A concept that refuses to die

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 32

A concept that refuses to die

By

ROY SINCLAIR

North America has been well known for its privately-owned railroads. They have continued in private ownership long after railways in other countries have been nationalised.

In recent years, however, with competition from other forms of transport and everincreasing costs, the private railroad companies have been struggling.

The 1970 s saw the introduction of Amtrak, a Government organisation which is running all the long-distance rail passenger services in the United States. Now, some of the rail

freight organisations have amalgamated in an effort to become viable. Conrail is one example. It seems, however, that the concept of the privately-owned U.S. railroad refuses to die. A new specialised private ownership has become fashionable in short-line railroads which are usually less than 160 kilometres in length. Some of the short railroads carry tourists on special passenger trains, but most are mainly freight carriers. Although small, these railroads are not someone's idea of a hobby: they exist to earn hard cash for their'owners.