INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER: AMTRAK is just the latest. More to come because Republicans stop improvments.

http://www.alternet.org/economy/derailing-amtrak-latest-disaster-infrastructure-crisis?akid=13117.294211.ujIkN4&rd=1&src=newsletter1036595&t=21

Derailing Amtrak: The Latest Disaster in the Infrastructure Crisis

Lawmakers (Republicans) have proposed massive cuts to Amtrak’s budget virtually every chance they get.

In an article titled “Why You Can’t Talk About the Amtrak Derailment Without Talking About Our Infrastructure Crisis,” Aviva Shen observes that the Northeast Corridor is the busiest and most profitable rail route in the US. The line, which runs from Boston through New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore to Washington D.C. , is dealing with more riders now than ever. But Amtrak has been starved of the funds required to keep up with this increased demand. It faces a backlog of repairs on bridges and tunnels that date back to the beginning of the 20th century, obsolete rail interlockings, and trains that rely on 1930s-era components. Repairs for the Northeast Corridor are expected to require $4.3 billion in fiscal years 2015-2019, while federal funding is expected to dwindle to $872 million