Direct train from LA to NYC to 'open next year'

The chance of Amtrak ever getting the money to run their own tracks all the way across the country are non-existent. Many in Congress would like to see Amtrak go away, along with all the big railroads.

 

As late as the early 1950s, passenger trains were the popular way most people traveled as air travel was just getting popular and affordable. Going into the 1960s, the railroads intentionally started deteriorating service on the passenger trains. Food service went into the crapper and they made sure trains ran late enough the many connections were missed. They did this in order to drive away patrons so they could tell the old ICC that they were losing a ton of money and needed to drop passenger service. And it worked. The railroads fought against Amtrak but Congress went ahead and established it over their objections. Amtrak was envisioned to be at least self supporting, if not profitable. But the equipment they inherited from the railroads was rundown and poorly maintained.

My dad worked for the old Santa Fe during this time, sometimes as a conductor on the passenger trains. And the we were able to ride the trains free anywhere on the Santa Fe system. I remember the dining cars in the 50s as having excellent food and service and the trains being clean and well maintained. By the mis 60s, all there was for food was a vending machine car and the cars were showing their age..
No matter what Amtrak does, they will never have the class that the European countries rail lines have,