Trending
The best way to ensure the long-term existence of a new transportation asset is by embracing it -- that is to say, using it as much as possible and touting its advantages while encouraging others to become regular patrons of the service.
That will be the formidable challenge when Amtrak launches a second Harrisburg-to-Pittsburgh train, now that the Keystone State will be receiving $143 million from the federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act to upgrade rail infrastructure in what is referred to as the Keystone West Corridor.
For years through its editorials, the Mirror has been advocating on behalf of an additional train providing service not only to Pennsylvania's capital city and Pittsburgh, but also to Altoona and Johnstown in between.
The Mirror has expressed the opinion often, that if additional passenger-train service would become available, boasting a convenient time schedule, more and more people would choose to "ditch" their personal vehicles and avoid the hassles associated with traveling to, and parking in, the Steel City and this state's capital city.
Most new train travelers probably are impressed when they first experience the comforts associated with that mode of transportation. Meanwhile, for business travelers, traveling to one's destination via a train affords the opportunity to accomplish some work or to prepare for a meeting that is on that day's agenda.
Riding a train can be pleasurable and comfortable -- a great experience -- for people of all ages. Some people might even characterize riding the train as a great stress reliever, especially when something of great importance or, otherwise, significant personal business is on that day's schedule.
It is important to emphasize that enabling the addition of the second Amtrak train is just a part of what the $143 million in question will make possible.
Quoting from an article in the Dec. 7 Mirror, the federal grant in question will "help complete the final design and construction of track and signal improvements along existing rail while improving safety and Amtrak's service reliability."
Last year, the Mirror reported that the then-anticipated funding would pay for improvements to eliminate right-of-way "choke points," where additional Amtrak passenger operations would otherwise clash with Norfolk Southern's freight operations.
"That will mean strategic addition of tracks, including bypass tracks and crossover switches to ensure that trains can access all the tracks available," the more-recent Dec. 7 Mirror article reported.
However, too bad that, while Amtrak is poised for major progress on the service front in question, it and its finances are being eroded from another direction.
An article published by the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 9 reported that "the three-year wait for Amtrak's overdue new Acela train fleet has cost the railroad $140 million and counting, documents show."
That is because Amtrak had to spend exorbitant sums in maintenance costs to keep its aging, existing Acela fleet in operation.
"Amtrak is also losing even more revenue in anticipated ticket sales from the new, larger trains that were supposed to enter service in 2021," the Nov. 9 article continued. "And the railroad is missing out on revenue because some older Acela units have been cannibalized for spare parts."
Amtrak has cause to feel hopeful about the future; too bad at the same time it has grounds for feeling less-than-positive.