????
Posted on 03/13/2010 5:48:08 AM PST by Willie Green
WASHINGTON – Amtrak has introduced a new Web site designed to show travelers how convenient it is to travel by train to visit the country’s national parks. With the theme “Parks in Your Backyard,” Amtraktoparks.com allows users to see the nearest Amtrak route to featured national park sites, each of which can be reached using public transportation from an Amtrak station.
Amtraktoparks.com offers a trip wizard which allows users to customize their search based on geographic location and personal interests Monuments/Memorials, Revolutionary History or Water Activities to name a few. Information on accommodations such camping sites and hotels is also provided. Once the user selects a national park, information on the park as well as which Amtrak route provides service to that park is shown. The site provides a direct link to Amtrak.com, allowing users to book rail travel.
Initially, the featured national parks include Glacier, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Everglades, Sequoia & Kings Canyon , Rocky Mountain and 50 others located along the Northeast Corridor and in the nation’s capital. These parks were selected due to their proximity to an Amtrak route. There are plans to add more national parks to the site.
Eight routes are currently highlighted on the site. They are Acela Express ( Washington – New York – Boston ), Northeast Regional ( Virginia Beach – Richmond – Washington – New York – Boston ), Silver Service ( New York – Miami ), Palmetto ( New York – Savannah ), Empire Builder ( Chicago – St. Paul – Portland/Seattle), San Joaquins ( Bakersfield - Sacramento – Oakland ), California Zephyr ( Chicago – Denver – San Francisco Bay Area), and Southwest Chief (Chicago – Albuquerque – Los Angeles ).
“This new website brings together two of America ’s favorite pastimes -- traveling by train and visiting national parks,” said Emmett Fremaux, Amtrak’s vice president of marketing and product development. “With more than 500 Amtrak stops in 46 states and the District of Columbia , a national park is as close as your backyard.”
“Passenger rail and national parks have rolled through history in tandem since the 1880s,” said Dean Reeder, National Tourism Director of the National Park Service. “By facilitating visitor access to the many wondrous experiences available in many of our nation’s parks, Amtrak helps us advance the values of sustainable tourism.”
In addition to the highlighted Amtrak routes, seven other routes are also included so users may see other Amtrak routes that offer service to stations near national parks. Those routes are the Capitol Limited (Washington – Pittsburgh – Chicago), City of New Orleans (Chicago – Memphis – New Orleans), Coast Starlight (Seattle – Portland – Los Angeles), Crescent (New York – Washington – Atlanta – New Orleans), Lake Shore Limited (New York/Boston – Albany – Chicago), Texas Eagle (Chicago – St. Louis – Dallas – Los Angeles), and Sunset Limited (New Orleans – Houston – Los Angeles).
Under the Find a Park function, users may view a complete list of national parks that are accessible by train. Another link provides details on special fares and Amtrak Vacations packages which include rail travel, hotel accommodations and tour tickets.
About Amtrak
As the nation’s intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways. Last fiscal year (FY 2009), the railroad carried 27.2 million passengers, making it the second-best year in the company’s history. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day—at speeds up to 150 mph—to more than 500 destinations. Amtrak also is the operator of choice for state-supported corridor services in 15 states and for several commuter rail agencies. Visit Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information.
Willie, this statement proves that you are not a conservative..
No, that statement proves that I'm a God-fearing Christian Conservative
and not an Ayn Rand worshipping libertarian atheist.
No you are a liberal. Not a conservative.... No true conservative would go against private industry...
No true conservative would go against private industry...
Freight hauling isn't a true industry... it's a service.
As a true conservative, I prefer passenger train manufacturers and railroad construction companies.
Unlike the freight haulers, they actually MAKE something that Americans need.
The reason trains receded from the scene is because air travel is faster from major hub to hub. It still is, if you discount how much time for a lower tract inspection to prove for the umpteenth time you aren’t a muslim terrorist— done at great massive public expense. Another reason trains receded is because public subsidy of air travel became the politician’s dream from the late 50’s on, in providing “service” and pork to their constituents— which is still true (see Murtha and his airport with 16 passengers a day!). I can’t stand either trains or air travel. I take the train on one route, for family- if I have the time and because it is cheap. If you are on vacation and have time, train might be OK. On leased tracks, freight rail has the priority and is the reason Amtrak is late. Late at night in SC, we stop on a siding and let an express freight come through. Speed for passenger trains is restricted vs. speeds of freight rail on the same set of tracks for the same reason. The train is frequently late. Hassle wise though it has a lot to be said for it vs. Atlanta’s airport.
I like the line elsewhere here about choo-choo marxists— it is so true. Remember Al Gore wants to reduce urban sprawl with the “Euro” way (it’s worked so well for them) of cramming us other people (not living on his plantation) into “sustainable” communities. For that read: a rabbit warren of condo nightmares with no equity. Government has done nothing right, not trains and not airlines either. A well funded, well thought out private consortium of modern passenger trains, if it would be allowed, could add dedicated rail lines in the same rights of way of freight lines and do the job right. It will be a long time before that ever happens. For my money I’ll take my RV on vacation, stop anywhere, rest anywhere, eat anywhere. You’re right- forest, meet the trees. Never forget also that it was a progressive, Teddy Roosevelt that put both parks and trains on the map.
Only because the politicians made it that way, though. Air traffic control and airports are financed by fuel taxes, ticket taxes and special fees collected on everything aviation related that is sold to mechanics, airplane owners, and the traveling public, even if the majority of general aviation traffic never, ever talks to a controller or uses the system, other than a public airport.
For incidence, you simply cannot legally put an AC/Delco alternator on an airplane engine, even though it's the same thing that is on a Chevy, unless it has FAA/PMA stamped on it. Get caught doing so and you'll have your airplane impounded, your mechanic will lose his license and stiff fines (more revenue for the air traffic control system) will result. Those six little letters triple the price of parts, even though it is exactly the same part. I can cite literally dozens of examples of this kind of stuff. These fees paid to the FAA to allow the use of these common parts are but a portion of what is used to finance the entire system and only the people using the system are paying for it.
If we had a modern air traffic control system, one like the FAA has been promising for nigh onto 25 years now, instead of one that dates to the mid 1960's that is being held together with bubble gum and bailing wire there would be absolutely no comparison in the efficiency and cost per seat mile of train travel versus air travel. Not even close. The secret is to get the gubmint out of it entirely. To quote Ronaldus Magnus, "Gubmint isn't the solution to the problem. Gubmint is the problem".
There are dozens of studies that have been done on this topic. Even with all the gubmint intervention flying is by far the most efficient means of travel and the costs are going down as navigation switches from the old VOR system to GPS. Over 75% of the species on the planet fly instead of building trains. Only one species builds trains and apparently only a few members of that species realize how inefficient a mode of travel it really is.
Hassle wise though it has a lot to be said for it vs. Atlanta’s airport.
One only need look as far as who is running Atlanta's airport to fully understand why it is not being run efficiently. The nepotism is rampant at Hartsfield. Ditto the TSA. Typical gubmint employee attitude. When I traveled to Israel back in the 90's several times for Nortel it was during a time when bus bombings were common. The airlines ran the security back then and they most certainly were profiling their passengers. It was safe, fast and efficient. I never waited in a security line more than 5 minutes on any of the flights I took into or out of Israel in several trips I made there. Not sure if they still do the security now now, I don't believe El Al has had any hijackings or other major security issues in over 30 years.
“So are the private freight carriers.
And they’re the ones that control the tracks.”
Yes, but they have to turn a profit, Amtrak does not, and it never has, and never will.
If Amtrak had priority use of freight tracks they would still lose money, because it’s not about profit for them, it’s about union jobs, and it’s about keeping stops in podunk towns that influential congressmen want to keep on the map.
I would prefer that freight companies forbade Amtrak from using their tracks - which would prevent Amtrak from operating and save taxpayers money. That is just a dream I have.
I’m taking the Amtrak to Michigan’s National Park, Isle Royale this summer.
Yes, but they have to turn a profit, Amtrak does not, and it never has, and never will.
Do the Interstate Highways make a profit?
No, they don't. Most of the Interstates are subsidized "freeways" that don't generate any revenue at all.
Put toll booths on all the Interstates and then passenger rail will "pay for itself."
So, you for the abolishment of private property? Hmmmmm.....
????
So, you for the abolishment of private property? Hmmmmm.....
No, I'm against monopolistic private restriction of the public's freedom of travel.
How do you feel about the monopolistic private corporate ownership of the majority of American farms? Should these become "The Peoples' Farms," like in Cuba, Venezuela and the former Soviet Union?
Haven't we gone far enough down that road?
“Do the Interstate Highways make a profit?
No, they don’t. Most of the Interstates are subsidized “freeways” that don’t generate any revenue at all.
Put toll booths on all the Interstates and then passenger rail will “pay for itself.””
I am not doubting the viability of passenger rail, just the viability of Amtrak. The concept of passenger rail is sound, in my opinion.
I think you’d have to outlaw traveling by wheeled vehicle unless by train to set a climate where Amtrak could make a profit.
Many of our "Progressive" (AKA Socialist/Communist) liberal politicians would do it if they could get away with it.
They've already admitted levying taxes to "change behavior." They've raised gas taxes to force citizens to drive less.
I'm guessing that you'll be taking a ferry to get there from wherever the train leaves you off, because the Park is located on an island in Lake Superior.
I’d love to go to Isle Royal but I think I’ll take a ferry.
I was in the upper peninsula a couple years back and read some greenie brochure about wanting to close the parks off to private vehicles and we could all “enjoy” them from public shuttles.
They've already admitted levying taxes to "change behavior."
That's a pretty silly and indefensible argument.
BOTH major political parties promise to provide "tax incentives" favored by their respective partisan supporters.
BOTH major political parties promise to provide "tax incentives" favored by their respective partisan supporters
While both parties have been "Tax Happy" for far too long.
However, only one proposes taxed to "Control Behavior." Which party has pushed recent initiatives for "Junk Food" taxes? Come on Willie, you can say it; confession is good for your soul.
Additionally, about six years ago John Kerry proposed a federal tax hike of 50 cents on every gallon of gasoline for the stated purpose of "discouraging unnecessary driving.
When did truth become silly and indefensible?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.