Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart?

I wrote a while back about how the privatization of passenger rail in Mexico more than ten years ago has resulted in the near-total collapse of any kind of decent, reliable train service in that country. At this time, the only regular passenger service is the train that runs daily in both directions between Chihuahua and Los Mochis through the Copper Canyon.

The Copper Canyon – actually a series of five connecting canyons – is five times larger and a mile deeper than our Grand Canyon. Clearly, and justifiably, it’s a major visitor attraction, but it does seem very likely that even this service would have disappeared were it not for the tourists who visit Mexico to ride through this spectacular scenery.

Well, what a surprise! The Brits are experiencing the same problems after privatization came to passenger rail in that country. Service declined, ticket prices increased, and gaps appeared in the national system since the private companies had to have financial incentive to connect their various routes. And here’s the ultimate irony: the government is still providing subsidies to keep these private operators in business and essential passenger rail services running.

Still, there are plenty of people in this country – ideological zealots and others who simply are ignorant of the facts – who still grumble about federal and state government subsidies to Amtrak and who continue to propose privatizing some of the routes.