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Tentative Amtrak Deal Saves West Virginia’s New River Train
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – A tentative agreement with Amtrak officials will keep West Virginia’s New River Train service going.
The Herald-Dispatch reports Democratic West Virginia U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin announced Wednesday that Amtrak and the Collis P. Huntington Society reached a general agreement on pricing.
Amtrak had announced at the end of March that it would end charter and special service trains, endangering West Virginia traditions like the New River Train and Hinton Railroad Days.
Manchin says the society had “a stellar record” as an operator and Amtrak understood the repercussions of its decision. Machin says the loss of the New River Train would have taken an estimated $5 million out of the state economy. West Virginia Republican U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins said the train’s impact is too important to let go.
The agreement was reached over several meetings, with Manchin’s and Jenkins’ assistance. Details haven’t been released.