From: johnl@taugh.com   
      
   In article <91a3aed1-57e7-4dca-ab0e-3bce46b4acb5@googlegroups.com> you write:   
   >> I'm aware of that. The fact that the line follows the Delaware and   
   >> Susquehanna west of Port Jervis, along with the accompanying speed   
   >> restrictions, make a direct between Binghamton and New York via that   
   >> route uneconomical from a time perspective.   
      
   >> Thus, I suggested a pilot programme for regional rail. And that does not   
   >> mean that a reactivated route has to call at the same stations as once   
   >> existed.   
   >   
   >What market would there be for such a service?   
      
   Unless the customers are fish, none that I can see.   
      
   >AIUI, the only profitable bit of all of Amtrak is the Northeast Corridor.   
   >Maybe if they ever manage to do high-speed rail between L.A. and S.F.,   
   >people would use that line. But anywhere else?   
      
   Amtrak's long distance trains usually sell out.  If there were more of them   
   to spread the fixed overhead, the subsidy per passenger would be a lot less.   
   As far as I know, passenger rail doesn't make a profit anywhere.  The questions   
   are the relative subsidies to other modes.   
      
   >> Hence, proposals to reconnect Binghamton with New York via Scranton.   
   >   
   >What market would there be for such a service?   
      
   The bus service from Binghamton and Scranton to NYC is pretty bad.  A   
   train could be competitive.   
      
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   John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies",   
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