Eliminate hundreds of cars from the road, stimulate tourism and maintain a viable transport corridor along the West Coast. That’s what Amtrak’s daily train between Seattle and Los Angeles does. It also may need the support of Cascadia states to stay in operation.

This piece in a California newspaper makes the case that passengers are effectively supporting the 1,400-mile run despite repeated Bush Administration attempts to eliminate its budget. The three states should provide financial support in exchange for better service, which would fit with Cascadia’s regional trasport needs.