December 12, 2007: From Barbara Wagner

I just wanted to say, having lived in Europe for several years, I grew to love the safety, ease, and relative comfort of high-speed rail. The seats were comfortable, you could fall asleep in Germany and wake up in Rome, have a great day of shopping and be home the same evening without concern about traffic stau or staying awake and worrying about directions. We desperately need better High Speed Rail as well as a Light Rail System from Fredericksburg to VAB! 

Imagine all of the gas we would save, the traffic jams, the road rage, if folks could just hop on the rail system and catch up on emails or calls or just catch their breath before diving into the day? Think of all of the folks who could get to a job that they currently can’t because of transportation issues! 

Here in the south, I notice a stigma associated with public transportation as if it’s something to be ashamed of, whereas in Europe folks climbed aboard buses, trains, and subways in haute couture and jewels and sat with average Joes heading to the football game or the opera. Kids as young as 8 climbed aboard public transportation with no fear of being kidnapped or harmed in any way as the Bahn systems and trains and buses were a matter of national pride in Germany. It belonged to everyone not just the unfortunates who couldn’t afford their own car, which sometimes seems to be the attitude of folks stateside. Let’s get with it and go Rail!!!  

We have taken the auto train up from Florida to Virginia and found the seats more comfortable than a first class seat on a plane with more legroom, the dinner MUCH better than airplane food and it was just relaxing to watch the world go by.

My family is all for expanded High Speed as well as a Light Rail!