Show Saving Passenger Trains The Senate Commerce Committee Committee Committee Com Com- recently voted to establish establish es es- es the first direct subsidy subsidy sub sub- sidy system in the nations nation's history for passenger trains The bill if enacted into law would mean federal grants up to about one hundred million dollars to insure rail service between metropolitan areas up to miles mites apart THE FEDERAL government government govern govern- ment would reimburse railroads railroads rail rail- roads for losses on such runs up to a hundred per cent if necessary The government would also spend millions annually to buy modern improved improved improved im im- im- im proved cars which it would lease to the railroads for upkeep upkeep up up- keep costs The Senate committee acted as the Nixon Administration continues to work on its approach approach ap ap- ap to the growing problem problem lem of dying passenger trains One of the key issues yet unresolved is the fate of long long- distance passenger trains those covering distances greater great great- er than miles Under the Senate Commerce Committee bill passenger rail service on shorter runs would be saved but longer runs would probably probably ably be terminated even more rapidly than at present THE RAILROADS after losing losing los ing their mail contracts were admittedly at a somewhat unfair disadvantage in the passenger business field since the state maintained highways and they had to maintain their own roadbeds They also were left behind at the gate so to speak by bythe bythe bythe the depression of the thirties and World War II which prevented prevented pre pre- vented them from modernizing ing their passenger facilities Thus when the war ended and better highways and automobiles automobiles automobiles automo automo- biles became available and the air age began they could not successfully compete THE NATION must have a strong railroad network for security reasons Modern rail u passenger service between metropolitan areas today can be successful as the new New York Washington service has proven Either the Senate Commerce Committee bill or an administration proposal similar to it or better should be enacted to insure at least limited rail passenger service to the American people It is possible for overnight sleeper passenger trains to tobe tobe tobe be successful on longer runs if really modern facilities are used These fast trains could travel up to 1000 miles ina ina in ina a night And such service should be made available to tot t he public WHATEVER law is finally passed adequate safeguards should be written into it to tomake tomake tomake make certain that railroads are reimbursed on the basis of realistic business loss fig fig- ures |