LIRR and NJ Transit to Help Fund Amtrak?
Slithering out.
Troubled Amtrak has long worked well in the Northeast Corridor--Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, various Connecticut cities, Providence, Boston.
So now the Bush administration, according to The New York Times, has a new solution: Charge surplus-addled commuter rail systems in those cities for their use of Amtrak facilities--tracks, stations, etc.
The plan, according to The Times,
could hit New Jersey Transit hard, because it operates many trains over long routes. The Long Island Rail Road could be charged more for using Pennsylvania Station in New York City. Metro-North Railroad, which terminates in New Haven, runs on tracks owned by New York and Connecticut, but the Shore Line East, which runs east of New Haven, operates on Amtrak tracks and could be hit for more. Septa, which serves the Philadelphia area, and the commuter systems serving Boston, Wilmington and Baltimore would also be subject to new charges.
But can they actually do this? The commuter rails already have arrangements with Amtrak for the use of their facilities.
And in New York, where a greater portion of commuter rail is already funded through fare-paying customers, are Amtrak trains serving the region to be partially subsidized by suburban commuters?As it is, the successful New Jersey Transit and Long Island Railroad lines are likely to be the ones footing the bill for the new Penn Station--which will be across the street from Amtrak's old "vomitorium," Penn Station. Remember the big plans for a rail hub that would welcome commuters to the city? To paraphrase Vincent Scully, now suburban commuters who already work in the city will be entering like emperors, while tourists slither in like rats.
- Tom McGeveran
I believe you will find that in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) owns the trackage and stations on which the Northeast Corridor operates. It is Amtrak that uses THEIR stations, not the other way around, save possibly for one lone station on the loop highway that bypasses Boston.
As such the assertion that "Boston" may have to coin-up is dubious.
On the other line running from Boston to Springfield, that may be another story but rumor on the net suggests that at least one of those stations (Worcester) would be closed anyway and "destaffed" (no Amtrak ticket takers or baggage people) leaving operation to possibly ascend to other railroads (MBTA for one) that that station.
If Amtrak choses this route, then what would stop the respective states from taxing these facilities to cover the "costs" of using Amtraks property? Amtrak should be audited by a private concern. Perhaps Americans might find it interesting where our money has been going. The solution to an impending rail crisis in the Northeast, (equipment shortages, declining infrastructure,etc) is to promote cooperation with the states, not this type of approach.
Thank you for asking whether or not the DOT can do what it is doing and has done with Amtrak, which is, taking away control of Amtrak's assets from Amtrak. Previously, we had experienced railroad managers making all the decisions, but now that piece of human dirt Norman Mineta is presiding over the wholesale grab for whatever Amtrak has that is of value. Please continue to bring this very relevant issue to the attention of the public, most of whom have no idea what their incompetent governmaent is doing with their proerty. Thanks.
If I remember right when The railroads conned the goverment to take over the passenger service with the formation of Amtrak,I thought that amtrak was supposed to have the right of way.As far I am concerned Union Pacific is one of the worst offenders.When Southern Pacific ran the lines on the west coast, The Coast Starlight you could set your watch by them,Now since UP took over it runs any where from 3 to 8 or 9 hours late.UP is getting to big for thier britches,They are now charging the Model Train Makers a Royalty to use any of the Road Names that they have taken over.It is now csting at least $10.00 more to buy a Model Train Engine with any of the road Names that UP brought up