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Here's a surefire plan to fix America's failing rail network:
>Break up the major Class Is, redistribute their track to regional, state, and local authorities to better manage the branches of the system and provide employment and service opportunities to communities where the track passes through
>construct interurban and street railway systems in all major cities and integrate them into the regional rail network
>where the track is near large coal deposits, natural gas, and hydroelectric power, electrify the track for improved efficiency and economy
>subsidize passenger and freight operations with a national gas tax
>passenger trains have priority on all track, including mainlines
>all communities over 5,000 population have a guaranteed passenger rail service with trains running at least twice a day
>in order to support the economy, full crew laws will be applied nationwide (5 or 6 man crews for all freight trains, minimum of 3 crew per passenger train)
>railroads must serve any costumer/shipper on their line at cost if requested to do so (like rural free postal delivery)
>ban "labor-saving" technology that seeks to eliminate jobs and reduce safety
>put new construction operations in the hands of Japanese railway engineers to avoid cost overruns, construction delays, and inefficiency
Trains are for people, not profits. Please feel free to add similar suggestions and comment.
