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Amtrak lost $800M on cheeseburgers and soda
Taxpayers lost $833 million over the last decade on the food and beverages supplied by Amtrak, which managed to spend $1.70 for every dollar that received in revenue.
“Over the last ten years, these losses have amounted to a staggering $833.8 million,” said Rep.John Mica, R-Fla., in a statement previewing a House hearing today. “It costs passengers $9.50 to buy a cheeseburger on Amtrak, but the cost to taxpayers is $16.15. Riders pay $2.00 for a Pepsi, but each of these sodas costs the U.S. Treasury $3.40.”
Amazon.com is currently selling 24-packs of 12 ounce Pepsi cans for $8.94 — which averages to about 75 cents per can.
PATH
August 2nd, 2012
And now Obama wants to do it all with high speed. Looks like they manage amtrack like they do the post office.
cfm990
August 2nd, 2012
And some people want government to own health care?It’ll be tough explaining a $500.00 aspirin.
m00pa
August 2nd, 2012
A railroad ?!? The government couldn’t run the Mustang Ranch after they seized it! So … the government couldn’t run a whore house and sell whiskey and make it work, how the hell can you expect them to run a railroad?
Ricky
August 2nd, 2012
The only railroad I see..is if if Obama gets re-elected..then we’ll all be railroaded!!
Oops! I meant derailed..
RANDO
August 2nd, 2012
Well, of course, becaue everything is more efficient when the government…
wait a minute– this is Bush’s fault!!
scribble
August 2nd, 2012
Obviously, the concession stand was run by SEIU.
FreeMan - Chick-fil-A today
August 2nd, 2012
It all went into Oysmals reerection
suzsanne
August 2nd, 2012
Maybe Amtrak’s ride with pride campaign will stir up some customers.
Katechon
August 2nd, 2012
What is the source of that disparity. How come Amtrak pays so much for a soda ??
In Thailand, a soda costs 50 cents at the 7/11 counter.
old_oaks
August 2nd, 2012
LOL! Don’t even get me started on US rail systems.
1. I am a railfan, not a big one, but I dig trains and even have HO models
2. I rode METRA for a decade and a half
In Illinois, METRA cannot operate without government funds, it is actually billed as a quasi-government organization.
It cannot run on fares alone, it could but it needs to deadhead trains during the off-peak hours to appease some BS accessibility rule the government put in place.
So the result was they raised everyone’s vehicle tag fee by $50 to help shore up the funding needed.
Stranded in Sonoma
August 2nd, 2012
800 million, 800 schmillion.
But we have to stop the DoD and their $500 hammers and $2000 coffee makers!
Boobie the Rocket Dog
August 2nd, 2012
How do you charge $9.50 for a cheeseburger, actually GET it and lose money? AMTRAK needs to consult with any of several theater chains to get a heads-up on gouging acumen.
Mark Zist
August 2nd, 2012
Maybe Amtrak should come out against gay marriage.
Boobie the Rocket Dog
August 2nd, 2012
@ old_oaks – You couldn’t register your car in Kenosha, Davenport or Gary?
Do like New Yorkers do: rent an apartment for a month in Florida and register the car here: $300 initial, $75 a year. Actually South Carolinians do that, too. Their ownership taxes are UNBELIEVABLE.
Unneutral
August 2nd, 2012
As far as I understand ALL public transportation systems, buses and trains, rely on government subsidies because they can’t support themselves.
John F.
August 2nd, 2012
Today Amtrak, tomorrow Amdok. Gee, I can’t wait…
Chuck U Farley
August 2nd, 2012
They need to get Belushi managing that…
“Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger…no Coke, Pepsi..”
Bob M.
August 2nd, 2012
Amtrack to Bloomberg:
“Your future AWAITS!!!”
Robert Fine
August 3rd, 2012
Who wants to bet that money made it to the coffers of Democrat politicians?
scr_north
August 3rd, 2012
The Amtrak trains like the Southwest Chief, Texas Eagle and California Zephyr are among the great vacation bargains you’ll find. You get to ride in great comfort (book a roomette or full room), watch great scenery (riding through the painted desert is incredible or watching the stars from the observation car at 2:00 A.M. is awe inspiring) and eat excellant food. A three day trip to LA costs around $1,100 meals included and is a bargain. I gather though that the government subsidy on these trips is around $1,000 or more so I felt a little guilty but not guilty enough to not take them. Subsidy or not, take a one of these trips, you won’t regret it.