Submitted by vortical42 t3_10w5vn8 in Pennsylvania
Merker6 t1_j7ljgst wrote
Reply to comment by vortical42 in Why does Amtrack service not extend to State College? by vortical42
Railroad tracks don’t work like roads. They were almost entirely built and operated privately by companies until the 1970s when passenger rail collapsed and the federal government bought it at deep discount and gradually sold off a great deal of what was left. In fact, most of the rail amtrak uses is not owned by Amtrak, it’s leased from companies like CSX and Norfolk Southern.
Amtrak can’t simply use it because its there, and passenger trains have plenty of their own requirements due to differing safety standards. It’s unlikely that using these tracks is feasible.
webauteur t1_j7m287q wrote
Trains are an interesting example of early technology and investment hype. I did not realize this until I read a history of financial bubbles. People used to be really excited about trains so they built way more rail lines than could be justified. There was some serious over-investment. It was comparable to Silicon Valley mania today.
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