Could this be Amtrak's final decision on the Sunset?

[AmtrakWPK]

Congress ought to properly fund Amtrak, as well, but.....

Sure. But the PURPOSE of insurance is to allow you to remedy the damage done to the insured object, i.e., to put the damaged equipment back into the condition it was prior to the event that resulted in the insurance claim. Any other use of the insurance proceeds is intellectually dishonest at best and fraudulent to the company as a whole at worst. Not that there's any shortage of that commodity, by any means.

 

[PRR 60]

I beleive Amtrak is self-insured.

 

[AmtrakWPK]

I would HOPE that where a wreck is caused by a vehicle illegally blocking a crossing, that Amtrak would go after the owner or operator (or both) of the offending vehicle. With something like a semi, you might have a million in insurance coverage. Even with a private vehicle, they ought to be able to recover something, which is better than nothing. If it's something caused by the host RR, then they're stuck as things stand.

 

[sechs]

Also keep in mind that they're going to need something like twenty wrecked cars to be able to make a reasonable order for replacements. It takes some money to do that.

Amtrak isn't in a position to "save" money for an order. If money comes in, there's someplace for it to go.

 

[AlanB]

Also keep in mind that they're going to need something like twenty wrecked cars to be able to make a reasonable order for replacements. It takes some money to do that.
Amtrak isn't in a position to "save" money for an order. If money comes in, there's someplace for it to go.

Well Amtrak easily has more than 20 wrecked Superliners, so no problem there.

But you hit the nail right on the head regarding the costs to replace them, and the idea of saving money to do so.

 

[rmgreenesq]

Those 'vintage posters' are new productions... they aren't a holdout from the 1970s or anything

Yep, and I've got one hanging in my office exactly like that one except it says Los Angeles to Orlando. Got it off Amtrak.com as one of the fancy signed by the artist posters. Its very nice, and now that the route has been hacked back to New Orleans, I guess its worth something..... maybe not.

If it were '70s vintage it would advertise service from LA to Miami.

Rick

 

[had8ley]

Those 'vintage posters' are new productions... they aren't a holdout from the 1970s or anything

If it were '70s vintage it would advertise service from LA to Miami.

Rick

Rick;

LA to Miami did not start until the early 90's and lasted about two or three years until it was cut back to Orlando.. I'm sure somebody could give us the exact dates. The Sunset originated and terminated in New Orleans when it was run by the SP. Your poster is about 10 or so years old, if it is not a reproduction as Anthony was pointing out.

 

[AmtrakWPK]

From Wikipedia:

on April 4, 1993, the entire New Orleans-to-Jacksonville route had gone into passenger train service with the extension of the Sunset Limited to Jacksonville and Miami, using the route of Amtrak's Silver Meteor south of Jacksonville. The train's eastern endpoint was later cut back from Miami to Orlando.

and their comment on current status:

(from late October 2005 on) it has been truncated to a New Orleans-to-Los Angeles service. As time has passed, particularly since the January 2006 completion of the rebuilding of damaged tracks east of New Orleans by their owner CSX Transportation Inc., the obstacles to restoration of the Sunset Limited's full route have been more managerial and political than physical.

(emphasis added)
Amen.

 

[Clyde Deep East Texas]

From Wikipedia:

on April 4, 1993, the entire New Orleans-to-Jacksonville route had gone into passenger train service with the extension of the Sunset Limited to Jacksonville and Miami, using the route of Amtrak's Silver Meteor south of Jacksonville. The train's eastern endpoint was later cut back from Miami to Orlando.

and their comment on current status:

(from late October 2005 on) it has been truncated to a New Orleans-to-Los Angeles service. As time has passed, particularly since the January 2006 completion of the rebuilding of damaged tracks east of New Orleans by their owner CSX Transportation Inc., the obstacles to restoration of the Sunset Limited's full route have been more managerial and political than physical.

(emphasis added)
Amen.

Obviously the problems at Amtrak have ALWAYS been been more managerial and political than physical. Not that there haven't been (and are not now) physical problems.

One of the biggest physical problems is tied into a political one. AMTRAK money is very tied to the political process, and that has been one that is hard to get a big commitment for equipment out of. As a result, we don't have a builder. If you wanted to (i.e. - had the bucks in hand and the desire in heart) acquire new passenger cars, especially LD cars, just WHO WOULD BUILD THEM - and how long would it take? Not gonna call Budd at Red Lion and say "We want X number of 10-6s" (yes - I know we wouldn't buy 10-6s, or 11-dbr cars either, but you do get the idea). Not gonna call P-S or St. Louis Car or ACF and tell them that, either.

This is something that bothers me - quite a lot. And i don't have an answer, either. Does anybody?

 

[Penn Central]

Obviously the problems at Amtrak have ALWAYS been been more managerial and political than physical. Not that there haven't been (and are not now) physical problems.
One of the biggest physical problems is tied into a political one. AMTRAK money is very tied to the political process, and that has been one that is hard to get a big commitment for equipment out of. As a result, we don't have a builder. If you wanted to (i.e. - had the bucks in hand and the desire in heart) acquire new passenger cars, especially LD cars, just WHO WOULD BUILD THEM - and how long would it take? Not gonna call Budd at Red Lion and say "We want X number of 10-6s" (yes - I know we wouldn't buy 10-6s, or 11-dbr cars either, but you do get the idea). Not gonna call P-S or St. Louis Car or ACF and tell them that, either.

This is something that bothers me - quite a lot. And i don't have an answer, either. Does anybody?

It comes down to Bombardier. They built the Superliner II's, Acelas (with Alstrom), HHP-8's, and, on top of that, the own the designs to the Superliners and Amfleets. Unless Amtrak wants yet another design, they have to go to Bombardier. Unfortunately, Bombardier knows this quite well, and is in a position to set the terms.