|
Another vote for rail
Virginia Business
April 2006
To the Editor:
As a Roanoke native, I am especially
interested in a return of passenger service via the
Trans-Dominion
Express. While improvements are certainly warranted
in the other corridors mentioned in the article (“Bullet
trains still a dream,” February issue) at least
they do have some passenger service on them while
Roanoke has no trains of any kind or frequency.
In addition to the TDX, one hope
I have is that [state officials] would aggressively
promote an “auto-ferry” service
on intermodal freight trains similar to that offered
on Amtrak’s Auto Train. For example, using the
[Norfolk Southern] main line from Birmingham to the
New York intermodal yard would allow overnight shipment
of automobiles and their passengers from various larger
communities with intermodal yards without any additional
trains. In other words, the intermodal trains would
be operating anyway and the additional auto-ferry cars
would simply go along for the ride. Yes, it would be
necessary to spot a passenger coach at each intermodal
loading point to accommodate the drivers and passengers,
but again, no additional trains would be needed. I
believe this would draw the maximum number of autos
and passengers off of highways, as motorists so often
feel the need for a vehicle at their destination whether
they really do or not. This is probably the chief reason
people drive such long distances even though they would
prefer to ride in greater comfort and safety. Very
few people really prefer driving if there is an alternative.
While some compensation would be due railroads for
operating the auto-ferries and passenger coaches, it
would be comparatively small considering the train
would be operating anyway. Probably Amtrak would be
willing to provide someone to sell tickets and supervise
loading of the auto-ferries at each loading site in
return for the ticket revenue. This is done daily at
the Auto Train terminals in Lorton, Va., and Sanford,
Fla. Another possibility would be to allow the railroad
to assume this responsibility in return for ticket
revenue. If the service is as popular as I believe
it would be, it could pay for itself. My understanding
is that Auto Train is profitable or at least breaks
even most of the year.
Randolph Gregg
Roanoke
|
