(The following column appeared on the Elmira Star-Gazette website on April 29, 2011.)
ELMIRA, N.Y. — On May 1, 1971, the era of independently operated passenger trains in end. On that date, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation — better known as Amtrak — assumed operations of the nation’s intercity passenger rail system. At that time, the idea that America would still have a passenger rail system at all 40 years later would have seemed nothing short of a miracle.
By the late 1960s, passenger rail service in America had been pushed to near extinction. Everything that could be working against passenger rail travel was doing just that. The independent railroads wanted out, hindered by excessive taxes on property and taxes on ticket sales, which were channeled by the government for construction of interstates and airports. So how do you compete when you’re forced to fund your competition?
In keeping a national rail system alive, supporters faced a major uphill battle. In 1970, legislation was passed creating “Railpax,” which was changed to Amtrak, and the government took over. Passenger rail began receiving subsidies, like all the other modes of transportation. The overwhelming attitude was that the new venture would fail in a few years and the idea of passenger rail travel in the United States would be put to rest once and for all, or so the “competition” hoped.
Then, a funny thing happened to Amtrak — it worked and survived.
Full column: Elmira Star-Gazette