Negative Editorial About the INTERNATIONAL, and rebuttals to it Options

[NickG]

From the Times Herald in Port Huron:

Once you've committed to bad public policy, it just gets worse. State officials know this better than most. Still, they keep trying to ride a dead horse -- Amtrak's troubled Toronto-to-Chicago International Line.

The full editorial is here.

[KevinKorell]

A reader's response to the above editorial:

Amtrak asks too much of us taxpayers
Also, I have to say that Amtrak is not the only company that has its hand out. Last time I looked, the airline industry had their hands out, the banking industry has their hands out and corporations have their hands out all the time. We pay the cost. Why is it not right to fund public transportation? Please explain your view a little more."

Full letter to the editor, along with the paper's response, is here.

[KevinKorell]

Ross Capon, Executive Director of NARP, wrote a letter to the Port Huron Times-Herald yesterday; so far I have not seen it published in the newspaper. Here is the text of Capon's rebuttal to the editorial:

The State of Michigan deserves praise for its continuing efforts to create a balanced transportation system. Passenger rail has become more attractive than air for many shorter trips, namely due to post-9/11 security measures. In addition, as our population ages, alternatives to driving become more important.

The plan to restore Chicago-Port Huron service to its original pattern, with a noon arrival in and late afternoon departure from Chicago will mean that travelers can connect with Amtrak's entire nationwide network of trains. As well, riders wishing to travel to Chicago will be able to make a day trip to the Windy City. The Dearborn-Windsor Thruway bus connection that Amtrak is considering would reduce travel time between Toronto and Chicago-Battle Creek points by over an hour and offer Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec City connections. In addition, efforts will be made to establish a Bay City/Saginaw-Flint bus connection.

The only negatives are the loss of single seat Chicago-Michigan-Toronto travel, and loss of direct service between Lansing-Port Huron and Toronto (VIA Rail Canada will likely continue the Toronto-Sarnia portion of today's "International").

It is a coincidence that an increase in state payments to Amtrak roughly coincides with these service improvements; Amtrak has increased charges to several states in recent years under pressure from Congress to secure state grants that more fully reflect Amtrak's costs. This change in service will provide the taxpayers of Michigan with more reliable service better
scheduled to suit the needs of the traveling public.

Ross Capon, Executive Director
National Association of Railroad Passengers