LA-Las Vegas Rail Route In Trouble

The sleek, Spanish-designed rail cars Amtrak plans to use for the route don't meet new federal crash-safety standards.

1 minute read

August 9, 2000, 1:30 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Amtrak officials have files a request with the FRA to grant an exemption for the cars. However, if the waiver is denied, new cars could take up to two years to manufacture. The safety concerns are only the latest headache for Amtrak's $28 million effort to revive the 300-mile Los Angeles-Las Vegas leg after a three-year hiatus, which was expected to restart in October, 2000.

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, August 9, 2000 in Wall St. Journal

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