Amtrak Now Offering USA Rail Passes to Americans

Nah, I don´t think that´s a conspiracy. The crude oil price just skyrocketed this summer because there was a lot of money parked in oil futures.

Anyway, back to topic. I think Amtrak has some great potential even in its current messy state.

I remember when Deutsche Bahn suddently realized their commuter trains were all empty on weekends. They came up with an incredible bargain: a ticket for all non-express-trains in the whole country, valid for 5 persons on Sat and Sun for only 15 Euros. The obvious intention was to attract some families to make weekend trips to granny. They didn´t even promote that ticket very much. Anyway, all of a sudden those trains were packed like trains in India. I have used this ticket several times for trips from Berlin to Bavaria. It took 13 hours (instead of only 6 on an express train), involved changing trains 5 times - but what the hey!
I remember when my sister visited me in Berlin she had to board the train through a window because there was no way to get inside through the doors - and we were at the station half an hour early!

There are some very obvious routes where high-speed trains should run in Amerika: maybe San Diego - Los Angeles - San Francisco or Boston - New York - Philadelphia - Washington. These are routes where high-speed trains can compete with flights and be run profitable. Most of the rest of the network should rather be used for freight trains or the odd passenger trains for people who want to take the scenic route on the cheap.

i probably wouldnt have drive around solo - not because id be worried about it, but because... well... it'd be boring.

Absolutely right for the solos but it is definiely easier, more flexible and much cheaper for a small group to rent/buy a car and drive around the US instead of any passes. Having a car is still a better option IMHO, however I support any budget travel options which improves the hostelling industry.

Otherwise... IMHO it could be an interesting solution implementing the European carpooling models in the US, so it could attract solos to ride for cents!

(investors listen, another business venture!!! ;) $$$! )

I have a friend who runs a non-profit organization working on this. It's still in local beta testing, but will be national soon.

What? You don´t have that yet in the USA!? There were already like half a dozen carpooling agencies in Berlin 15 years ago. That was still stone-age, pre-internet, when you still had to actually go to their office to get a ride.

Amazing...

I can hardly believe that. This is not really stuff for non-profit organizations. There is money made with that in Germany. I wonder why nobody has copied that business model in the USA yet. Unlike hostels, it´s not something you´ll need a lot of investment for. If cou can put together a website and man a hotline desk 24/7 - voila. That´s all you need.