John E. Haines

Renovo

Will passenger train service return to Renovo? Yes it could. The first whistle of a locomotive was heard entering Renovo in 1862, hailed as a harbinger of prosperity. And many believe that its return is long overdue.

The U.S. had one of the most advanced rail road systems in the world. That created much economic growth and connected these United States. At its peak in 1920, the R.R. had more than 11,500 miles of track. Today there is around 5,900 miles of active track in use.

Over the next few years the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” will invest $102 billion for rail improvements, the largest since Amtrak’s creation. This is a good thing because a robust R.R. is critical for a sustainable and accessible mode of transportation for all Americans. Also, it will lead to a decrease in air pollution.

In my opinion, returning the Susquehanna line back to passenger rail would not be much trouble, since it’s already in use by Norfolk Southern. Our local elected officials should really begin to plan for the return of passenger rail service.