Post-derailment, Oregon passenger rail struggles to get back on track

By Linda Baker, Oregon Business; March 2, 2018

Oregon Amtrak service was on an upward growth trajectory until December 18, when a tragic accident derailed train cars on the inaugural run of a new track segment on the Cascades’ Seattle to Eugene route near Tacoma, Washington. The segment was intended to shorten the transit time between Seattle and Portland.

Derailments in other parts of the country have compounded the challenges facing stateside rail service. Ridership on the Cascades route in December was down 23.7% compared to December 2016, said Hal Gard, administrator of the Oregon Department of Transportation rail division. January saw a decrease of 30%.

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