Amtrak

Commentary

“If the source of funding isn’t fares, then Amtrak needs to go away”

It’s 12:00 a.m. on Monday, April 8 as I write this. I’m tired, and I want to go to bed. I have to get up tomorrow morning, and go into the office. For some reason that I do not completely understand, I take a quick look at my e-mail inbox on my iPhone before placing it into the neat little iHome device that serves as a musical alarm clock. (Apologies for the advertisement.)

Boston South Station expansion focus faulted

Criticism of a proposed $850 million expansion plan for Boston’s South Station is coming not just from fiscal conservatives and anti-rail partisans, but now also from those arguing current plans ignore a long-sought link with the city’s North Station.

Commentary

Amtrak haters: Bullies with no public purpose

Conservative columnist and American Enterprise scholar Michael Barone, with degrees from Harvard and Yale, is a smart fellow. But a recent column about Amtrak suggests his research consisted of wandering into the posh Capitol Grill in Washington, D.C., and sitting at Amtrak baiter-in-chief Rep. John Mica’s luncheon table, absorbing Mica’s jihad against publicly funded intercity rail passenger service.

FY13 budget bill leaves Amtrak intact

Approval by the House of Representatives Thursday of Senate spending levels for the remainder of fiscal year 2013, approved a day earlier, results in Amtrak’s funding remaining relatively intact.

Deal reached to rescue Amtrak Pennsylvanian

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said Thursday a deal had been reached with Amtrak to continue operation of the Pennsylvanian between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, the state capital. The Pennsylvanian also serves Philadelphia and New York.

AAR lauds ASCE report grading rail industry

The Association of American Railroads Tuesday praised a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) citing private freight rail infrastructure investments as a key factor for highlighting rail as the “most improved” sector of our nation’s critical infrastructure systems.

Amtrak touts strong cost-recovery ratio

Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman, addressing a Congressional committee Tuesday, said Amtrak is leveraging record ridership to reduce dependence on federal operating subsidies.

Vermont rail speeds to increase, state says

The Vermont Agency of Transportation says speed limits will be raised on New England Central trackage from 59 mph to 79 mph beginning March 11, improving conditions for both freight rail movement and Amtrak’s Vermonter.

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