The Country Pundit

Passenger Service PAC Formed

I don't suppose it's any secret that I support the existence of passenger rail service. I do believe I would prefer it to long-range aviation or automobile travel, and if I had the money, I'd probably stick to passenger trains for travel. However, I have not had the opportunity to put my money where my mouth is, primarily because I don't happen to live anywhere near an Amtrak or Virginia Railway Express station. I think the nearest one is around Charlottesville, Virginia, on the C&O line through there. However, it appears that perhaps something is coming to change that.

Courtesy of D.B. Zukowski's site, I have learned of the formation of a new political action committee whose "exclusive purpose of supporting candidates for public office who are dedicated to the advancement and expansion of a national rail passenger network". I interpret that to be a lobbying arm for Amtrak, since they're the only ones (either de facto or de jure) who do that.

This PAC, dubbed "Passenger Rail…Today", has two names attached to it already. First is a man named Tim Gillespie, who apparently has several years experience in government relations at Amtrak. Through my own ignorance, I've never heard of him before; I can't say anything about him. The second is someone that I've heard of, a chap named Bennett Levin.

Mr. Levin is known to rail enthusiast circles as the man who operates former Conrail business train E8As as PRR 5711 and 5809. He's done something very nice with his operation of Liberty Limited specials for wounded soldiers recently. He is also a trustee of the Army War College Foundation, so make of that what you will.

The PAC have no website as of yet, but Mr. Zukowski's interview with Mr. Gillespie tells you pretty much all you need to know for the time being. I for one am glad that they exist. Thanks to Mr. Zukowski for giving me the initial information.

UPDATE: Whoops, I forgot to post the link to Mr. Zukowski's article. Here it is. The Country Pundit regrets the error.

---
A contrary view to my belief in Amtrak is held by Mr. Joseph Vranich, who operates a blog dedicated to the disestablishment of Amtrak. He has not opined on this subject as of yet. When/if he does and I notice it, I will modify this post accordingly. My chief question for him, asked in an honest way, is this: The private railroads did everything in their power to bail out of the passenger service by 1970 for the most part, with the Southern Railway staying in solely because of Graham Claytor from all appearances. What has changed that should convince me that the Class I carriers would want back into the market, or would allow anyone else to operate over their trackage?

Posted by Country Pundit at July 3, 2006 09:26 PM | TrackBack