Do you really think that rail travel is inexpensive because "they crash?!"
If that's the case, cars should cost $1.50 brand new and gas to put in them
should be $ .01/gallon.  Travel by automobile is statistically exponentially
more dangerous than either flying or train. Do you drive or ride in cars?
The fear is a bit irrational.

I imagine there are people who won't go on a boat after seeing "Titanic,"
and I personally know those who won't ride elevators or drive through
tunnels or over bridges for fear of dying.  Yet they'll all die eventually
from something.  Hmmm, now that I think about it, Richie Valenz (singer:
"La Bamba" and "Oh Donna") had a mortal fear of flying; he finally overcame
his fear to fly East to appear on American Bandstand and was killed when his
plane crashed in a snowstorm!

But cars crash.  Planes fall.  Boats sink. Trains derail.  Dr. Atkins split
his head open and died while out walking!  What are we to do, sit at home
behind closed doors and miss out on life for fear of what might happen?
Interestingly though, this is exactly what famed sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov
did.  He had a mortal fear of flying and most means of mechanical travel; he
lived his life in New York City and for a long time would only go to where
he could walk -- even though he primarily wrote fantasies about traveling to
other worlds!  Eventually he overcame some of his fears of transportaion,
but would still only travel by train and then later in his life when he
overcame his fear of automobiles.

Trains are very safe.  To emphasize the point, seat belts are required on
cars and airplanes but there are none on trains because they are not needed.
It's an incredibly comfortable and relaxing means of travel.  But hey, if
there are those who fear the rails, more room for me!

--
Peter
website:  http://users.thelink.net/marengo

<soapbox mode>
It would be interesting to see what would happen if the gov't stops the
subsidy.    Personally, I think that Amtrak would then be forced to run like
a *real* business and service would improve.   From experience I know that
the trains are often full; it's certainly not from lack of use that's causes
the financial problems.  Most of the problems that I've observed are due to
mismanagement as well as pork barrel politics and greedy labor union
featherbedding.

One striking thing you discover about traveling extensively on Amtrak is
the huge variance in quality of the stations, since each Amtrak Station is
built and/or maintained by the locality it is in.  Charlotte NC, for
instance is a beautiful modern city, yet has one of the most embarrassing,
crappiest, run-down train stations.  As does Kissimmee Fl, which is a major
family destination (Kissimmee's is worse because it is also filthy rotten
dirty).  Yet there are many places like the small town of Rocky Mount, NC
which has one of the grand old stations that is completely restored and has
a majestic beauty, much as the San Bernadino CA station.  Many
cities/commutites take great pride in their Amtrak stations since they know
that this may be a visitor's first impression of their community.  The Del
Rio Texas, Charlottesville VA and the Albuqurque NM stops are great examples
of wonderful stations --  as is the station right here in my own city --
Williamsburg Virginia, which has a beautifully restored historical
transportation center.  Some stations are downright dangerous, dimly lit and
in terrible neighborhoods while others are the centerpiece of the city.
IMO, Amtrak will never be successful in attracting the general public until
these things are standardized, much as Marriott, MacDonalds and other solid
companies have standardized their operations from location to location.

There are virtually no transportation systems in the U.S. that survive
without public funds.  Federal, State and Local governments build the
airports and highways, pave the runways and roads, fund the air traffic
control and bolster major airlines as they fail from the increasing weight
of the labor unions.  Ad infinitum, ad nauseum ...
</soapbox mode>
--
Peter
website:  http://users.thelink.net/marengo

i keep thinking about all that you went through.  were you scared a little
bit going in?  i realize the alternative, but were you this gung ho moments
before you were in that scary rolly bed?  i know i was in a panic before my
emergency surgery last year (gallbladder...f.ck you weightwatchers) and one
of the nurses that was nice to me switched patients so i would feel better
that she was in there.  god was i ever scared.  the sore throat was worse
than the laproscopic procedure tho.. the only thing that hurts the worst is
the stupid bill i got stuck with.  i didnt have insurance, so im practically
20k in debt from now until eternity... damn those doctors get paid well.. i
chose the wrong career field.  youre never worth millions in art until youre
dead.. even then its not guarenteed ;/