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Events on Saturday 1 May 1971 1
1971Amtrak Begins OperationsNational passenger railroad corporation takes over US intercity railAmtrak, formally the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, began operating intercity passenger trains after Congress created it to relieve private railroads of unprofitable passenger service. It consolidated most remaining US passenger rail routes under a single federally subsidized operator. The company remains the primary provider of intercity passenger rail in the United States.