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Privately operated passenger railroads were (somewhat) more reliable, but not profitable, which is why Amtrak exists.

Have you inquired into why they became unprofitable? Have you considered the massive government investments into and subsidies for the two other modes of transportation following WW II?

Passenger trains in the US died off in the late 1960s because of automobiles and the Interstate Highway System (don't forget airplanes).

I don't think they were ever profitable. I think they became unbearably more unprofitable after WWII, but I think they were unprofitable before that.

And, when you talk about government investments into the two other modes of transportation, I presume you mean air and highways. You forgot waterways - also created/improved with government investment.

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