I don’t mean that literally. But some (many) readers of my blog are under the impression that Amtrak decides which long distance routes to run and how many trains to run on them. No fewer than six of you who responded to my most recent piece, “Amtrak’s Missed Opportunities” (go here), expressed frustration that Amtrak hasn’t added more routes or more trains to existing routes, to hither, dither, and yon. To those of you, I say: You don’t understand how the system works.
Amtrak isn’t the decider of such matters. Congress is. For example, quit blaming Amtrak for not restarting the Sunset Limited between New Orleans and Florida. Amtrak has told Congress the cost of a restart; it’s a lot of money (read the report here), and without an appropriation of that money by Congress, Amtrak has no way to pay for it.
Ditto for restarting the Pioneer and North Coast Hiawatha (go here and here). Congress knows the cost of reinstating these trains. It has chosen to do nothing.
Congress keeps Amtrak under a tight leash. It has no discretionary money to spend on starting or expanding long distance routes. None. Zip. It can ask Congress for money for this new route or that new long distance train, but in today’s sequester climate, are you naïve enough to really think that the requested money will be forthcoming?
If I have you feeling frustrated, then good. Here’s what to do: Write, call, and visit your U.S. senators and your member of the U.S. House of Representatives. If they are Republicans, so much the better. If they are tea party Republicans, better still! Tell them what’s on your mind about funding Amtrak.
That’s how you’ll change the system. Complaints that Amtrak stands in the way of the trains you want to ride are just air pollution.—Fred W. Frailey
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