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Amtrak's Far-Reaching Impact

Posted by: Chris Steins
Thanks to: Chris Steins
17 March 2005 - 1:00pm

Discussions about shutting down Amtrak would have serious impacts on many commuter rail lines also.

"Under a worst-case scenario, the administration could force the railroad into bankruptcy this year or early next. But whatever the specific outcome, one group likely to be affected is the 800,000-plus non-Amtrak passengers a day who rely on Amtrak to get to and from work.

...Many passengers don't realize it, but commuter trains from California to Illinois to Pennsylvania depend on Amtrak tracks, facilities or personnel for all or part of their trips. Amtrak owns big downtown train stations in Chicago, New York and Washington where commuter trains stop for passengers, and Amtrak dispatchers direct some of Boston's commuter trains."

[Editor's note: This link is available to non-subscribers for a period of seven days.]

Full Story: Amtrak and Your Morning Commute
Source: Wall St. Journal, March 16, 2005
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