In a letter to Amtrak last week, U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-WV) impressed the need for restoration of the Cardinal line, which links New York City, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
That service is currently undergoing track work outside New York City, and Amtrak predicts that it will be down until mid-November. While recognizing such delays and work as unavoidable, Jenkins pressed for timeliness in the matter, citing the Cardinal line as a vital transportation link for West Virginia.
“This means that West Virginians using the Cardinal line will be forced to transfer to continue their journey, adding time and inconvenience,” Jenkins wrote to Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson. “The additional transfer may also discourage residents in the New York area from using the Cardinal and experiencing West Virginia for themselves.”
The congressman stressed his past support for Amtrak as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and pleaded that such inconveniences not suddenly become concrete.
“Amtrak has a strong history and heritage in West Virginia. Cardinal route service should be restored as quickly as possible, and the elimination of the Washington-New York Penn segment must not be made permanent,” Jenkins said.