Page 135 - Introduction to Tourism

In various transportation corridors, Amtrak is the

dominant public carrier. Amtrak provides energy-

efficient and environmentally friendly service in some of
the nation ’ s most densely populated, congested, and

polluted rail corridors, including the Washington ,D.C. –

Boston Northeast Corridor and between San Diego and
Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, St. Louis

and Chicago, and Chicago and Detroit. Amtrak

currently serves almost half of the combined air - rail

market between the end points of New York and
Washington, D.C.; when intermediate cities (such as

Baltimore and Philadelphia) are

included, Amtrak ’ s share of the air - rail market rises
to 70 percent.

Amtrak launched its Acela Express service between

Boston and Washington, D.C., in December 2000 to

serve the Northeast Corridor. Passengers can enjoy
high - speed rail

service traveling at 150 miles per hour in modern

comfort. On average, the line is not as fast as high -
speed rail lines in other countries. The Acela Express

service promises to improve Amtrak ’ s revenue

stream. It will become the prototype for high - speed
trains in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, and the

South but is currently the only high -

speed rail liner in operation in the United States.

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