@alcoholicorn It is when it has been privatised to a company that pretty much pays no tax (hi Transurban!), for roads that taxpayers helped to pay for, and those toll roads connect car dependent suburbs that have next to no public transport.

@lntl @Rentlar Why is how the public ownership of railways could work a hypothetical in the US?

Many countries already do this right now.

Here’s a link to the Australian Rail Track Corporation: https://www.artc.com.au/about/

It’s owned by the Australian Federal Government, owns rail track infrastructure, but doesn’t operate any freight or passenger services itself.

Here’s a link to VicTrack: https://www.victrack.com.au/

It’s owned by the Victorian state government, owns rail infrastructure in Victoria, but doesn’t operate any freight or passenger services itself.