Politics & Government
Worcester Amtrak Service Could be Cut Completely
President Trump's proposed budget could hit close to home.
WORCESTER, MA—Local Amtrak service could be among those on the chopping block if President Trump's proposed budget were to be realized.
Trump's budget would cut $2.4 billion from transportation, which the National Association of Rail Passengers says is a 13 percent reduction from last year's funding. As a result, Amtrak's long distance programs could lose federal funding. In Massachusetts, that includes service in Framingham, Worcester, and Pittsfield, according to NARP.
During the 2016 fiscal year, Amtrak reported it operated about 56 trains daily in Massachusetts. There were a total of 1,892 boardings in Framingham, 6,152 in Worcester, and 7,827 in Pittsfield. The Framingham station made nearly $50,000 in revenue last year, according to greatamericanstations.com. Read more about the station itself here.
Fox25, which first picked up on the story, spoke to Amtrak President and CEO Wick Moorman.
"These trains connect our major regions, provide vital transportation to residents in rural communities and generate connecting passengers and revenue for our Northeast Corridor and State-Supported services," Moorman told Fox25. "Amtrak is very focused on running efficiently - we covered 94 percent of our total network operating costs through ticket sales and other revenues in FY16 – but these services all require Federal investment.”
Photo via Shutterstock
Story by Mike Carraggi, Patch staff
