Can Amtrak Escape From Political Captivity?
Politics. That’s how Amtrak’s initial route structure was conceived. Within four months of its creation, Amtrak inaugurated a train between Washington, D.C., and Parkersburg, W.Va., serving the district of House Commerce Committee Chairman Harley Staggers. The crew outnumbered passengers, but a powerful lawmaker was pleased. So was Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Warren Magnuson of Washington State. Seattle, with two million citizens, had twice as much Amtrak service from Chicago as eight-million population Los Angeles.
