Amtrak's Pennsylvanian Will Continue to Operate Past Sept. 30!
In a major victory for NARP's active members in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, and for our partners at Western Pennsylvanians for Passenger Rail (led by NARP Council Representative Michael Alexander), Amtrak announced late yesterday (http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=DN1SkvFhExnl%2BDu5nhftRVREngme3TdI) (3/21/2013) that it had reached an agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania allowing the daily New York-Pittsburgh Pennsylvanian to continue operating past Sept. 30, 2013.
We should take time to celebrate this significant accomplishment, but NARP is already laying the groundwork to replicate this success elsewhere in the country. Amongst our next priorities:
- Preserve the Chicago-Indianapolis Hoosier State (http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HIPBivX3zoXaKHJmPtHLrlREngme3TdI), also threatened under PRIIA Section 209
- Keep the Chicago-Los Angeles Southwest Chief on its current route (http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=CsyKd8hJjsn2ESij5EAy81REngme3TdI) through western Kansas, southeast Colorado and northern New Mexico. State and federal funding will be required to maintain this track segment, which hosts very little freight traffic.
- Ensure that the California High-Speed Rail (http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=BsY4zzf%2BJtMKbF36eFPXHVREngme3TdI) and XpressWest (http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=/8ospBKVUnMndE8nK1sgP1REngme3TdI) projects move forward on an aggressive schedule.
- Continue to work closely with the Gulf Coast Mayors and our partners in the region to restore Amtrak service between New Orleans and Florida.