U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-WV) is concerned about his constituents’ commute time and the scenic West Virginia experience other train travelers could miss while Amtrak redirects rail line service in his home state to conduct track work at New York City’s Penn Station.
“Track work and its accompanying delays may be unavoidable, but I urge you to restore full Cardinal route service as soon as possible. The Cardinal line is a vital transportation link for West Virginians and must be preserved,” Rep. Jenkins wrote in a March 22 letter to Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson.
The Washington-New York Penn Station Cardinal line service, which Jenkins said makes a total of eight stops in West Virginia, is scheduled to temporarily end until mid-November while Amtrak completes track work outside Penn Station, according to Rep. Jenkins’ letter.
“This means that West Virginians using the Cardinal line will be forced to transfer to continue their journey, adding time and inconvenience,” Jenkins wrote. “The additional transfer may also discourage residents in the New York area from using the Cardinal and experiencing West Virginia for themselves.”
Rep. Jenkins also reminded Anderson that as a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, he has “worked diligently to provide much-needed funding for Amtrak’s national network of long-distance routes, including the Cardinal line,” where the congressman would like to see service restored as quickly as possible.
Likewise, Jenkins wrote, “the elimination of the Washington-New York Penn segment must not be made permanent.”