Reviving Rail in New Hampshire

The US is unusual in NOT having a subsidized national train system and it is a terrible loss. Apart from the energy savings, it allows people (of limited means or more) to travel cross-country in comfort, with the opportunity to meet one another and actually see the country rather than an endless homogenized interstate. It's faster, more efficient and safer (it doesn't matter if you fall asleep on a train!) than trying to try long distances alone. For commuters, it allows wasted time spent in traffic and money in fuel, upkeep and parking to be spent either working, reading, knitting or playing poker. There is no doubt in my mind that a rail link throughout New Hampshire and into Maine and MA would be good for the isolated, human-resource short areas in the North, and altogether a good thing for the state, speaking either of community or commerce.

I was able to listen to part of the Exchange, and would like to hear more details of how this will give NH residents more choice in transportation. It seems to me that it is not really a choice if it is cost prohibitive. (A guest mentioned other choices that we DO have in NH, like where our children go to school - with the future of charter schools in jeopardy, this is hardly a real choice unless we have enough money to send children to private school...another issue.) To travel from Exeter to Boston on the Downeaster, costs $19 round trip. I can take my family, pay for gas (even now), and park for the day in Boston for less than 3 train tickets. And, the Downeaster operates at a large deficit! How will rail help provide cheaper options?