(The Minot Daily News posted the following editorial on its website on November 10.)
MINOT, N.D. — Amtrak president David Gunn has consistently disagreed with the Bush administration’s assessment that federal subsidies for the troubled rail service should be eliminated.
So it wasn’t exactly shocking when Gunn was fired Wednesday by Amtrak’s board of directors. He had held the post since 2002.
Amtrak’s Empire Builder train runs through North Dakota, and includes stops in Minot, Rugby, Stanley and other towns in our region.
The Bush administration has called for an end to the subsidies that have kept the rail service alive for years. Amtrak has never made money in its 34-year history, and had an operating loss of $550 million for its fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The railroad also has a debt of more than $3.5 billion.
While acknowledging that the rail service isn’t a money-maker, supporters of Amtrak argue that the rail service is necessary in states like North Dakota, where public transportation is vital in rural areas. Gunn was a huge asset to the supporters of keeping federal subsidies flowing to Amtrak.
It remains to be seen what Gunn’s dismissal will mean to the future of Amtrak. Most likely, it means there may not be much of a future at all, especially if Gunn is replaced by someone more willing to let the Bush administration have its way. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.