Discover the story of Amtrak, America's Railroad, 50 years in the
making.
In 1971, in an effort to rescue essential freight railroads, the US
government founded Amtrak. In the post-World War II era, aviation and
highway development had become the focus of government policy in
America. As rail passenger services declined in number and in quality,
they were simultaneously driving many railroads toward bankruptcy.
Amtrak was intended to be the solution.
In Amtrak, America's Railroad: Transportation's Orphan and Its Struggle
for Survival, Geoffrey H. Doughty, Jeffrey T. Darbee, and Eugene E.
Harmon explore the fascinating history of this popular institution and
tell a tale of a company hindered by its flawed origin and uneven
quality of leadership, subjected to political gamesmanship and
favoritism, and mired in a perpetual philosophical debate about whether
it is a business or a public service. Featuring interviews with former
Amtrak presidents, the authors examine the current problems and issues
facing Amtrak and their proposed solutions.
Created in the absence of a comprehensive national transportation
policy, Amtrak manages to survive despite inherent flaws due to the
public's persistent loyalty. Amtrak, America's Railroad is essential
reading for those who hope to see another fifty years of America's
railroad passenger service, whether they be patrons, commuters,
legislators, regulators, and anyone interested in railroads and
transportation history.
