Amtrak At The Crossroads

Will financial woes and President Bush's proposal to break up the national rail system leave Amtrak and its passengers stranded?

1 minute read

September 15, 2003, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Bush's call to transform Amtrak into a network of regional systems with reduced federal funding could spell doom for U.S. rail. States can ill-afford to pick up the tab, and multi-state funding compacts would be shaky at best. However, Republican dissenters in Congress have called for Amtrak’s expansion, sparking further debate. Meanwhile, towns in Middle America like Minot, North Dakota depend on rail and anxiously ponder Amtrak’s future.

Thanks to David Gest

Sunday, September 14, 2003 in The Baltimore Sun

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