Quick hello today

[kinzel]

Talking with Theo is going slow, but meanwhile this was forwarded to me by someone who has noticed my "Always expect a train thread" ...

"If you live in the US and use Amtrak for intercity travel, particularly in the West, take note."

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2008/07/01/mccains_agenda_on_amtrak/


Basically an assertion that of the two major candidates for President of the US one favors and supports Amtrak while another wishes to gut it.

Back to work, me.

Comments

[robotech-master.livejournal.com]

Did you know that, as part of the agreement Amtrak has to make with freight lines in order to use their tracks, Amtrak agrees to pay all damages for passenger train accidents that happen on the track, even if the accident was directly caused by the freight line's negligence? (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E1DB173AF936A25753C1A9629C8B63)

So we have the following scenario:

Freight line doesn't maintain the track.

Amtrak train has accident, people are hurt or die.

People sue. The freight line is found guilty of negligence in failing to maintain the track, pays a pittance of a fine.

Amtrak shells out millions of dollars in damages, even though the accident wasn't actually their fault.

And they wonder why Amtrak sucks so hard…