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The Crescent’s diner was removed during Covid when they began to make cuts. Then when the Star and Meteor went to running as just one train a day the standard consist for both included a diner (previously the Star just had the lounge - originallly doing the starvation experiment and later...

Chargers running on 53 today. For today’s test the Chargers are leading and doing all the work with the P40s dead in tow. For the first test they were sandwiched between the two P40s. Pacific Bend is again in the consist with the Siemens techs along for the ride.

The normal assignment is different than the last time the Meteor had 3 sleepers. The current normal assignment is the 10 car is VL1 and 11 and 12 car are both VL2 but they may be subbed of course in the event of a bad ordered car.

Last night was a big night for the ALC-42s in the east also. Test run on the auto train.

Correct; the flex meals actually carry higher food costs per passenger per meal than traditional dining.

They have a bit of a better handle on shop counts and consist planning at this point so I personally am not worrying about being in the “base sleeper” at this point. If they make consist changes they are generally doing so with enough notice where it just results in a room assignment change and...

It’s well known that the line isn’t closed. What CN is probably not revealing is the speed limits while the work is ongoing. Amtrak does not want to run 10 MPH for that many miles. And NYSDOT probably doesn’t want them to either as I’m not hearing them crying foul.

Alright I’ll concede the point of the email list. But I standby the point that much of the belly aching about locomotives being purely the fault of Amtrak is based on pure speculation with very little evidence presented (and sometimes counter to the available evidence.) I think many people tend...

VIA’s corridor routes do not have the same obsessive foamer base monitoring everything that happens as does Amtrak’s long haul routes.

At the NGEC meeting it was stated that IDOT applied for a FedState national network partnership grant I believe that it did not receive. Amtrak may very well be advancing subsequent efforts to fund these under CRISI.

Another note I was made aware of about the Corridor units through some of the NGEC stuff, apparently Amtrak has suggested an overhaul program to the midwest states that would make some modifications and hopefully improve reliability in these units, but the midwest pool states have not yet funded...

This was released on Amtrak's performance incentive program (IE Bonuses) https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/2024-Amtrak-CDA-Briefing-061224.pdf . It was promised after the congressional hearing the other day.

While you are likely correct, I do think some inquiry on the newer equipment is justified to ensure they are doing everything they can to improve reliability. I do also think they need to be better than 30,000 MMBSI - though I suspect that is the goal. However in the one year there was a...

There are wreck repairs being done. They have been far from doing nothing.

I don’t disagree but increasing revenues and improving customer satisfaction kind of go hand and hand. Amtrak actually did increase customer satisfaction this year but they missed the yearly goal by a percentage point I believe they said - and so bonuses under that category were not awarded.

Any company is going to have increasing operating income as a goal, even if it doesn’t have to break even by law.

The available evidence does not back up the assertion that the Charger issues are the fault of Amtrak maintenance. In fact the evidence points to it being Siemens at fault issues. Yes the passengers don't care who is truly at fault - it's just an Amtrak delay, but if you're talking about firing...

The bonuses have three criteria - improving operating income and reducing the operating loss, reducing Amtrak at fault delays, and improving customer satisfaction. They supposedly met this year's goal for the first two but not the third according to the article.

Actually a number of the other rebuilds including Chicago and Seattle are much further along in the process than Ivy City and actually have work ongoing now whereas Ivy City is only now just getting bid out. So I really don't get the "Nothing Else Counts" remark. The NEC trains are just as dirty.

The problem with this article and most of the Congressional inquiries about the subject are that they base the criticism of incentive compensation on the fact that Amtrak is not making a profit. But Amtrak does not exist to make a profit. Even the New York Times author falls into this. Now I...