Ford's Train Station

[Richard]

They would have a reason,for the same reason I mentioned Brightlines plan,you do not need high ridership numbers if you can profit from the leases within the stations.

It’s no different then from when they were first established,they did not need massive train stations in order to move passengers,it’s the revenue generated from within the station that offsets the cost,no different then them selling food and drinks and having snack bars on the trains.

Kinda like gas stations with convenience stores inside,the gas sales covers overhead and the profit is made on the sales.

A Supreme Court judge ruled Amtrak is a private company back in 2015,they can get investors and do the same thing as private rail is doing but they have to be able to show assets and the best way to do that is with real estate holdings and station leases that generate revenue outside of ticket sales.

They got $60 billion under the infrastructure package along with billions more in COVID funds,so they have a lot of cash,probably more then they have ever had at one time,and they are looking to invest it as much as they are looking at rebuilding.

Across the country they have stacked up at least 5 years of litigation when it comes to interment domain claims,it’s not just what is happening in DC

It is a legitimate concern because it makes sense enough for them to try it.

But Ford has deep pockets and they are already repairing it for the public good,the main argument in DC was the extensive repairs needed and the amount of shops that closed down during COVID put the building in danger.

So the justification was there that in order to preserve the building and protect Amtraks lease they were better suited to take it.

The long term lease with the government gave them a window into the litigation combined with the conditions,they do not have that claim with MTS.

10 years ago they may have had a legitimate reason to take it if they were putting a line in,but they did not have the funds,despite the law they still have to have a valid reason,they cannot just take stuff,because,Ford has removed the reason and it is privately owned so no back doors for Amtrak to build a case on.

They have even gone after smaller stations that were once derelict and through the years local volunteers restored them for their historic value,they want them back now because the land under them has increased in value and they want to tear them down and build new stations with shops and the lease potential.

With the influx of private rail coming in Amtrak has no other choice but to up their game,otherwise they will no longer exist.