Celebrating 40 Years of Amtrak Deficits (Subsidized by You)

MLive reported Sept. 30 that Amtrak’s Blue Water line from Port Huron to Chicago was offering a ticket deal to celebrate 40 years.

MLive reported: "You'll need to act fast for the ticket deal, which kicks in when a customer purchases one ticket — that allows them to purchase a companion ticket for 40 percent off."

For the Record says: Only in the subsidized world of public transit can a company celebrate an anniversary with deals despite years of being in the red. The Blue Water line lost $3.2 million in 2012, $2.3 million in 2013, and as of July 2014 was $900,000 in deficit. Michigan spends $40.6 million, $98.11 per roundtrip passenger, to subsidize its Amtrak lines.