Public transportation is typically problematic as it creates its own wind of bureaucracy. The Euro Tunnel is no different in that it has to deal with all sorts of rules and regulations. We see in the United States many crises in the public transportation sectors. Bus systems are found to be often losing money and wasting dollars. We see the BART Trains in San Francisco as well upside down in cost per rider VS costs to run the system.
Each time a large transportation project is made to jump thru nearly impossible hoops of regulation we see issues where they become inefficient and are unable to reasonably serve the common good. Let’s look at the Amtrak in the United States which seems to be a pet project of many a democratic politician. It has never made any money and always been a drain on the taxpayer. In Canada we see privatization helped their counter part to the Amtrak. But still with over regulation, favoritism to other government transportation in competition with such systems we see more of the same issues really.
It is estimated that the EuroTunnel could be bankrupt by autumn of this year. We also know with the increased security costs it has been less traveled; hurting tourism and raising costs. Everyone knows it is a target of Muslim Radical Terrorists as well. It is also a sore spot on National Security for Tony Blair. The EuroTunnel is used by many to enter the UK illegally. These are just a few of the more recent factors affecting the profitability of the EuroTunnel. The EuroTunnel was not cheap to build either and it has considerable debt, which it cannot pay from profits, as there are none. The company running it fired all their board of directors last year for lack of performance. The current board is currently under some musical chair issues and the rental company owning those chairs wants them back.
We are seeing worldwide issues with public transportation, which is run by private or public sectors. They are not working; rider ship is at issue with regards to the scare of International Terrorists, especially after the Madrid Train Bombing. Some conspiracy theorists think that it is only a matter of time before the EuroTunnel is attacked to further tighten the screws on the European populations. These same conspiracy theorists look at similar smaller targets in the United States such as the Baltimore Tunnel, California Bridges and Bart System, Boston Tunnel and Washington Ferries. But whether or not the conspiracy theories hold any water, it appears Al Queda is also looking at these things and taking digital pictures as well. The question is will the economics, Lawsuits, over regulation and banks shut down some of these transportation projects before the International Terrorists or Bird Flu virus predictions?
If they remain un-profitable, underwater, debt laden they will continue to be an underground bottomless pit of taxpayer resources. If the prices are raised to cover the costs the rider ship drops and they lose their purported economies of scale. If they are un-economically viable or if people are afraid to use them for fear of catching a disease or being in the wrong place at the wrong time during an International Terrorist event then we have a very serious problem worldwide with out human transportation flows. Please think on this, we need some solutions. It is not working.
Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/