Good news for U.S. passenger rail service operator Amtrak

Bipartisan cooperation on Capitol Hill in Washington DC recently provided great news for Amtrak, the United States passenger rail system. The Senate and House of Representatives over rode President Bush’s threatened veto of Amtrak funding legislation and authorized nearly $15 billion of support for passenger rail service.

Amtrak's boosters say the high cost of driving has made people eager for more and better rail service. A record 25.8 million passengers took Amtrak in the last fiscal year and the railroad expects ridership to approach 28 million this year.

The railroad's supporters say that a new authorization will allow Amtrak to make long-range plans and take advantage of what they say is a growing appetite for passenger rail.

Amtrak has its problems slow trains and delays plus limited service areas but it is an alternative mode of transportation. As demand increases and ridership improves Amtrak can only get better.

I have been fortunate to travel the national railroad systems in continental Europe and Great Britain and have weaned myself off of the automobile when I travel abroad. Public transportation in the Old World is convenient, accessible and affordable and hopefully will serve as a model for this country.

Amtrak has had its critics over the years but as gas passes $4.00 a gallon it hopefully will become a major player in this country.