Today is a sad and somewhat bittersweet aniversary in the history of North American railroad operations. On this date 39 years ago today, April 30th 1971, America's class 1 common carrier railroads...would end their own individual passenger train operations for good.
The traveling public began switching over to Airline travel during the 1950's and 1960's, and many railroads began to gradually phase out various passenger trains one by one. It was a very dark and uncertain period for the future of passenger train travel in North America. As early as 1958, it was predicted by some that long distance passenger trains would be extinct by 1970. They were indeed fading out.
In the year of 1970, the now late United States Preident Richard M. Nixon signed in to law the National Rail Passenger Service Act wich soon became known as Amtrak.
Amtrak operations officially began on May 1st 1971. There have been many trials and tribulations over the years, but somehow Amtrak is still alive and well today.
Around 1977, Canada began it's own version of Amtrak with their own system known today as VIA Rail Canada.
Yes. The era of traditional individual railroad operated passenger trains here in the United States of America, came to an end 39 years ago today.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
1 comment:
If we could even out the economic scale that got tipped towards interstates and cars, then maybe we could return to a balance between private rail passenger service and the use of cars. If the freight railroads were encouraged to run more freight and trucks were encouraged to use rails, then our roads would last longer and they would be cheaper to maintain, and freight railroads would have more money to work with to support passenger trains.
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