Waiting on a Train

Waiting on a Train PDF Author: James McCommons
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
ISBN: 1603582592
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
During the tumultuous year of 2008--when gas prices reached $4 a gallon, Amtrak set ridership records, and a commuter train collided with a freight train in California--journalist James McCommons spent a year on America's trains, talking to the people who ride and work the rails throughout much of the Amtrak system. Organized around these rail journeys, Waiting on a Train is equal parts travel narrative, personal memoir, and investigative journalism. Readers meet the historians, railroad executives, transportation officials, politicians, government regulators, railroad lobbyists, and passenger-rail advocates who are rallying around a simple question: Why has the greatest railroad nation in the world turned its back on the very form of transportation that made modern life and mobility possible? Distrust of railroads in the nineteenth century, overregulation in the twentieth, and heavy government subsidies for airports and roads have left the country with a skeletal intercity passenger-rail system. Amtrak has endured for decades, and yet failed to prosper owing to a lack of political and financial support and an uneasy relationship with the big, remaining railroads. While riding the rails, McCommons explores how the country may move passenger rail forward in America--and what role government should play in creating and funding mass-transportation systems. Against the backdrop of the nation's stimulus program, he explores what it will take to build high-speed trains and transportation networks, and when the promise of rail will be realized in America.

Waiting on a Train

Waiting on a Train PDF Author: James McCommons
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
ISBN: 1603582592
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Get Book

Book Description
During the tumultuous year of 2008--when gas prices reached $4 a gallon, Amtrak set ridership records, and a commuter train collided with a freight train in California--journalist James McCommons spent a year on America's trains, talking to the people who ride and work the rails throughout much of the Amtrak system. Organized around these rail journeys, Waiting on a Train is equal parts travel narrative, personal memoir, and investigative journalism. Readers meet the historians, railroad executives, transportation officials, politicians, government regulators, railroad lobbyists, and passenger-rail advocates who are rallying around a simple question: Why has the greatest railroad nation in the world turned its back on the very form of transportation that made modern life and mobility possible? Distrust of railroads in the nineteenth century, overregulation in the twentieth, and heavy government subsidies for airports and roads have left the country with a skeletal intercity passenger-rail system. Amtrak has endured for decades, and yet failed to prosper owing to a lack of political and financial support and an uneasy relationship with the big, remaining railroads. While riding the rails, McCommons explores how the country may move passenger rail forward in America--and what role government should play in creating and funding mass-transportation systems. Against the backdrop of the nation's stimulus program, he explores what it will take to build high-speed trains and transportation networks, and when the promise of rail will be realized in America.

American Passenger Trains

American Passenger Trains PDF Author: Patrick Dorin
Publisher: Enthusiast Books
ISBN: 9781583882320
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Passenger Trains played an important role in the growth of traveling across America or to the nearest city—the height of its service after WWII until the start up of Amtrak. This book provides railroad hobbyists, historians, museum operators, and transportation instructors and planners with information about the types of train services and operations in various corridors, such as Chicago – Milwaukee; the overnight and daytime long distance service; transcontinental trains, and the various types of local trains on both main lines and branch lines. The book reviews the types of sleeping car, coach, parlor car, food and beverage services available at that time. The equipment and service such as vista dome coaches, dining and lounge cars with many types of meals and beverages, sleeping accommodations and coach seats including reclining and leg rests were drawing cards for passenger traffic. This historic review, including train schedules and advertisements, provides information on train consists which is valuable for creating model railroad layout size trains.

New Haven Passenger Trains

New Haven Passenger Trains PDF Author: Peter E. Lynch
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781610604550
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description


The American Passenger Train

The American Passenger Train PDF Author: Mike Schafer
Publisher: Motorbooks International
ISBN: 9780760308967
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
From the Santa Fe "Super Chief" to modern Amtrak high-speed intercity services, this sprawling photographic history rambles through two centuries of passenger trains and presents a wealth of archival imagery and period color photos. 200 illustrations, 150 in color.

Intercity passenger rail Congress faces critical decisions in developing a national policy

Intercity passenger rail Congress faces critical decisions in developing a national policy PDF Author: JayEtta Z. Hecker
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1428945113
Category : Railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
This testimony discusses the future of intercity passenger rail. Intercity passenger rail in the United States is at a critical juncture. It has become increasingly clear that the current approach to intercity passenger rail is not likely sustainable. Given Amtrak's worsening financial condition and opportunities for intercity passenger rail to play a larger role in our nation s transportation system, there is growing agreement that the mission, funding, and structure of the current approach to providing intercity passenger rail needs to be changed. There is less agreement on how they should be changed. Both longer-term fiscal pressures and the new commitments undertaken after September 11th sharpen the need to look at competing claims and new priorities. Stated differently, there is a need to consider what is the proper role of the federal government in intercity passenger rail.

Passenger Rail

Passenger Rail PDF Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Federal aid to transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description


Intercity Passenger Rail

Intercity Passenger Rail PDF Author:
Publisher: AASHTO
ISBN: 1560514442
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
This report was prepared at the request of AASHTO's Standing Committee on Rail Transportation. It provides for AASHTO's members and others committed to developing a national intercity passenger rail system a summary of the recent favorable actions by Congress and the Obama Administration, a description of the work of the states over the past decade, the views of the essential partners to the states and other commentators, and some guidelines for advancing the effort.

Intercity Passenger Rail Finance

Intercity Passenger Rail Finance PDF Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Federal aid to transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description


Passenger Rail Security

Passenger Rail Security PDF Author: Cathleen A. Berrick
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 9781422304334
Category : Terrorism
Languages : en
Pages : 158

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Book Description
The U.S. passenger rail system is a vital component of the nation's transportation infrastructure, carrying more than 11 million passengers each weekday. The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) & the Dept. of Transportation share responsibility for ensuring the safety & security of rail systems. This report addressed: (1) DHS actions to assess the risks to the U.S. passenger rail system in the context of prevailing risk management principles; (2) fed. actions taken to enhance the security of the U.S. passenger rail system; & (3) security practices that domestic & selected foreign passenger rail operators have implemented. Also, test'y. of Cathleen Berrick, Dir. Homeland Sec. & Justice Issues, GAO. Charts & tables.

Expanding Passenger Rail Service

Expanding Passenger Rail Service PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description