Memphis infrastructure colapsing

This is just plain ridiculous. At a time when we are struggling with transportation and infrastructure inadequacies, a major Amtrak stop is facing elimination. You will never believe what’s up (or down?) in Memphis.

Amtrak hints service to Memphis may be sinking

After 2 months, hole under Downtown tracks remains

By Jody Callahan

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Amtrak could discontinue service to Memphis if a massive sinkhole at Central Station isn’t repaired soon, an official of the rail passenger line said Tuesday.

“Let’s put it this way, it certainly is an option,” said Marc Magliari said. Magliari would not elaborate.

Bill Strong, a Memphian and director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, said the move would be a “drastic step.”

“The service to Memphis is very important to this route,” Strong said. “But it is costing them a fortune to provide the buses, the lighting and all the extra steps they’re having to go through (to shuttle customers to an alternate site).”

Several hundred passengers a day ride the train that stops in Memphis twice a day — one headed north and once headed south. Last year, 50,049 passengers used Central Station.

You can read the entire story here.

The absurdity of this situation is beyond word and the situation of Amtrak as a fiscal afterthought is intolerable. 

Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Politics, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy, Regional USA Passenger Rail