Amtrak can be a helpful tool to help reduce transportation emissions since it’s more energy efficient than driving or flying. But weather events like wildfires, flooding and
landslides can seriously impact passenger service. Earlier this year, the Coast Starlight, a route that runs between Los Angeles and Seattle, was disrupted by track flooding in California. The damage affected the route for nearly a month. Issues like coastal erosion and heat waves have affected service too. Mounting disasters have closed or impacted Amtrak routes across the country. L.V. Anderson has been covering the issues facing Amtrak for Grist. She joins us with details of her reporting.