Podcast
Questions and Answers
To what extent did the federal government intervene in the decline of passenger services in the 1950s?
To what extent did the federal government intervene in the decline of passenger services in the 1950s?
The federal government intervened in the decline of passenger services in the 1950s by introducing Amtrak in 1970, a semi-public corporation that operates passenger trains over the network of private railroad companies.
What factors have inhibited the introduction of high-speed trains in the USA?
What factors have inhibited the introduction of high-speed trains in the USA?
The cost of upgrading track, some of which dates from the nineteenth century, and the fact that much of the network is single track with precedence given to freight trains, have inhibited the introduction of high-speed trains in the USA.
Which is the most important route for Amtrak, in terms of revenue?
Which is the most important route for Amtrak, in terms of revenue?
The most important route for Amtrak, in terms of revenue, is the densely populated 'north-east corridor' linking Washington with Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.