Amtrak: Difference between revisions

Amtrak began operations on May 1, 1971.<ref name="winner" /><ref name="last court test" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Stover|1997|p=234}}</ref> Amtrak received no [[rail tracks]] or [[Right-of-way (transportation)|rights-of-way]] at its inception. All of Amtrak's routes were continuations of prior service, although Amtrak pruned about half the passenger rail network.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rteAAAAIBAJ&pg=2851%2C10220 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |agency=Associated Press |last=Cook |first=Louise |title=Many famous trains roll into history |date=May 1, 1971 |page=1 |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509213404/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_rteAAAAIBAJ&pg=2851%2C10220 |url-status=live}}</ref> Of the 366 train routes that operated previously, Amtrak continued only 184.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|pp=5–6}}</ref> Several major corridors became freight-only, including the ex-[[New York Central Railroad]]'s [[Water Level Route]] from New York to Ohio and [[Grand Trunk Western Railroad]]'s Chicago to Detroit route. The reduced passenger train schedules created confusion amongst staff. At some stations, Amtrak service was available only late at night or early in the morning, prompting complaints from passengers.<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 28, 1976|title=Daylight hours asked for local train|work=[[Williamson Daily News]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KJlDAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002165557/https://books.google.com/books?id=KJlDAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}</ref> Disputes with freight railroads over track usage caused some services to be rerouted, temporarily cancelled, or replaced with buses.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 2, 1974|title=Temporarily Halt Rail Service To Repair Penn-Central Tracks|work=[[Times-Union (Warsaw)|Times-Union]]|location=[[Warsaw, Indiana]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AoNHAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002165555/https://books.google.com/books?id=AoNHAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=July 14, 1978|title=Hoosiers fighting over rails|work=The Rochester Sentinel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gS1jAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1|access-date=October 2, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002165555/https://books.google.com/books?id=gS1jAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}</ref> On the other hand, the creation of the Los Angeles–Seattle ''[[Coast Starlight]]'' from three formerly separate train routes was an immediate success, resulting in an increase to daily service by 1973.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Robert A. |date=March 18, 1973 |title=Amtrak's coastal train may run daily in June |page=D12 |work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Barr |first=Robert A. |date=June 14, 1972 |title=Riders filling Amtrak's Seattle-San Diego trains |page=H4 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

[[File:Amtrak pointless arrow logo at Oakland–Jack London Square station, September 2015.jpg|thumb|left|Classic Amtrak logo displayed at the [[Oakland – Jack London Square station]], California]]