[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]August 21, 2020 - TRA Newswire -
The largest passenger rail advocacy group, Rail Passengers Association, has started a campaign to take Amtrak's Sunset Limited cross-country service from 3 days a week to daily service across Texas and other Southwest U.S. states.
DC-based Rail Passengers held a webinar this week to make the case for daily service. Calling it "So Much to So Many for So Little", the association outlined a White Paper on the benefits of running trains seven days a week to connect California, Arizona and New Mexico stops with El Paso, Alpine, Sanderson, San Antonio, Houston and Beaumont into Louisiana and New Orleans.
Bruce Ashton of Rail Passengers Association pointed out that all seven Texas cities served by the Sunset Limited issued resolutions and letters of support along with county judges, councils and chambers of commerce. "The packet of resolutions and letters will be submitted to all Senators and U.S. Representatives along the route", according to Ashton. Population growth along the Sunset corridor has outstripped the Northeast U.S. over the past decade, showing that the sunbelt needs better transportation options.
Rail Passengers Association will be looking for financial support in preparing an economic study on of the benefits of daily service that will be presented to officials. Persons and companies interested in underwriting the study should contact Jonsie Stone at Rail Passengers Association, jstone@narprail.org.
You can view the Daily Sunset webinar at https://www.railpassengers.org/happening-now/webinars/sunset-limited-the-campaign-for-daily-service-august-19-2020/
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]