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Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015

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3/4/2015

Moments ago, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly against an amendment that sought to end passenger rail service in America. Rep. Tom McClintock’s (R-CA) amendment to eliminate funding to Amtrak – including Capitol Corridor and California Zephyr service in his own district – was voted down 272 to 147, nearly a two-to-one margin.

This is a big victory for trains in America, and we couldn’t have done it without your hard work and support. Your emails and phone calls in the past 24 hours helped to move the needle, and wavering House members got the message loud and clear: there is an overwhelming consensus that A Connected America needs a modern, 21st century intermodal transportation network and rail is a vital part of that equation.

But make no mistake: plenty of work remains. We’ve just seen that Amtrak has a bulletproof majority, but NARP is committed to growing that support even more. With more ordinary passengers on our side – from people who use subways to get to work every day in America’s largest cities, to residents of rural communities where a daily Amtrak train may be the only alternative to driving – we can finally transform U.S. passenger rail into a network that provides all Americans with frequent and reliable service.

The underlying authorizing legislation, H.R. 749, was approved by a vote of 316 to 101: a strong mandate and an encouraging sign of a GOP House that agrees in principle with the White House that America needs trains. Now, the fight for a bill that will truly transform the way rail passengers travel moves to the Senate. NARP needs your help in this fight. Give now to help us build the modern train network that Americans want. Your gift—even if it’s only $5, $10, or $20—makes all the difference in helping NARP advance our mission. And of course, keep calling your congressional delegation, keep visiting their offices in your hometown, and keep sending them emails and letters.

Thank you for defending America’s passengers this week, and keep it up!

Jim Mathews
President & CEO
National Association of Railroad Passengers

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(1342369)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by chud1 on Wed Mar 4 17:12:03 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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OUTSTANDING REPORT!
chud1.
:).....

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(1342370)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by The Silence on Wed Mar 4 17:13:58 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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Your gift—even if it’s only $5, $10, or $20

and he works some way into trying to get money out of this when probably did next to nothing...

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Wed Mar 4 17:43:52 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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Good! No surprise here. Every know & then some knucklehead tries to kill Amtrak. I remember when Pres Reagen tried his best to do away with all intercity trains. At one speaking engagement, he said that he could give every man, woman & child who rides Amtrak a free airline ticket & the Gov't would save money v/s the (then) current funding.

Well, no sale, Ronnie. Nobody (not enough yes men that is) bought that arguement. Trains ran then & they run now & the'll run tomorrow.

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(1342387)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by MainR3664 on Wed Mar 4 17:45:58 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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This is good news indeed, and shows where the public really is on this issue. But as we all know, the US passenger rail system needs a massive investment...

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(1342388)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Mar 4 17:46:05 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Wed Mar 4 17:43:52 2015.

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Good old GOP math. Most people ride a train more than once. :)

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(1342391)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Terrapin Station on Wed Mar 4 17:47:33 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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Name the names of everyone who voted for the amendment to kill Amtrak.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Broadway Lion on Wed Mar 4 18:01:10 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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Whale, no surprize there.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Joe V on Wed Mar 4 18:09:38 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Terrapin Station on Wed Mar 4 17:47:33 2015.

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In NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett voted to kill Amtrak.
No one in NY, CT, nor PA did.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/114-2015/h110

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(1342476)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 18:36:55 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Joe V on Wed Mar 4 18:09:38 2015.

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Thanks, Joe V.
Linked

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 19:26:43 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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There was never any chance of the amendment passing. NARP was using fear tactics to raise money, something all advocacy groups do.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Joe V on Wed Mar 4 19:35:52 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 19:26:43 2015.

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You still want it to fail by as large a margin as possible.

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(1342548)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Wed Mar 4 19:50:08 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 19:26:43 2015.

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Well, for the districts where the congressfish voted against it, I hope Amtrak shuts down service and when trains are passing through, empty the air tanks into those Leslies. :)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Mar 4 19:58:41 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by The Silence on Wed Mar 4 17:13:58 2015.

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Such organizations would solicit money. What's new about that?

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(1342563)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Mar 4 20:02:08 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Wed Mar 4 17:43:52 2015.

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I remember when Pres Reagen (sic) tried his best to do away with all intercity trains. At one speaking engagement, he said that he could give every man, woman & child who rides Amtrak a free airline ticket & the Gov't would save money v/s the (then) current funding

That's not proof that Reagan wanted to do away with intercity trains. Only to people who conflate all intercity trains with Amtrak.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Olog-hai on Wed Mar 4 20:06:46 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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The Hill

House passes $8B Amtrak funding bill

By Keith Laing and Cristina Marcos
March 04, 2015, 03:16 pm
The House passed legislation on Wednesday authorizing nearly $8 billion in funding for Amtrak in a 316-101 vote.

The vote badly divided Republicans, as all of the no votes came from the GOP. The measure wouldn't have been approved but for the support of the House's Democrats.

Eight committee chairmen opposed the measure: Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (Ohio), Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (Texas), House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (Texas), Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (Texas), Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller (Fla.), Budget Chairman Tom Price (Ga.), Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (Calif.), Rules Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas).
Other no votes came from the House's hard-line conservatives, including Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Tim Huelskamp (Kan.), Justin Amash (Mich.), Mick Mulvaney (S.C.) and Matt Salmon (Ariz.).

The conservative group Heritage Action key-voted the measure, ensuring many Republicans would oppose it.

The White House backs the measure, which must be approved by the Senate to reach President Obama's desk.

Since its inception in 1971, Amtrak has historically received about $1 billion per year from the government for operations and construction projects.

The measure would authorize about $982 million per year for the company's national network and another $470 million annually for its popular Northeast U.S. routes.

The bill, which would expire in 2019, sets another $300 million per year for construction on Amtrak routes in the rest of country and about $24 million per year for the company's inspector general.

The rail service's last authorization bill in 2008 provided about $1.3 billion to the company for a combination of operations, construction and debt service.

Amtrak’s subsidies have been hotly debated in recent years. Republicans have pushed in the past to privatize the service on its popular routes in the Northeast, arguing that non-government entities could operate trains more efficiently.

“If lawmakers want to provide quality, reliable service without burdening taxpayers they should seek to privatize Amtrak, ending federal subsidies altogether,” Heritage Action wrote, explaining its decision to score lawmakers' votes against the bill.

Amtrak has countered the criticism in the past by pointing out that most of the money from its northeast passengers is used to maintain money-losing, long-distance routes in parts of the country that have little air service.

Amtrak supporters have also pointed to record ridership in recent years as an argument in favor of increasing its federal appropriations to pay for improvements along the Northeast corridor, the only tracks in the country owned and operated directly by Amtrak.

However, a provision touted by Republicans in the bill would require revenue that is generated by trips in the Northeast to be used only for improvements in the popular corridor. That could force Amtrak to streamline its longer routes elsewhere in the country.

“This nation has significant transportation challenges ahead, and Amtrak looks forward to working with leadership to ensure intercity passenger rail will keep people and the economy moving,” said Amtrak in a statement.

Democrats, meanwhile, claimed victory in the fact that Amtrak's funding was not drastically cut by Republicans now in control of Congress.

"We cannot lose sight of the bigger picture, which is that we are still woefully underfunding Amtrak," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). But, he conceded, "Given the budget constraints imposed by the majority, it is probably the best bill we could hope for right now if we want to move a bipartisan bill."

Another provision of the bill would direct Amtrak to start a pilot program allowing passengers to bring cats and dogs on trains.

Under the program, Amtrak would designate at least one passenger car on trains where pets could be transported in kennels stowed in compliance with size requirements for carry-on luggage. Passengers would have to pay a fee in order to bring their pets aboard.

Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) said the provision allowing pets on trains would help increase revenue.

"This is something that will allow new riders that didn't previously want to ride the train before because they couldn't take their pet on there to do so, but also a new revenue generation with paying for those pets the same way that our airplanes across the country are paid for taking their pets," Denham said.

This story was updated at 7:01 p.m.


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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by italianstallion on Wed Mar 4 20:32:35 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Mar 4 20:06:46 2015.

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"The measure wouldn't have been approved but for the support of the House's Democrats."

But, but ,but, I thought liberals hated trains!!!

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Wed Mar 4 20:48:07 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Mar 4 20:02:08 2015.

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What message do you think Reagan was trying to convey when he said that?? Do you think that he gave a vote of confidence to intercity/long distance train passengers in the USA?? I think not.

He was a skilled orator, also a trained actor who fell back on his acting skills to evoke passion in all of his speeches.

Thankfully, his acting skills were thin when it came to make an attempt to kill Amtrak.

BTW, I can't find my dictionary. What does "conflate" mean???

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Dave on Wed Mar 4 22:00:30 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Wed Mar 4 20:48:07 2015.

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con·flate
kənˈflāt/
verb
verb: conflate; 3rd person present: conflates; past tense: conflated; past participle: conflated; gerund or present participle: conflating

combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one.
"the urban crisis conflates a number of different economic and social issues"
synonyms: mix, blend, fuse, unite, integrate
"the plot gets weighed down when the writers conflate too many issues into one episode"



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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Wed Mar 4 22:14:14 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Dave on Wed Mar 4 22:00:30 2015.

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Thank you!!

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Dyre Dan on Wed Mar 4 23:39:47 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Olog-hai on Wed Mar 4 20:02:08 2015.

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In the United States, what other intercity trains are there, or were there at the time?

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by WillD on Thu Mar 5 01:29:59 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Joe V on Wed Mar 4 18:09:38 2015.

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So lets go over this again.

Which party was it that voted unanimously against the ammendment?

Which party was it with a majority who voted to kill Amtrak?

The "liberals hate trains" lie ends with this thread.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by SelkirkTMO on Thu Mar 5 01:33:47 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by WillD on Thu Mar 5 01:29:59 2015.

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Nah. The usual suspects will NEVER stop humping that leg. :)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Thu Mar 5 05:45:57 2015, in response to Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Mar 4 16:53:05 2015.

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No, it isn't:

"However, a provision touted by Republicans in the bill would require revenue that is generated by trips in the Northeast to be used only for improvements in the popular corridor. That could force Amtrak to streamline its longer routes elsewhere in the country."

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Terrapin Station on Thu Mar 5 08:07:14 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Joe V on Wed Mar 4 18:09:38 2015.

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Thanks.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Nilet on Thu Mar 5 17:26:36 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by WillD on Thu Mar 5 01:29:59 2015.

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That line was invented by Olog and even he doesn't believe it.

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(1342652)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by 3-9 on Thu Mar 5 20:58:34 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Dyre Dan on Wed Mar 4 23:39:47 2015.

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I think the Denver & Rio Grande Western had one. Also the Southern Crescent and Auto Train, maybe Rock Island as well. They were either abandoned or became part of Amtrak while Reagan was president.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by nostalgia on Thu Mar 5 22:36:31 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by 3-9 on Thu Mar 5 20:58:34 2015.

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Denver & Rio Grande wanted to avoid joining Amtrak because they didn't want Amtrak on their rails. So they ran truncated service between Denver and Salt Lake. Southern thought they could still make money but after losing millions of dollars on the Crescent, threw in the towel and joined Amtrak. Auto Train just went bankrupt.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Olog-hai on Fri Mar 6 01:37:22 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by nostalgia on Thu Mar 5 22:36:31 2015.

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Southern had to run the Crescent on Amtrak's rails. Might have been that the same tactic that the CTA used on the CNS&M to drive them out of business—raise the rent for use of their facilities—might have been put into play, but until I see the record, I can't be sure. Private railroads do not get to charge whatever they want to Amtrak to run on their rails.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Joe V on Fri Mar 6 07:58:36 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by 3-9 on Thu Mar 5 20:58:34 2015.

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The Crescent became Amtrak's during Carter.
Rick Island service simply died in the 1970's.

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(1342681)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Joe V on Fri Mar 6 08:04:40 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Mar 6 01:37:22 2015.

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The North Shore Line was owned by Susquehanna Corp, and found a great rate of return by scrapping the line than running it. If that had held off a couple of years, perhaps the Skokie Swift could have been run to Waukegan with a subsidy.

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Fri Mar 6 14:15:16 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Joe V on Fri Mar 6 07:58:36 2015.

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Not very long after Claytor left Sou, took a Cabinet job.

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(1342722)

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Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved

Posted by Joe V on Fri Mar 6 14:33:53 2015, in response to Re: Amtrak Passenger Service is saved, posted by Jackson Park B Train on Fri Mar 6 14:15:16 2015.

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Then Carter via Brock Adams at one point put the Crescent up for discontinuance prior to what became the 1979 Route Massacre.

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