At Union Station, Biden announces $1.3 billion dollars for Amtrak

The Associated Press
March 13, 2009

Vice President Joe Biden announces funding for Amtrak as part of the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Friday, March 13, 2009, at Union Station in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Vice President Joe Biden, once a regular rail commuter, says the $1.3 billion for Amtrak in the economic stimulus package will go toward long-overdue projects.

Speaking Friday at Union Station, Biden said $105 million will be spent to replace a 100-year-old Connecticut bridge on Amtrak's heavily traveled Northeast corridor. Another $82 million will be used to replace old rail cars and put them back into service.

The national passenger railroad, long criticized for its reliance on government subsidies, has strong support from the Obama administration.

As a senator, Biden commuted on Amtrak for decades between his home in Wilmington, Del., and Washington.

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about time

Mar 13, 2009

Our rail system in the U.S. is pathetic compared to what other modern countries enjoy. We should be putting a lot more money than this into Amtrak. Way to go Joe. It's a start at least.

Rick Schroeder

Mar 13, 2009

Railroad, contrary to CSX comercials, is one of the most inefficient forms of transportation. It is so inefficient that it cannot support itself and relies heavily on government subsidies. If you know a railway worker they will proudly proclaim that they pay no federal taxes on their pay. When CSX claims they can move a certain number of truckloads at such and such a cost that is true, but what they fail to reveal is that if they are moving one politician it costs the same ridiculous amount.

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