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Democratic cadidates unlikely to talk rail without Biden
I would think that TRAINS being “The magazine of railroading” would be able to get a little face time with ALL the candidates and press them on their positions regarding passenger rail and rail transit.
Since this is the first wide open election in a generation, this would certainly be of interest to all your readers who are likely voters. I personally believe this would make a great cover story and help shape the election.
Every local paper in New Hampshire has had access to interviews with most of the candidates. Certainly a magazine of your national stature can ask for the same.
The article refers to Sanders’ statement that “it was ‘absurd’ that the only way to get from Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, to Boston was by driving.” and notes “(A recent federal grant could change that by extending Amtrak’s Ethan Allen service to Burlington).”
I will be delighted to see the Ethan Allen extended to Burlington, but it isn’t going to make it easier to get from that city to Boston by train. The Ethan Allen goes from Rutland (and hopefully Burlington) to New York City.
The Vermonter stops near Burlington at Essex Junction. It is possible to make a same day connection from the southbound Vermonter to the eastbound Lake Shore Limited at Springfield, MA. To access the northbound Vermonter, a passenger from Boston would have to connect from the Northeast Corridor at New Haven, CT.
I would like to know more about the positions of all of the candidates from both parties on all issues related to railroads including passenger train funding, reregulation, truck weight limits, coal, etc. For that matter, I want to know about their views on all of the non-rail issues also.
@ Joe Kurland, thanks for pointing that out. Had someone not, I was going to.
I would love to ask one of Bernie’s staffers, if not Bernie himself, by exactly what existing (because it would be un-American to build new-only the Chinese do that) route a train(s) could use between Boston and Burlington and have marketable trip times.
Vice President Biden would be a very informed member of Amtrak’s board of directors if he chose to do so after his term as Vice President expires.