All Eyes On Amtrak

Newsweek, July, 2008 by Daniel Stone

Soaring gas prices and higher airfares are causing Americans to take a closer look at their rail system.

The storybook plight of the Little Engine That Could, struggling to make it up a mountain, is a pretty apt metaphor for America’s rail system. Limited access, outdated equipment and high ticket prices have been the sorry story of Amtrak, the nation’s principal rail carrier, from its beginning—pushing most would-be riders to other ways of getting around. But $4-agallon gas and chaotic airways are working in Amtrak’s favor. In an era when green is hip and mileage matters, trains can’t be beat. A diesel locomotive at its most efficient can move a ton of weight 436 miles on a single gallon of fuel, according to the Association of American Railroads, making a full train...

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