Convenient intercity rail travel

In the 1950s and 1960s, the passenger rail business suffered devastating losses as a result of the one-two punch of jet travel and the Interstate Highway System. When Europe upgraded its railways in response, America's quickly deteriorated. The names of several of the great American railroads, including the New York Central, Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, Burlington, and many others, disappeared after their remnants were combined to become Amtrak, a government-owned private company.

However, the number of passengers decreased, established routes were dropped, and complete passenger rail service was lost to many smaller American communities. Yet, there are positive indications that comfortable passenger rail is returning to the United States, with strong popular backing.

Amtrak service is still growing along the congested Eastern Corridor between Boston and Washington, DC. With new routes to places with no present service as well as extra trains to cities already served, this expansion is now extending to routes in the Midwest and South. With more suitable timetables for business travelers being developed, modern, environmentally friendly trains and autos are projected to improve travel to mid-sized cities.

Because of the constant traffic jams that encircle American cities, there is an increasing need for increased intercity rail. Some American cities, including Louisville, Kentucky, Las Vegas, Nevada, Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, currently have no passenger train service at all. All of them previously had service, and they will probably all get it again.