Inteersting Transportation Stories

Two interesting stories related to transportation caught my attention recently. The Wall Street Journal reported that Amtrak is experiencing healthy growth in its megalopolitan corridors, particularly the lucrative Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, due to the growing inconvenience of short-distance airline flights. The airlines themselves are urging the construction of straighter, newer rail lines for Amtrak so it can run the kind of high-speed trains used in France and Japan. The Northeast Corridor simply can't support trains that go any faster than 160 miles an hour or so. The airlines would prefer to emphasize long-distance flights. But since Amtrak cuts into the profitable business of selling jet fuel to airlines and gasoline to motorists, don't expect oilmen like Bush or Cheney to endorse this proposal. No matter. A railroad that seemed devastated by indifference from Washington suddenly seems as if it will make it to its fortieth birthday in 2011, and beyond.

Meanwhile, the DeLorean is back! A quarter century after John DeLorean was forced to stop production of his stainless steel sports car after being busted in a sting operation for attempting to sell and distribute cocaine, and two years after his death, a Texas businessman has bought up the remaining parts and tooling and plans to produce a limited number beginning next year. A different engine and other changes are expected to improve performance and quality. Unlike the original DeLorean cars, which were built in Northern Ireland, the new ones will be built in Humble, Texas, the hometown of outgoing Attorney general Alberto Gonzales.

There's a joke in there somewhere, but I don't know what it is. :-p