Amtrak routes in jeopardy for not having Anderson's mandated PTC.
Author: Joe Cullum
Date: 07-06-2018 - 22:49
1. The reason the Southwest Chief needs to be saved, is because the California Zephyr will follow (since UP not requiring PTC on the old Rio Grande)...
2. Maybe Congress should force Anderson to continue service over non-PTC routes where The FRA DOES NOT REQUIRE PTC... I don't think it's a bad idea to install PTC over Raton or thru the Rockies, BUT give a "three year extension" for installation and funding by the States or Feds... Anderson wants Amtrak to operate only over PTC... I'm not against that, I'm in for safety, but not against cuts that will balkanize the system with no turning back...
On this basis, if Amtrak cuts the Chief and Zephyr with a bus bridge, be still can't get rid of the Empire Builder or the Sunset Limited since, all those routes have/will guarantee PTC from both endpoints...