More Money for Rail? Potentially, Yes. But …

Congress passed some important legislation last year and, with any luck, it should have a major impact on rail transportation in the U.S.

For one thing, it authorized increased funding for Amtrak, essentially doubling what the railroad has been getting. Equally important, it included a commitment for those extra dollars for five years. Whaddaya know … for the first time ever, Amtrak gets to plan more than one year in advance!

Also, worked into the language were several interesting provisions:

One requires Amtrak to study the feasibility of restoring service between Florida and New Orleans by the Sunset Limited. That portion of the route was halted after Hurricane Katrina tore up a lot of the track. Repairs have long since been made, but Amtrak has never resumed that portion of the service and the Sunset remains a two-night trip between Los Angeles and New Orleans.

Another would solicit proposals from private operators for rail service along the Northeast Corridor – well, for that portion between Washington and New York, anyway. (This is the brainchild of Republican Congressman John Mica of Florida, who has the tiresome habit of referring to Amtrak as “America’s soviet-style railroad.”)

One more item asks a study be done to see if there’s a possibility of restoring the North Coast Hiawatha, which originally operated three days a week between Minneapolis and Spokane, via Bismark, North Dakota and Butte, Montana.

All this is encouraging because it indicates new awareness of the importance of rail passenger service, now and in the future. But the measure Congress passed last year was only and authorization. This Congress, the one that convened last week, still needs to pass an appropriation that will actually provide the money.

Maybe we could hire Cuba Gooding, Jr., the actor who played the football star Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire, to go up to The Hill and, on Amtrak’s behalf, and holler: Show me the money!!

Better yet, we can all write or call our representatives in Washington and ask that Amtrak gets full funding.