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Last summer (2017) we were on the La Junta - Trinidad segment. I noticed that BNSF was replacing the wayside signals along there with the newer so-called "Darth Vader" type and they were also retiring the open-wire signal code line. This suggested in my mind's eye that BNSF was prepping this...

You know, JIS, I have long wondered how much of an impact property taxes have on the rail industry as a whole. I think most of us would admit they have an impact but how much of an impact? It's a generally known, accepted economic fact that high taxes discourage investment and if taxes are...

JIS, I dunno. Just scanning through that it sounds to me like a fairly upbeat article. Most if not all big freight carriers are on schedule. There is some concern, however, over commuter railroads. Fines were mentioned. But if the FRA fines them wouldn't they be essentially just fining the...

I personally like the way Fred Frailey opined in the most recent issue of TRAINS Magazine. He mentioned that Anderson is partly at fault for this for not laying out what his vision for Amtrak's future is. I reluctantly agree that he might not be the bogeyman that a lot of people think he is...

Has everybody seen this? This doesn't sound to me like Anderson's getting ready to ditch the national long-distance system. But we could SURE use new cars, too...

JIS, I did not take the TRAINS article mentioned in my post as an editorial but rather a report. The "opinions" of rail journalists that I mentioned was a reference to other articles I've seen - I think Don Phillips might've had one but I don't have it in front of me at the time. As for...

Mike, One thing that I think is most unfortunate in today’s world is that several railroads such as the SP and IC ripped out hundreds of miles of ATS. Even the Santa Fe removed their ATS on the San Joaquin Valley line following the discontinuance of Trains 1 & 2, the San Franscisco Chief in...

I would like to revisit this post that I made a while back. It was stated that in order for this to happen, "Congress would have to change the law"? Really? This same thing was just reported in the most recent issue of TRAINS Magazine that the FRA is considering allowing the Santa Fe's old ATS...

Well, now, that's a good point. I may be mistaken but didn't this whole question about "we're not sure about the long-distance services" first arrive under Moorman?

The whole thing's starting to sound kinda fishy to me. Hope someone looks into this !

"I've heard that Anderson is not getting a salary from Amtrak." Huh? Is that for sure a fact or a rumor? Remember, the other day we were discussing rumors. *IF* that's really true the question begs to be asked, why is he working there? Certainly not because he's a foaming-at-the-mouth...

You know, one thing I've wondered about. Why exactly did Anderson leave Delta to begin with? If he really and truly "retired" then why did he come on board at Amtrak? Or, did the Delta board push him out? And then there's Wick Moorman. At the beginning of the year it was publicly stated...

JIS, I am sorry, but I didn't mean to insinuate that what you said was based on a rumor. The "rumor" I was referring to reflects back to an earlier post someone had made that Amtrak had returned $3 Million of Tiger grants to the states. The individual who made that statement suggested that it...

Actually, I came across a piece of possible good news this morning. The latest Rail Passenger Association "Hotline" reported that there was a meeting last week between Jim Matthews, President of the RPA (formerly NARP) and Richard Anderson. Anderson stated that there are NO plans to cut any...

Unfortunately, I cannot cite my source 'cause I can't find it anymore. Does anybody else know? Can ATS be accepted on an interim basis for PTC? Regards, Fred M. Cain

Well, I thought I heard that lines which are protected by the older Automatic Train Stop ( which I thought this line is ) would be granted a waiver for an unclear period of time. Is that incorrect or perhaps misunderstood?

Does anybody have any more up-to-the-date news on the future of the Southwest Chief? The future of this train has been in the news a lot lately but not for about the last week or week and a half. Anybody on this forum know what's going on? Does anybody at Amtrak know what's going on? It was...

I believe you're partly right but I can see the cost efficiencies of mass production as only bringing the price of a new car down so far. An automobile is not a calculator or a smartphone. Like I say, the cost of a new automobile was already soaring at a much higher rate than the average rate...

I have my own ideas about electric cars and driverless cars. Although I think that electric cars might be good for the natural environment over the long term, I also see these developments as loading new cars down with so much high-tech gobblygook that they are likely to become beyond the...

If by "going back" we mean returning to the situation that existed in the 1960s, that's true. That is probably why, when asked, top level Class 1 managers say "no way". But, if Congress could change the environment for passenger rail through a combination of government backed equipment trusts...