Passenger rail companies in 1980 and 2024 interactive map visualizes the Amtrak (purple) and VIA Rail (blue) programs in 1980 and 2024, alongside impartial railways and commuter companies (inexperienced). The map highlights a notable decline within the availability of passenger rail companies in each the USA and Canada over the past 44 years.
Utilizing the map’s slide management, you possibly can simply swap between the rail companies obtainable in 1980 and people in 2024. This fast comparability starkly illustrates the discount in passenger rail companies in each nations. Moreover, the 1980 map consists of notable routes (in gray) that have been discontinued after 1976, revealing an much more dramatic decline when evaluating the scenario right now to earlier years.
Canada: Passenger Rail Decline
In Canada, VIA Rail’s 2024 service ranges have considerably decreased in comparison with 1980, particularly when it comes to the variety of routes and trains obtainable outdoors the core Quebec Metropolis-Windsor Hall. The main focus has shifted towards fewer however higher-quality companies in high-demand areas, typically on the expense of rural and distant connectivity.
USA: Amtrak’s Diminished Lengthy-Distance Providers
Within the USA, Amtrak’s long-distance companies are much less frequent in 2024 than in 1980, with a number of routes fully discontinued. The 1980 map additionally reveals quite a few further routes (in gray) that have been deserted between 1976 and 1980.
For a broader perspective, Vox’s animated map – the decline of passenger railway companies within the US – illustrates the regular erosion of American rail since 1962.
Freight vs. Passenger Rail in North America
It is vital to acknowledge that whereas passenger rail has declined, the USA nonetheless possesses an in depth rail community. That is clearly proven on the Nationwide Rail Community map of Canada, the USA, and Mexico. Nevertheless, this huge community is predominantly used for freight transportation quite than passenger rail.
The USA really has one of many largest rail networks on the earth, however freight railroads account for roughly 140,000 miles of observe, whereas Amtrak operates on round 21,000 miles, most of which it doesn’t personal. As an alternative, Amtrak depends on agreements with freight railroads to make use of their tracks, typically leading to delays as a result of freight trains are given precedence.
International Rail Community Comparisons
For a deeper comparability of the U.S. rail community with these of different nations, you possibly can confer with OpenRailwayMap. This useful resource makes use of OpenStreetMap knowledge to create a worldwide, open, up-to-date, and detailed map of world rail networks.
