Amtrak

An Amtrak train makes its way southbound across part of the $6 million improved Elmont Road rail crossing in Hanover County, a 900 feet section of concrete track and a "crossover" that allows trains to move from one track to the other. (JOE MAHONEY/RTD)

1. The Philadelphia Inquirer has a two-part series about Amtrak. You will have to register for access. The Inquirer, and the "movers and shakers" in the Philadelphia region understand the importance of Amtrak to the continued success of the region.

-- "Gunn: White House nearly killed Amtrak"
-- "New route for Amtrak seems likely: After years of battling, compromise may bring private money into the rail system"

For at least 5 years, I have argued that Amtrak is a key factor in DC's economic development. Not just from the standpoint of transportation, but because of the maintenance yards etc. which employ a lot of people, in highly skilled jobs that don't necessarily require a college education.

I don't think the importance of Amtrak and the Northeast Corridor line to DC is understood in all its dimensions, at least in DC proper. From today's article:

"The status quo in effect provides no future for Amtrak," says David Laney, chairman of the Amtrak board and the transportation commissioner of Texas when Bush was governor there. "We need to make dramatic changes on a number of fronts."

Robert Puentes, a fellow at the Brookings Institution who focuses on transportation issues, says the tenor of the debate may be changing because voters are complaining about congestion and high gas prices.

"There is a very real and live debate around the nation about the transportation system, and rail is going to play a role in that," Puentes said. "Amtrak is going to have to play a larger role in that, so you are going to start to see some innovation, probably on the state level first."

2. Speaking of railroads, yesterday's Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the "CSX upgrade [is]complete in Ashland." From the article:

The improvements by railroad owner CSX Corp. were part of a $6 million state-funded project at Elmont Road and the rail line in Hanover County.CSX added two crossover tracks connecting the rail lines, allowing trains to pass from one set of tracks to another. Signal upgrades allow trains to be switched to the crossover at speeds of up to 45 mph.

It also modernized the railroad signal system along a 10-mile stretch in the Ashland area, including 10 rail-highway crossings.The changes should help shorten the length of rides for Amtrak passengers, because fewer backups are expected. CSX runs up to 32 freight trains a day through the area, while Amtrak operates 18 trains a day.

Index Keywords: transportation