My take: AmeriStarRail's coast-to-coast vision

AmeriStarRail has  suggested other improvements, including better fencing and sounded the alarm about the possible dangers of aging passenger cars traveling at high speeds. Amtrak disputes the passenger car claims.

The latest proposal is the Transcontinental Chief,  a cross-country train that would combine elements of Amtrak's Auto Train, piggyback trucking, and passenger service.

The goal is  to operate a three-day coast-to-coast trip under a private operator. Amtrak offers comparable travel times from Washington, D.C., and New York. However, delays are frequent.

The freight element would have  truckers loading their rigs onto flat cars, taking the train during the federally mandated rest period, and then "moving on down the highway."

Amtrak's Auto Train, which runs from a Washington, DC suburb to central Florida, is believed to be one of the government-owned railroad's profitable operations.

However, a previous operator went bankrupt with expanded  service.

Having a private operator for long-distance routes has its merits. However, if the past is any indication, major changes would likely spark opposition from members of Congress from "flyover states" who have been partly responsible for Amtrak's nationwide patchwork of money-losing routes. 

The most significant barrier may be the testy relationship between Amtrak and freight railroads. Last year, Amtrak went so far as to file a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern over delays on its Crescent route, which stops in Wilmington en route to New Orleans. 

Resolving this issue would be challenging, given the massive  amount of freight carried on the nation's railroads. Europe, which is often viewed as a role model for passenger trains, moves a greater proportion of its freight by truck and ship.

Recent figures showed long-distance Amtrak trains with a dismal 58% on-time rate.

Still, innovative proposals like AmeriStarRail's deserve further study. - Doug Rainey, chief content officer.