House Bill Would Open Amtrak NE Corridor to Competition

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House bill would open NE Corridor to competition

By RAJU CHEBIUM • Gannett News Service • May 9, 2008

WASHINGTON — A bill introduced in the House on Thursday seeks to explicitly allow private companies to compete to provide train service in the Northeast Corridor for the first time.

The bipartisan bill also proposes to provide $14.3 billion to Amtrak over the next five years and boost federal investment to use high-speed trains like those used in Europe and Japan.

The centerpiece of the bill, according to Florida Rep. John Mica, the ranking Republican on the House ranking Republican on the House transportation committee, calls for opening up the Washington-to-Boston route and 10 others across the country to private competitors.

Under that scenario, the nation’s taxpayer-subsidized passenger rail provider would have to outbid its privately funded rivals to run trains on Amtrak’s most heavily traveled and consistently profitable route. [Full Article]

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