The NE routes are much better than what you experienced, Dan. But I agree there is little or no reason for long haul trains, probably not anywhere in the developed. There is little to justify them financially, and not much less ecologically. Short and mid range-say up to 300m/500km-trains make a lot of sense though, and the US is falling further and further behind in technology that we once led the world in. As fule prices rise-and they aren't going to do anything else long term, barring some breakthrough in hydrogen-this is really going to hurt the economy.

Ed