Amtrak News and the effect on the NEC

[Anonymous]

Railroad's demise could hurt SEPTA
By JENNIFER BROOKS / News Journal Washington Bureau
03/30/2005WASHINGTON -- There's more riding on the outcome of the Amtrak debate than just the question of whether the trains will run on time between Wilmington, Washington and New York.

SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, runs commuter trains between Wilmington, Newark, Philadelphia and into New Jersey on Amtrak's tracks, relying on Amtrak's signal systems, schedules and maintenance. Now Amtrak's future is in jeopardy, with the White House and Senate pushing budget plans that eliminate Amtrak's entire $1.2 billion federal budget.


http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/03/30railroadsdemise.html

[mucable]

That's the reason for the $360 million budget item for NEC maintenance and improvements. They just can't eliminate AMTRAK completely because other transit agencies rely on the NEC.

I found it interesting that AMTRAK employs 1200 Delaware residents and has spent so much money in that state. Do you think they've spent that much in Wisconsin?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

It's a bit hard not to spend that much money in Delaware since Wilmington is the location of the main shop for the NEC.

[wallyworld]

Every administration whether it leans left or right sends up the same trial balloon that threatens the existance of Amtrak that is ususally draconian but then ends up just leaving Amtrak with a barely subsistance level of funding. There has already been somewhat of a backlash from the senate on this issue which is par for the course. The end result I can safely predict will leave the NEC intact.

[Modelcar]

....Don't remember any previous administration putting the operating budget at "0"....

[edbenton]

Ronnie Regan did every year in his adminastration and the Elder Bush did the same thing also.