https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/epn5y7/bidens-executive-order-acknowledges-passenger-rails-biggest-problem

On Friday, President Biden issued an executive order aimed at creating more competition in the American economy. The wide-ranging order covers many important issues ranging from right to repair to ownership of banking data to big tech mergers. And it called out one of the biggest stumbling blocks to more productive and useful passenger train service in the country, an issue that past administrations have rarely if ever formally acknowledged. It is the conflict between Amtrak service and the private freight rail companies that own the tracks they use.

The stakes for this seemingly minor conflict are high. As record heat waves descend around the country, tropical storms and hurricanes become more frequent, and extreme weather of all kinds is being linked by experts to the human impact on climate change, reducing harmful emissions from transportation is an urgent priority. Moving trips from cars and planes to passenger rail is a great way to accomplish part of that goal. Unfortunately, few Americans can be convinced to do so in part because Amtrak cannot run reliable, consistent service between nearby cities.