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Article: A new tack for Amtrak?: ; More funding may not be enough for W.Va. routes
- Article from:
- Sunday Gazette-Mail
- Article date:
- November 4, 2007
- Author:
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Copyright informationCopyright 2007 Sunday Gazette-Mail. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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morris@wvgazette.com
Amtrak is on track to get a big cash infusion from Congress,
$11.4 billion over six years, that supporters say will put an end to
annual budget overruns and preserve rural West Virginia routes.
But even the passenger rail line's staunchest advocates now admit
it won't ever be able to turn a profit, and much of the new proposed
funding would come only after states start spending on Amtrak
improvements.
More important, although Amtrak ridership is up nationwide, it's
down significantly in West Virginia - and the new legislation hints
that sparsely traveled, money-losing routes will be held to account
before long.
Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., one of Amtrak's longtime ...