THE FUTURE OF INTERCITY RAIL PASSENGER SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES

U.S. rail passenger service entered an extremely critical phase in the early 1970's. The decision will soon be made--in large part by Amtrak--whether to restore an efficient national network or terminate passenger service entirely. Current trends indicate that a map of rail passenger service in the year 1980 may be nearly blank. Given the gravity of this situation, this paper outlines the future of rail passenger service with respect to two major underlying themes: (1) the relationship between mobility and economics, with special reference to Amtrak, and (2) the critical responsibility a society has for safe and sane mobility alternatives, in the three areas of ecological, aesthetic, and safety considerations. Discussion of the above topics is followed by a more purely Geographical presentation of service considerations involved in a socially responsible rail passenger network for the future.