Amtrak trains to get 180 day notices after July 1s

[GP35]

Think about it, the LD trains cost about $400 million per year. A drop in the bucket in our multi-trillion dollar economy. Would Bush risk outrage from the public and Republicans before an election to gain nothing. If anything is annouced, we will see a few days of outrage before a deal with states funding 20% is reached. Then you will see new serves popping up everywhere.

The States are broke and can't pay to take over service

Thats not true. Illinois is paying to add more trains. Missouri is paying to add a new route. Texas had a $6 billion dollar SURPLUS in the budget. 20% of $400 million is only $80 million. Split that between 36 states and you getc $2.2 million. Every state in the country could afford that. If a state pays $10 million, then the feds will add $50 million. $60 million could buy several new routes in Texas.

 

[Boxcar]

Every state in the country could afford that. If a state pays $10 million, then the feds will add $50 million. $60 million could buy several new routes in Texas

GP-35 , As a Texan I can only say "From your key board to God's ear"

 

[minstrel]

I second what Boxcar says....

 

[GP35]

Every state in the country could afford that. If a state pays $10 million, then the feds will add $50 million. $60 million could buy several new routes in Texas

GP-35 , As a Texan I can only say "From your key board to God's ear"

This was the goal of Amtrak and Bush 1 year ago. To put Amtrak on 80/20 funding with states. This 80/20 funding is behind so many road projects. Amtrak could finally grow once this happens. Here is an example of a state funding it's share of Amtrak.

MoDOT, Amtrak studying plan to establish Springfield-St. Louis rail service

Wes Johnson

© 2006, Springfield News-Leader

State highway officials are studying a plan to bring Amtrak passenger train service to Springfield.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is working with Amtrak to develop a daily round-trip route between Springfield and St. Louis.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...KING03/60614007

So much for cutting routes.

 

[Guest]

Time will tell about this, but the maintenance in N.O. is tobe transferred to Chicago soon.

 

[Boxcar]

The Missouri Department of Transportation is working with Amtrak to develop a daily round-trip route between Springfield and St. Louis.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...KING03/60614007

So much for cutting routes.  

I just wonder where they will get the equipment or do I not want too know? Hmmmmmmmmmmm <_<

 

[AmtrakFan]

The Missouri Department of Transportation is working with Amtrak to develop a daily round-trip route between Springfield and St. Louis.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...KING03/60614007

So much for cutting routes.  

I just wonder where they will get the equipment or do I not want too know? Hmmmmmmmmmmm <_<

I have heard they might extend a Train from Chicago to fulfill this.

 

[AlanB]

The Missouri Department of Transportation is working with Amtrak to develop a daily round-trip route between Springfield and St. Louis.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...KING03/60614007

So much for cutting routes.  

I just wonder where they will get the equipment or do I not want too know? Hmmmmmmmmmmm <_<

I have heard they might extend a Train from Chicago to fulfill this.

Or Amtrak could pull some of those Amfleets that they just mothballed back out of storage to run this train.

 

[Sam Damon]

look i am going to lay this on the line people
4 months ago when i posted about station and train offs and you all said nothing was happining well this is the 2nd time around with this same issue they let it cool off before going behind closed doors again and getting this going again.

As far as names that you want you won't get them because i will not let any employee get fired which will happen to any employee that says anything about what is going on.

This information was never to be made public until the 180 day notices come out just like 4 months ago when i put a stop to it.

I wasn't asking you to post names and telephone numbers on this board for all to see. I was asking you to PM them to a journo who is in a position to break the story while preserving a reasonable level of anonymity, and setting a tone for the news coverage that would logically follow.

BNSF, I deal with this sort of crap on a daily basis, as does Rafi, albeit he does it at a rarified level compared to me. Every news organization gets phone calls on a daily basis from people pitching story ideas based on personal agendas of one sort or another. Other pitches come in by fax. These days bunches come by email. Still others come from wire services or network news feeds. Part of the job of a good editor or producer is to act as a filter; in other words, to say "Hey, this is a real story", or "This guy is full of ----", or blip! into the trash can.

There are more people pitching stories than column-inches or minutes of airtime, so having solid stories with verifiable information is vital. No one in the newsbiz wants to run a story only to have it shot down by The Other Guys in the next show, or edition. Believe me when I tell you most in authority in newsbiz would rather sit on a story like you've outlined for us here, rather than get burned when it doesn't happen. Should what you've outlined happen as you say it will, for the most part it will be chalked up as experience, and the source will receive more attention.

For my part, I do hope that 180-day train-off notices don't show up July 3d. Until I see or hear some better info from either respected news organizations or advocacy groups, I'm chalking this one up in the "rumor" category.

 

[Save Our Trains Michigan]

Here goes

When i post anything on the Internet or make fliers i do it as the Director of Save Our Trains Michigan and Save Our Trains Mississippi.

Which means why would i put false information or rumors out on the Internet and on fliers that would hurt the 2 groups i am in charge of plus i am watched what i put on the Internet and on fliers.

The 2 groups i am in charge of are very well respected by Amtrak and i would never put out any information that would hurt Amtrak or it's employees.

If you people want to wait for the news to pick up on it by then it will be to late and the news media isn't always right sometimes they write what they want and not what was said.

The way my 2 groups have gotten to be where they are today is from a former Amtrak President who is no longer with the company.

 

[Guest_George Harris]

The Missouri Department of Transportation is working with Amtrak to develop a daily round-trip route between Springfield and St. Louis.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...KING03/60614007

So much for cutting routes.  

I just wonder where they will get the equipment or do I not want too know? Hmmmmmmmmmmm <_<

This is a STUDY. These things happen all the time. Just doing the STUDY will get some of the agitators for the service off the backs of the politician. They can say, look, we are doing something. When they start funding stations, equipment, and track improvements, you can then think that something will probably happen. Even then, the picture can change right up to the starting of the operation.

Missouri has not exactly overwhelmed the service they have with funding, so this whole thing has something of the flavor of "let's look like we are doing something" about it.

Second: Addition of this sort of service is completely irrelevant to the operation or discontinuance of the fully Amtrak funded long distance trains. State supported services do not cost Amtrak one red cent to run. All loses are covered by the states. You notice that none of them were being listed in the proposed discontinuances.

Could also be that these trains are being picked for maximum impact. Amtrak could probably save almost as much by dumping the completely in state trains between New York City and Buffalo that the state of New York contributes absoluely nothing toward.

George

 

[AlanB]

Amtrak could probably save almost as much by dumping the completely in state trains between New York City and Buffalo that the state of New York contributes absoluely nothing toward.

Something that continues to be a major pet peeve of mine. NY (the State that I live in) continues to cry about the whole Turboliner deal and how Amtrak screwed them, even as they continue to enjoy the use of more Amtrak trains than any other State in the Union. Trains that but for one, the Adirondack, they contribute nothing towards.

We continue to be put to shame by California, Illinois, Michigan, and others in this regard.

 

[TC2000]

Here goes
When i post anything on the Internet or make fliers i do it as the Director of Save Our Trains Michigan and Save Our Trains Mississippi.

Which means why would i put false information or rumors out on the Internet and on fliers that would hurt the 2 groups i am in charge of plus i am watched what i put on the Internet and on fliers.

The 2 groups i am in charge of are very well respected by Amtrak and i would never put out any information that would hurt Amtrak or it's employees.

If you people want to wait for the news to pick up on it by then it will be to late and the news media isn't always right sometimes they write what they want and not what was said.

The way my 2 groups have gotten to be where they are today is from a former Amtrak President who is no longer with the company.

Waiting for 180-day notices is not "too late". In fact, it is roughly six months (180 days) short of being too late.

As for false information, your "flier" about train discontinuances was factually incorrect. The Bush administration is not planning, nor does it even have the authority, to discontinue Amtrak routes. They might like to, of course, but the President has far more important concerns than Amtrak anyway. He's not paying that much attention to the railroad.

The Bush-appointed Amtrak reform board can do these things, and while it would no doubt meet with the approval (and blessing) of the administration, it is an Amtrak decision, not the Presidents.

 

[Save Our Trains Michigan]

Here goes
When i post anything on the Internet or make fliers i do it as the Director of Save Our Trains Michigan and Save Our Trains Mississippi.

Which means why would i put false information or rumors out on the Internet and on fliers that would hurt the 2 groups i am in charge of plus i am watched what i put on the Internet and on fliers.

The 2 groups i am in charge of are very well respected by Amtrak and i would never put out any information that would hurt Amtrak or it's employees.

If you people want to wait for the news to pick up on it by then it will be to late and the news media isn't always right sometimes they write what they want and not what was said.

The way my 2 groups have gotten to be where they are today is from a former Amtrak President who is no longer with the company.

Waiting for 180-day notices is not "too late". In fact, it is roughly six months (180 days) short of being too late.

As for false information, your "flier" about train discontinuances was factually incorrect. The Bush administration is not planning, nor does it even have the authority, to discontinue Amtrak routes. They might like to, of course, but the President has far more important concerns than Amtrak anyway. He's not paying that much attention to the railroad.

The Bush-appointed Amtrak reform board can do these things, and while it would no doubt meet with the approval (and blessing) of the administration, it is an Amtrak decision, not the Presidents.

Bush controls the Amtrak Board and the Amtrak Board runs Amtrak since the Amtrak Board has not appointed a new Amtrak president.

Mr.Hughes has very little control over Amtrak since he is acting as president the Amtrak Board tells Mr.Hughes what to do and how to do it in sense it all goes back to Bush controlling Amtrak and Bush wants Amtrak gone.

 

[Save Our Trains Michigan]

Like i have said before this all can change since the Study is not over until June 30th 2006 none of this information was never to be made public so it could come down to what happened 4 months ago which is it will be stalled because of to much pressure being put on the issue.

 

[PRR 60]

Like i have said before this all can change since the Study is not over until June 30th 2006 none of this information was never to be made public so it could come down to what happened 4 months ago which is it will be stalled because of to much pressure being put on the issue.

All this can change? Seems like a little back-tracking on your pretty firm assertion that train off notices were ready to go on July 3.

Matt: I do not doubt that you are passing info as you hear it. What I doubt is that your sources know what they are talking about. Everyone outside the Amtrak Board Room is simply speculating. That includes everyone from road foremen to VP's. None of them know what is going on. Maybe the best bet for everyone is to wait until July 3 and see what does or does not happen.

 

[Chatter163]

Like i have said before this all can change since the Study is not over until June 30th 2006 none of this information was never to be made public so it could come down to what happened 4 months ago which is it will be stalled because of to much pressure being put on the issue.

Ah, finally--the much awaited disclaimer! So at the end of next week, when the purported notices do not appear, the reporter can refer back to this point as a method to save face. "See, I SAID these things might not happen."

After all expressions to the contrary, this seems rather much. :blink:

 

[PennCentralFan]

Bush controls the Amtrak Board and the Amtrak Board runs Amtrak since the Amtrak Board has not appointed a new Amtrak president.
Mr.Hughes has very little control over Amtrak since he is acting as president the Amtrak Board tells Mr.Hughes what to do and how to do it in sense it all goes back to Bush controlling Amtrak and Bush wants Amtrak gone.

Thanks for pointing this out. Bush hates Amtrak and all forms of public transportation that does not benefit big oil. While BNSF 1088 may be in error on the details, he is not in error on the big plan the Bush Administration has for Amtrak and public transportation. The actions and policies taken by the Bush adminstration have made it clear that Big Oil runs the show.

Don't forget that Conservatives hate Amtrak because the first really powerful labor unions in this country were unions for railroad workers. The symbolism of destroying Amtrak is too great for them. Also don't forget that in the pre-Civil Rights Movement South working for the Railroads especially ones based in the North was a route to the middle-class for African-Americans. Wealthy Southerners also hated the Railroads going up North because it was the means many African-Americans fled the South during the Great Migration. Many land-owners in the South despised the railroads going North.

You have to understand that to conservatives the blending of economic conservatism and social conservatism is what got them where they are now. Destroying Amtrak and weakening labor has been one of their goals and would represent a symbolic victory for them more than anything.

 

[Save Our Trains Michigan]

Like i have said before this all can change since the Study is not over until June 30th 2006 none of this information was never to be made public so it could come down to what happened 4 months ago which is it will be stalled because of to much pressure being put on the issue.

All this can change? Seems like a little back-tracking on your pretty firm assertion that train off notices were ready to go on July 3.

Matt: I do not doubt that you are passing info as you hear it. What I doubt is that your sources know what they are talking about. Everyone outside the Amtrak Board Room is simply speculating. That everyone from road foremen to VP's. None of them know what is going on. Maybe the best bet for everyone is to wait until July 3 and see what does or does not happen.

These trains are on the list as of right now and should get there 180 day notices other trains could be added no ones knows for sure because the study is not over. like i have said this is being done behind closed doors.

 

[OpenMinded]

Hello,

I am an open minded conserative that has been reading this forum off and on for several months but never posted before. I'm not here to dispute what anyone has said about this administrations attitude about Amtrak but to assimilate Facts from the Liberal hatred of Bush.

Now we must consider that the Republican controlled Senate and House

are no more part of the Bush Administration as they were part of *******'s.

The Administration is comprised of the President,Vice President and Cabnet Members. Oh sure, there are appointees of the President that have to follow his whims regardless of personal feeling if they wish to remain employed . Does Bush personally appoint the head of Amtrak? Seriously, I'm just asking. The following are also part of the Bush Administration:

Director of National Intelligence....Director of CIA ....FBI Director....National Security Advisor...EPA Administrator....UN Ambassador...FCC Chairnan...

OMB Director...WH Chief of Staff/ Deputy Chiefs of Staff...WH Counsel/Advisors....WH Press Secretary....and Personal Ade.

Of all this group the only one that is directly involved daily with Amtrak was the Secretary of Transportation which was a Democrat held over from the ******* years.

The President has a very low approval rate and is a lame duck President that will be out of office in a year and a half.

The Senate and House however are not dependent on Bush's whims and gain nothing in supporting him over the wishes of the folks back home.

I have heard repeatedly on here to show where posted facts and items come from. I humbly ask where are the facts that George W. Bush hates Amtrak? I'm not asking for opinions or left wing talking points or right wing talking points either. Has he come right out and said he hated Amtrak? Has he personally stated that Amtrak needs dismantling? Has he personally set the funding on Amtrak and if so, how? I thought this has to be done by the House. Did he veto or use the line item veto to lower the funding?

There is an old saying in my part of the woods, " Either Poop or get off the pot." Now I am an Amtrak fan and user but isn't 35 years of limping along with worn out equipment and being underfunded long enough. Isn't it time to do something?

I'm not attacking you people, I just really want to know. I have noticed several well informed people on here that will have the data I seek.

Now if its the Republican controlled Congress that's doing this, why is Bush to blame anymore than all the Presidents since Nixon that were controlled by Democrats? Those Democratic Administrations were not exactly "Daddy Warbucks" in regards to Amtrak. As I stated before, What has this Congress to gain by supporting Bush? As unpopular as he is, looks like there would be more to gain by opposing him.

 

[Boxcar]

Bush controls the Amtrak Board and the Amtrak Board runs Amtrak since the Amtrak Board has not appointed a new Amtrak president.
Mr.Hughes has very little control over Amtrak since he is acting as president the Amtrak Board tells Mr.Hughes what to do and how to do it in sense it all goes back to Bush controlling Amtrak and Bush wants Amtrak gone.

Thanks for pointing this out. Bush hates Amtrak and all forms of public transportation that does not benefit big oil. While BNSF 1088 may be in error on the details, he is not in error on the big plan the Bush Administration has for Amtrak and public transportation. The actions and policies taken by the Bush adminstration have made it clear that Big Oil runs the show.

Don't forget that Conservatives hate Amtrak because the first really powerful labor unions in this country were unions for railroad workers. The symbolism of destroying Amtrak is too great for them. Also don't forget that in the pre-Civil Rights Movement South working for the Railroads especially ones based in the North was a route to the middle-class for African-Americans. Wealthy Southerners also hated the Railroads going up North because it was the means many African-Americans fled the South during the Great Migration. Many land-owners in the South despised the railroads going North.

You have to understand that to conservatives the blending of economic conservatism and social conservatism is what got them where they are now. Destroying Amtrak and weakening labor has been one of their goals and would represent a symbolic victory for them more than anything.

Penncentralfan, could you please input your opinions into this thread without the attacks on conseratives? Your input is as valid as any other but Some of your remarks are better suited on Moveon.org

Thanks.......BD

 

[Save Our Trains Michigan]

what i am saying is the study is not over until June 30th 2006 and then all the information will be released to the public in the form of the 180 day train notices what i have posted are the trains that are on the list at the present time.

The study is for trains and stations to come off or be closed the study is not to add trains.

Just like my flier says that has been out for the last 4 moths or so all of these issues are behind closed doors and anyone who leaks the information out will be fired thats why i will not give names or job titles.

 

[AlanB]

Penncentralfan, could you please input your opinions into this thread without the attacks on conseratives? Your input is as valid as any other but Some of your remarks are better suited on Moveon.orgThanks.......BD

Yes, we need to be a bit more careful about painting such broad strokes with statements like "all conservatives."

Let me remind everyone that one of Amtrak's biggest supporters for several years during the ******* administration was Michigan's Republican (conservative) Governor Tommy Thompson. Tommy was also chairman of Amtrak's board for several years and spent quite a bit of his time tooting Amtrak's horn and trying to wake up everyone to provide proper funding.

Then we have Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchensen from Texas who has almost without fail, supported a National Amtrak system for years. I also seem to recall that the last chairman of Amtrak's board, the mayor of Meridian MS whose name escapes me at the moment, is a Republican. He too fought long and hard for Amtrak.

I'm sure that many other examples can also be cited, so to label all conservatives as being anti-Amtrak is simply not true.

And as PRR60 has pointed out many times on this very forum, some of Amtrak's worst service cuts as well as the lowest annual funding rates have occured during Democratic White Houses, with a Democratic Congress.

 

[EmpireBuilderFan1976]

Now I am an Amtrak fan and user but isn't 35 years of limping along with worn out equipment and being underfunded long enough. Isn't it time to do something?

Well OpenMinded the quote above from your post is one that I could not agree with more! And although I do not have any direct quotes from Bush on Amtrak, I would say his proposal of $0 for the 2006 budget year for Amtrak speaks volumes. And I did read some news article from a regular news source that he thinks private companies should take over passenger rail service. I guess he has never done any reading on Amtrak and why it was created in the first place.

The bottom line is that Amtrak needs $$$$$$$$. There is a demand/need for a much expanded rail network. And both Political parties have never really picked up the ball and ran with it regarding Amtrak. When Amtrak was created in 1971, the government should have stared pumping millions into it. The biggest problem Amtrak faces, aside from underfunding, is being at the mercy of host railroads. By now Amtrak should have had its own network of track. Aside from BNSF, most railroads do not like Amtrak using their lines and do not give it priority over their own freight trains. Most of them also do not keep thier tracks in a good enough state of repair for Amtrak to even do 79 mph. One of the reasons the Empire Builder has such a good on time performance rating is that BNSF has alot of new track on that line and the EB can go at top speed through the majority of it's route. BNSF is also very good at giving Amtrak priority over it's own freight trains.

Bottom line is that while states do need to contribute some money to Amtrak, the government needs to pick up the lions share. After all, aren't tax dollars suppose to go to public programs, such as healthcare and transportation? You yourself commented on the worn out equipment. And if Amtrak is continually underfunded things will only get worse. As it is they are only give enough funding to keep things going. Not much else left to do better cleaning/maintenance, especially because they don't have much spare equipment to go around!

 

[Boxcar]

Penncentralfan, could you please input your opinions into this thread without the attacks on conseratives? Your input is as valid as any other but Some of your remarks are better suited on Moveon.orgThanks.......BD

Yes, we need to be a bit more careful about painting such broad strokes with statements like "all conservatives."

Let me remind everyone that one of Amtrak's biggest supporters for several years during the ******* administration was Michigan's Republican (conservative) Governor Tommy Thompson. Tommy was also chairman of Amtrak's board for several years and spent quite a bit of his time tooting Amtrak's horn and trying to wake up everyone to provide proper funding.

Then we have Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchensen from Texas who has almost without fail, supported a National Amtrak system for years. I also seem to recall that the last chairman of Amtrak's board, the mayor of Meridian MS whose name escapes me at the moment, is a Republican. He too fought long and hard for Amtrak.

I'm sure that many other examples can also be cited, so to label all conservatives as being anti-Amtrak is simply not true.

And as PRR60 has pointed out many times on this very forum, some of Amtrak's worst service cuts as well as the lowest annual funding rates have occured during Democratic White Houses, with a Democratic Congress.

Thanks Allen....Kay Bailey is my Senator and I'm proud of her.

My point was much like yours, There are Conseratives as well as liberals in this forum and Amtracks problems and resolutions of those problems fall on both of our shoulders....Bd