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I TOOK THE FAMILY, SON, GRANDSON, AND WIFE TO ALBQUERQUE FROM KIRKWOOD, (SUBURB OF ST LOUIS), THE LAST WEEK OF MAY.
AFTER READING SOME OF THE COMMENTARY BY SOME OF YOU FOLKS CONCERNING COSTS OF RAIL TRANSPORTATION I WANTED TO OFFER MY VIEW OF THE COST OF MY TRIP AND THE AMTRAK BUDGET.
I REALIZE THIS IS NOT STARTUP CAPITAL COSTS BUT RATHER COST TO THE CUSTOMER AS OPPOSED TO DRIVING ONE WAY.
KIRKWOOD TO ALBUQUERQUE IS 1038 MILES BY CAR. I AM ASSUMING THAT IS AN APPROXIMATE DISTANCE BY TRAIN ALSO.
DRIVING TIME WAS ESTIMATED AT 15 HOURS. GASOLINE CONSUMPTION WAS 48 GALLONS AT 21.6 MPG. COST AT $2.21 PER GALLON $106.80.
MOTEL COST,UNLESS YOU WANT TO BANG OUT A 15 HOUR PLUS TRIP, I AM TOO OLD FOR THAT ANYMORE, $100. I WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE. MEALS, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU EAT ABOUT $20. TOTAL ESTIMATED DRIVING COST: $227 ONE WAY.
OF COURSE GASOLINE IS JUST ONE OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED WHEN YOU DRIVE. THE FEDS REIMBURSE AT $0.55 PER MILE. THAT INCLUDES WEAR AND TEAR ON ENGINE, BELTS, BRAKES, OIL, COOLANT, INSURANCE, INCREASED MILEAGE DEPRECIATION, AND BODY WEAR. COST IS $570.90. ADD MOTEL AND RESTUARANT CALL IT $670.
A ONE WAY TICKET, IST CLASS ON THE SWC WITH SENIOR DISCOUNT FOR SEPTEMBER 2017 COST $472.30. FOR TWO SENIORS IT'S $625.60.
AND OF COURSE THAT DOESN'T FIGURE IN THE PHYSICAL TOLL DRIVING TAKES, NOT TO MENTION THE ALWAYS POSSIBILITY OF CAR TROUBLE OR AN ACCIDENT OR A LENGTHY INTERSTATE DELAY DUE TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THEY HAPPEN.
SO, MY POINT IS THAT EVEN 1ST CLASS RAIL TRAVEL IS, IN SOME CASES, COMPETITIVE WITH DRIVING.
AS TO THE FEDERAL BUDGET I BELIEVE AMTRAK GETS $1.5 B. CHUMP CHANGE FOR THE FEDS. REMEMBER SENATOR DIRKSEN SAID A MILLION HERE AND A MILLION THERE AND IT STARTS TO ADD UP TO REAL MONEY. TODAY IT WOULD BE A BILLION HERE AND A BILLION THERE.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AMTRAK TAKES IN 80% OF THE $1.5B THROUGH REVENUE. I MIGHT ADD THAT AMTRAK EMPLOYS 20,000 WELL PAID PEOPLE. MANY PAY INCOME TAX, PROPERTY TAX, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX. THEY ALSO BUY CARS, GROCERIES, CLOTHES, GO TO BALL GAMES. AMTRAK DOESN'T PAY PROPERY TAX BUT THE HOST RAILROADS DO. I ASSUME THAT PART OF THE HOST'S PROPERTY TAX IS PASSED ON TO AMTRAK'S USAGE FEE. AMTRAK LETS CONTRACTS TO MANY BUSINESSES FOR VARIOUS SERVICES AND PARTS. THE $1.5 B MUST BE DEFRAYED, AT LEAST PARTIALLY, BY THESE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
I SUPPOSE AN ACCOUNTANT CPA TYPE, (GBN?), COULD DO A MORE MEANINGFUL ANALYSIS. BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS SO SIMPLE. IT DEPENDS ON TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE THINGS.
I HAD WRITTEN A NICE TRIP REPORT ON THE KWD TO ABQ TRIP. BUT AS I WAS TYPING I INADVERTENTLY HIT A BUTTON THAT DELETED MY ENTIRE MESSAGE. #@%$&*?! (CURSING). MAYBE I WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW. IT WAS A GREAT TRIP.
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Mr. Iron, you certainly recognize that there are more costs to the operation of an auto than a teen age kid thinks - gas.
The IRS Business Standard Mileage Rate of $.55mi is fair and reasonable, but it does have a political "tinge" to it. What is most interesting is that if you use that same POV - Privately Owned Vehicle in DODese - for either a "relo" or charity, that rate is $.24mi.
In my own case, my auto is somewhat more than five years old and now with 47500 mi on it. You can imagine I keep records on it fastidiously, and it's fully allocated cost is $1.82mi. So much of that is fixed costs and estimates (how much will I get for it when I trade it in some two years from now?). I allow $.24mi for maintenance and that fund presently has a surplus. But then, within the next 5K, I'll need new (from the dealer) tires and brakes - and something will let go before Red Lex and I part ways.
All told, while the cost of commercial transportation is quite definite and determinable, that of POV is not.
While I'm not certain, I somehow think your noted fare is two persons in a Roomette. Even though I am still able bodied, such is not acceptable to me. Bedroom or two Roomettes - period. Hotels, I'm major brand with Express and Hampton "as low as I go" - "Independents", Super 8's, Comfort Inn, Baymont, and "couch surfing", are college and service memories. En route meals and incidentials? - that adds to the variables.
We are really walking into the world of "figures don't lie, but liars do figure".
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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THANKS GBN FOR THE INFORMATIVE RESPONSE. IN RESPONSE TO YUUR QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER OF PASSENGERS/ROOMS I DID FIGURE ONE OF THE SCENARIOS FOR TWO ROOMETTES. THE PRICES WAS $944.60. THIS WAS WEST BOUND IN SEPTEMBER 2017. BASED ON MY COMPUTATIONS THIS COST EXCEEDS THE DRIVING COST FOR ONE PERSON, $801, BY APPROXIMATELY $143. TWO AUTO PASSENGERS WOULD INCREASE THE CAR TRIP EXPENSES BUT WOULD IT BE SIGNIFICANT? PROBABLY NOT.
Posts: 140 | Registered: Nov 2008
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