Don’t know if this question has been asked before but what prevented the LIRR from abandoning service to both Montauk and Greenport?
When Amtrak was formed in 1971 it was exempted from taking over commuter lines, commuter lines being anything within 80 miles of a city center. With Montauk at 116 miles and Greenport at 95 miles what prevented the MTA from just abandoning service beyond the 80 mile mark for those lines? I know this is what exactly what happened on the Upper Harlem Line where Penn Central just discontinued everything beyond the 80 mile mark between Dover Plains and Chatham.
Also did Amtrak every really consider taking over Montauk and Greenport in 1971 as they would at least had to entertain the notion as those trains were “technically” long distance services?
When Amtrak was formed in 1971 it was exempted from taking over commuter lines, commuter lines being anything within 80 miles of a city center. With Montauk at 116 miles and Greenport at 95 miles what prevented the MTA from just abandoning service beyond the 80 mile mark for those lines? I know this is what exactly what happened on the Upper Harlem Line where Penn Central just discontinued everything beyond the 80 mile mark between Dover Plains and Chatham.
Also did Amtrak every really consider taking over Montauk and Greenport in 1971 as they would at least had to entertain the notion as those trains were “technically” long distance services?