1 pts · 2y
exactly... 0.0047 is 0.47% of 1. you forgot to shift the decimal
ToucheGoodSir@lemy.lol · 2 pts · 2y
Spitting out the statistics, what a legend. Appreciate the write up!
psud@aussie.zone · -2 pts · 2y
City light rail shouldn't come up in talk about railways. Compare Amtrak to other intercity rail operators if you want to compare
hime0321@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
We don’t have any other intercity public rail. It’s all Amtrak
meowMix2525@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 2y
What other intercity passenger rail operators are there to speak of? And what does that have to do with who owns the actual rails?
limelight79@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
Brightline. That's the new one that keeps clobbering idiot Floridian drivers that insist they can beat the train.
But that doesn't hold a candle to Amtrak's coverage.
Madison420@lemmy.world · -11 pts · 2y
The New York subway system isn't federal, it's state.
No, it's not. A thousand miles of track is more then exists in all of some countries.
I think your idea of large is just skewed, short lines are a thing and are often shorter then 750 though that is changing with rapid consolidation.
hime0321@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
Madison420@lemmy.world · -2 pts · 2y
How exactly is state regulated state funded subway relevant to federally regulated partially federally funded railroads? It's not in my opinion but if you're going somewhere with it I'm intrigued.
Correct, it's not gigantic but for a federal rail system even the "small" Amtrak section it in itself isn't small.
Nope, I think it's skewed. If you think that small section isn't enough for governmental interest in lack of regulation I think you're absolutely mistaken.
Much like how the NYC subway is in no way related to federal rail or federally regulated rail. I don't even think mta handles hazmat in any way at all whatsoever so how does it matter in relation to chemical spills?
Again, I think you're simply not willing to connect the dots.
Btw that's 137000 miles of publicly funded highly regulated passenger rail which by your account we have 750 miles. And you claim I'm bringing up irrelevant stuff.
Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 16 pts · 2y
Which of the recent chemical spills have been on federally owned rail?
Liz@midwest.social · 8 pts · 2y
I hate it when Amtrak dumps hazardous waste everywhere!
Madison420@lemmy.world · -4 pts · 2y
None as far as I'm aware. The point is they make a profit so they have the same reason to avoid being regulated well enough.
Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 2y
Wow, I guess that kind of makes that a totally irrelevant derailing of this post about chemical spills on railways.
Madison420@lemmy.world · -2 pts · 2y
The chemical spills are because of lack of regulation. Agreed?
That lack of regulation is because of for profit companies going as cheap as possible to make more money. Agreed?
The federal government owns a for profit passenger line that is comparatively large to other private passenger lines in the us. Agreed?
The federal government has a hand in regulating the same rails it has a stake in. Agreed?
So how exactly are these things not relevant in relation to chemical spills due to lack of regulation.... Like what?
captainlezbian@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
They’re federally mandated to run a profit. It’s actually a problem just not the one you think
Madison420@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
No that's exactly the problem I think it is. If they're mandated to turn a profit the federal government then has a perverse incentive to have weak regulation that allows greater profit margins.
KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 2y
compared next to what? Fucking nasa?
Madison420@lemmy.world · -3 pts · 2y
Other federally controlled rail systems. You're still ignoring the actual point.
KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 0 pts · 2y
dude im pretty sure disney world could arguably be classified as a private transportation company with how much transportation they have in their campus.
Of course amtrak is the most highly rated public transit system, it's the only fucking one that exists.
Madison420@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 2y
They are, its literally called Disney Transport and on top of that they have the cruise line contracts and partial ownership.
The fact it exists at all is my point.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Transport#:~:text=Disney%20Transport%20is%20the%20public,gondola%20lift%20system%2C%20and%20watercraft.
MotoAsh@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y
Madison420@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 2y
They're not, they have interest in not being regulated well enough for the same reason any other for profit business does.
Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 36 pts · 2y
Is this a general indictment of railroad companies, or am I about to read about something ghastly in the news?
Orbituary@lemmy.world · 52 pts · 2y
No, but apparently you missed the largest chemical spill in US history while you were asleep over the last year or so.
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/ohio-derailment-chemicals-spilled-impact-residents-rcna71561
and the one that happened after that.
and the other one that happened again right after that.
Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 29 pts · 2y
Oh, I don't doubt that they have a horrible track record, I know how that scene from the meme ends.
You know how sometimes you hear about breaking events from memes? I was wondering if this was that.
1stTime4MeInMCU@mander.xyz · 28 pts · 2y
I see what you did there
pearsaltchocolatebar@discuss.online · 14 pts · 2y
There was a massive ammonia spill in the last few days.
Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 10 pts · 2y
Thanks, I found a story about that: article
That's scary stuff, ammonia's no joke. It sounds like if the wind was blowing the other way several people could have been teargassed to death. Imagine if that happened in a city...
danc4498@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
I wish i could sleep for about a year or so.
Kecessa@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 2y
It's not a US only issue
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac-M%C3%A9gantic_rail_disaster
Railroad companies need to be shut down and the whole thing needs to be nationalized.
MotoAsh@lemmy.world · -10 pts · 2y
Kecessa@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 2y
So the topic wasn't how railroads are operated by irresponsible companies?
Omega_Jimes@lemmy.ca · 25 pts · 2y
I worked as a conductor for a little while. It's a law that anything containing hazardous materials HAS to move after a certain amount of time. I personally toured over 100 cars of hazmat from one end of the yard, through town, and back around into the other end of the yard so we could say it moved.
NikkiDimes@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 2y
Huh, just like parking in the city
Omega_Jimes@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 2y
That's.... exactly what it's like. Yeah.
Except there are consequences for citizens parking in the city.
VirtualOdour@sh.itjust.works · 25 pts · 2y
American passenger trains are absurdly bad, I tried to book a return between two neighboring cities and evey single thing about it is stupid and expensive. I would have had to book the exact train which is annoying anyway but to make ot worse any at a useful time are are all insane prices and the train stations were both awkward and stupid. We might have to kill time waiting for our exact train but we can't do it near the station because theres nothing there.
You guys need to start acting upset that china is so fad ahead and get everyone charged up to update the railways.
psud@aussie.zone · 7 pts · 2y
I live in Australia. The US has excellent trains in comparison. Not that it's hard.
Australian trains are easier to use and cleaner and have good stations they are just few and slow and have no prospect of ever being upgraded
abruptly8951@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
And full of junkies shooting up in the bathrooms..at least that was my experience in 2nd class.
Never tried 1st class, maybe it's better
_stranger_@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
But y'all have road trains!
RedCarCastle@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 2y
You guys don't have road trains?
MoonMelon@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 2y
I've taken the Cardinal four times and the only upsides were no TSA inspection (which they're talking about changing) and no size limits on luggage. Other than that everything was a fucking nightmare. Like, overflowing toilets with turds sliding around on the floor of the bathroom, 8 hour delays, departure time at 3am... bad. The first time I took it for the experience, the second time I took it because, "well shit happens right? Maybe it was a fluke." It wasn't a fluke. The only way it would be worth it would be if tickets were like $30.
Nationalize the rails.
bleistift2@sopuli.xyz · 13 pts · 2y
Everybody gives the German rail flak for being late all the time and for 100 years-old technology and lacking personnel. But rail crashes are really rare. You gotta give them that. The switches may be operated by hand, but they’re safe.
BlastboomStrice@mander.xyz · 3 pts · 2y
Yeah, about that, check what happened in Greece a year ago (~60 people dead and the government still tries hard to interfere with justice): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempi_train_crash
(I'm mentioning Greece, because I think our rails don't have many fail-safes and are kinda manually operated.)
neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 10 pts · 2y
The secret is to undercook the industrial regulations. Everyone will get to know each other on k street.
x0x7@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
That's what beginners think is the secret. The real secret is not holding people accountable and shielding them from litigious liability. Companies would regulate themselves if they had to pay for EVERYTHING the second they screw up.
UltraGiGaGigantic@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
Companies would regulate themselves after watching a couple players in the market get their corporate charter permanently revoked
KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 2y
its still funny to me that organ transit is just done in a vehicle, in a styrofoam cooler. They just put stickers on the back of the vehicle and call it a day.
Snowpix@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 2y
Norfolk Southern, what's your function?
"Flyin' off the rails and hitting everyone!"
Etterra@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
Don't forget oil tankers and cruise ships with their fuel, cargo, and waste.
UltraGiGaGigantic@lemm.ee · 0 pts · 2y
I'm sure AOC will be there ready to vote to keep the rail corporations safe from union strikes. Yas queeeeeen
EmperorHenry@discuss.tchncs.de · -13 pts · 2y
fatalicus@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 2y
The strike was about paid sick days, but remember when Biden repealed major railroad safety regulations? Just kidding, Trump did that.
Mirshe@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
Remember Biden deregulating the rails, allowing these corporate vultures to pick apart worker and bystander safety for quarter-of-a-percent profit margins?
Wait, that was Reagan.