Editorial: Accelerating Amtrak
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Amtrak, the quasi-government-run passenger-rail system, was born on May 1, 1971. Since then, ridership on the Northeast Corridor has about doubled. And it could double again, in our humble opinion, once the plan to provide 220-mile-an-hour train service on the routes between Boston and Washington becomes a reality. Right now, the fastest train runs in America clock in at 150 miles an hour, mainly on the Rhode Island stretch of track. (And by the way, the system needs more sets of track.)
Amtrak is now asking investors for proposals to help finance this fast-train system in America’s most densely populated and developed region. The big plan envisions spending $117 billion to develop and operate the high-speed service.
But isn’t Amtrak losing money? Not on the Northeast Corridor.
Full editorial: Providence Journal
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Like us on Facebook at
Facebook.com/BLETNational
Sign up for BLET News Flash Alerts
