Comments on: Culvers bright Idea for future is to take Iowa back to train travel?

By: iowanforabetteriowa

iowanforabetteriowa — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:26:28 +0000

Im not sure on the details of the land involved ive heard they want to run it in the median between east and west bound I-80 lanes with culver involved im about sure someone will lose some farm land to this

By: neighhay

neighhay — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:57:25 +0000

Question: Is land through which the track goes rented by the landowner to the RR or does the RR buy the land? I know in some states there have been scams surrounding rental dollars and land purchases…just curious if anybody knows how this works in IA….

By: iowanforabetteriowa

iowanforabetteriowa — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:20:53 +0000

That wont create very many jobs in Iowa the railroad uses pretty fancy machines to lay track these days.So it would need people who know how to operate them not some joe blow off the street. Maybe hire a few ticket agents and some conductors for the trains. My Point is Jerry it wont even make back the initial costs of the track upgrade let alone the costs of engines and car’s and daily operating costs from running nearly empty trains from Des moines to Chicago every day so why spend it. I wanted to see some invest in the future something speedier than our current car,train,bus,planes not something that going to take over 10 hours to get there and back. Iowa is not in the financial situation to be spending money on a Amtrak that will be a money pit. Just throwing it and get nothing back.The governent has been doing that with Amtrak since 1971. Next year were going to have major budget problems in Iowa.

By: Tom Shaw

Tom Shaw — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:34:07 +0000

Another failing rail system for the taxpayer to shoulder the costs.
Having been stationed in Japan for 4 years, I can tell you that all of the private rail lines are on time and make a profit. The government run rail line costs more to ride and loses money.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:45:54 +0000

If they build better tracks in Iowa, you’ll get that part of your wish: the money will be spent here.

I recommend a trip to Chicago to the Field Museum. Your kids will be impressed.

By: Woodrow

Woodrow — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:25:07 +0000

Heres another reason why Amtrak losing money. Denver to Chicago it takes 18 hours and 40 min during the night so you want to lay down and rest the one way ticket is $598.00. A round trip would be $1196.00 plus tax and over 37 hours of NOSTALGIC travel time. I went to United Airlines you can fly the same trip in 2hours 29 min round trip right around 5 hours for $512.00 well less than half be there and back while your nostalgic train ride even gets there. Now if you want to sit in a seat and not get very good rest it will cost you $372 dollars round trip. I dont know about any of you but i would rather pay the $140 more for plane ticket so i wouldn’t spend the better part of 2 days going across some boring scenery of the mid west. Kansas and Nebraska not much for sight seeing and the train ride would be at night on way from Denver. So wont see any thing. You could fly in from Denver to Chicago watch the Broncos play the Bears and fly back home in half time it takes the train to even get there it would still be over 9 hours away from Chicago. Being nostalgic isnt worth the cost and time you end up spending on this mode of travel. Unless its not a bullet train that goes over 250 mph and prices are more reasonable its just not worth it.