Plan for Amtrak's N.E. Corridor raises questions

[are_we_united_yet]

First step taken toward spinoff

Boston Globe
By Ralph Ranalli, Globe Staff | October 14, 2005

A preliminary step toward spinning off Amtrak's Northeast Corridor train service was touted as a crucial move forward by the rail agency's chairman yesterday, but it was greeted with questions and outright opposition from politicians, rail advocates, and regional planners.

Amtrak's chairman, David M. Laney, said that splitting off the Boston-to- Washington, D.C. corridor -- the system's most heavily traveled leg -- under joint federal-state management is the only way to revitalize US passenger rail service.

''We are ultimately headed toward an environment in which states will end up covering some portion of state operations," Laney told the Associated Press yesterday in a telephone interview from his Dallas law office.

<snip>

Reaction along the corridor to the plan was mixed. Some politicians and planners said that increased state participation and input could result in better service -- as long as the federal government still shoulders most of the financial burden.

Others saw it as a move by some conservatives in the Bush administration to break up, and eventually kill, the troubled passenger rail service.

<snip>

Did I mention I really don't care for this Administration?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/10/14/plan_for_amtraks_ne_corridor_raises_questions/


On Edit: Sorry about the link it makes you register and I can't seem to fix it.

:(

[unhappycamper]

1. Use bugmenot.com to avoid that registration step. n/t

[are_we_united_yet]

2. Thanks for the tip.

:)

[Kolesar]

3. Why do you not want to register?

Just to keep one more cookie out of your pc? To not give your demographic information? Or just to stick it to "the man"?

[are_we_united_yet]

5. I'm registered

However, people may not be inclined to read the story (the important part) if they have to register. That OK?

[JPZenger]

4. AMTRAK Greatly Increasing Fares Phila. to NYC

A large number of persons commute everyday between the Philadelphia area and New York City. AMTRAK has announced a huge price increase in the monthly ride fares. Many riders are saying they can't afford the increase, which will bring the cost to over $12,000 just to get to work. AMTRAK also tried to close one of their busiest commuter stations - in Bucks County, PA. There was another story about this issue in a recent Phila. Inquirer - www.phillynews.com/inquirer.

For years, many people have used SEPTA trains from Philadelphia to connect to New Jersey Transit Trains to save a great deal of money between Philadelphia and New York City.

It has always appeared that AMTRAK was grossly inefficient. They would have much higher ridership if their fares were more reasonable. On some of their lines in the west, the Federal taxpayers are subsidizing each passenger by at least $100.

[are_we_united_yet]

6. Yeah.

Perhaps as efficient as the Airlines maybe. God knows they've never required a bailout.

[jpak]

7. or the auto industry...

n/t

[AndyTiedye]

8. They Want to Shut Down All Passenger Rail in the US

so they can keep us in our cars, no matter how expensive gas gets.

Gotta love those robber barons, not.