US Railways Come of Age

This article explains the present organization and funding of railroads in the United States and Canada. In the United States, Amtrak was formed in 1971 with the original intent of helping to bring about the orderly demise of U.S. passenger railroads. Instead, Amtrak has continued as a government-supported entity (although this financial support has often been reluctantly granted) with modest ridership growth over the decades. Canada has a similar situation, with federal funding that has not increased in over 8 years. VIA Rail Canada does seem to offer low fares compared to both Amtrak or the UK's Great North Eastern Railway. With the growing concern about the environmental impacts of private automobiles, these national railroads may see an increase in growth and importance in the future.