Journalists frequently have obituaries ready to run for famous people who are elderly or ill.
Perhaps they had one ready for Amtrak as well.
By most accounts, the national railroad of the United States was on death's door in mid-June, 2002. Short of a total shutdown, some of the more optimistic analysts predicted all but a few well-traveled routes would be scratched.
But the U.S. government reluctantly approved $100 million in funding that should keep Amtrak alive a while longer. It is on life-support, but the patient lives. Not the most optimistic of reports, right?
Now for the good news.
Amtrak is offering unbelieveable deals for travel booked on the Internet between major American cities. The deep discounts could stave off the railroad's demise and get Americans thinking rail travel again.
An example: a recent offering allowed a passenger to travel between Chicago and Detroit for the grand sum of $5.70 USD. If you were to drive the 280 miles (460 km) between those cities, you'd probably pay more than three times that price just for gasoline.
Should you want to travel beyond Detroit to the southern tip of Lake Huron, the additional 60 miles costs another 30 cents! Your grandfather would have paid more for that trip when he was a boy.
A few more stunning examples offered in July, 2002: Chicago to Los Angeles for roughly three cents a mile? Total fare $58.60. New York to Greensboro, NC, for the cost of a budget motel room -- $29.60. Raleigh, NC, to Charlotte for less than the cost of a fast-food lunch -- $3.40. St. Louis to Kansas City, MO, for less than a movie ticket -- $5.30 Disney World to Disneyland for about the price of two admissions to either park -- Orlando-Los Angeles $90.30. How about the Auto Train (passenger only) between Sanford, FL, and Lorton, VA? Make the trip for $37.40.
Impressed yet? Some of these fares are 80 percent off the regular prices. Many of them are for a limited time this summer, so as you check , make careful note of when the offer expires.
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Photograph courtesy Amtrak, which holds all rights to image.
