Is Amtrak losing too much hair

[NE933]

Ok, so this month we've learned:

1. Electronic "e-ticketing" has a serious glitch in that if your outgoing trip is not scanned by a conductor, the system interprets the entire round trip as a no show and cancels that plus the return portion.

2a. Hoosier State is likely to be dropped, leaving long underserved places like Cincinnati, with half the trains they had before. This leads to rumor talk that maybe a daily Cardinal will fill in, maybe not, after all: this is also a hospital special for rolling stock going/returning from Beech Groove is ferried. Therefore:

2b. a possible fall out from losing Hoosier State is the loss of Beech Grove with no mention of where crucial repair work to the Superliners, Vierliners, diesel locomotives, and many other projects, will be shifted to.

3. MARC Commuter Rail is the latest in a growing string of commuter contracts that are moving out and going with someone else. A disturbing thread is that Amtrak's terms are unacceptable, the leaders are arrogant and reticent, and in at least one case, simply ceded. This to a business line regularly mentioned as a major source of revenue.

4. ADA related miscalculations of rebuilt platforms at several stations.

5. Silence on the planned Acela tests at 165mph. Maybe this was done to avoid unwanted audience crowds, maybe something else.

6. Empire Builder and Silver Meteor/Star routes, along with the Cardinal, incur delays amounting to several hours on a regular basis. Someone cited BNSF as getting reprimanded from Montana and North Dakota state governments for maintanence issues.

7. Asside from the ACS64 locomotive and Viewliner II contracts, no additional procurements of other new equipment are made, emphasis on Superliner III's and the next generation single level and bilevel fleet.

Ok, now i'll shut up, just after I ask: can someone tell me what's going on here?!

 

[MrFSS]

2a. Hoosier State is likely to be dropped, leaving long underserved places like Cincinnati, with half the trains they had before. This leads to rumor talk that maybe a daily Cardinal will fill in, maybe not, after all: this is also a hospital special for rolling stock going/returning from Beech Groove is ferried. Therefore:

2b. a possible fall out from losing Hoosier State is the loss of Beech Grove with no mention of where crucial repair work to the Superliners, Vierliners, diesel locomotives, and many other projects, will be shifted to.

Well - to start with - The Hoosier State doesn't go to Cincinnati. It stops/starts in Indianapolis

So, Cincinnati would have the exact same number of trains it has now if the HS is cancelled.

The Cardinal can ferry cars to IND and they can be quickly unhooked and the Beech Grove's switcher can come pick them up. Very easy trip from IND station to Beech Grove..Not as easy if the HS was running, but it could be done.

From several years ago, here is The Cardinal taking the not yet restored Viewliner Diner to IND to then go to Beech Grove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iljW7ZUjiRE

 

[trainman74]

This is kind of a weird metaphor.

Well, I guess a lot of men have started going bald by age 41-1/2.

 

[gn2276]

Most of the delays this summer on the Builder route were do to hot weather speed recrections. Once the tempture gets over 90 the top speed drops from 79 to 60. This was due to a derailment many years ago at Saco MT in which the Builder was almost competly derail due to a sun kink in the rail. I remeber seeing the Superliner cars on there side the day of the wreck.

 

[AlanB]

1. Electronic "e-ticketing" has a serious glitch in that if your outgoing trip is not scanned by a conductor, the system interprets the entire round trip as a no show and cancels that plus the return portion.

Being fixed, if it's not already fixed.

2a. Hoosier State is likely to be dropped, leaving long underserved places like Cincinnati, with half the trains they had before. This leads to rumor talk that maybe a daily Cardinal will fill in, maybe not, after all: this is also a hospital special for rolling stock going/returning from Beech Groove is ferried. Therefore:
2b. a possible fall out from losing Hoosier State is the loss of Beech Grove with no mention of where crucial repair work to the Superliners, Vierliners, diesel locomotives, and many other projects, will be shifted to.

MrFSS already dealt with this one.

3. MARC Commuter Rail is the latest in a growing string of commuter contracts that are moving out and going with someone else. A disturbing thread is that Amtrak's terms are unacceptable, the leaders are arrogant and reticent, and in at least one case, simply ceded. This to a business line regularly mentioned as a major source of revenue.

I missed that memo. When/where did you hear that MARC was going with another company to operate its trains on Amtrak's NEC?

4. ADA related miscalculations of rebuilt platforms at several stations.

Amtrak wasn't building that platform in Texas.

5. Silence on the planned Acela tests at 165mph. Maybe this was done to avoid unwanted audience crowds, maybe something else.

It's 160 MPH, not 165. And there is no need to advertise things. It has nothing to do with the public.

7. Asside from the ACS64 locomotive and Viewliner II contracts, no additional procurements of other new equipment are made, emphasis on Superliner III's and the next generation single level and bilevel fleet.

Mr. Boardman made it quite clear that he would NOT order any new cars until Congress made it clear what they actually want Amtrak to do.

Work however does still proceed on new cars for short haul/state sponsored trains; getting more cars for Acela; and the coming needed replacement of the P40's & P42's.

 

[Ryan]

3. MARC Commuter Rail is the latest in a growing string of commuter contracts that are moving out and going with someone else. A disturbing thread is that Amtrak's terms are unacceptable, the leaders are arrogant and reticent, and in at least one case, simply ceded. This to a business line regularly mentioned as a major source of revenue.

I missed that memo. When/where did you hear that MARC was going with another company to operate its trains on Amtrak's NEC?

I think he's talking about Amtrak's failure to submit a qualifying bit for the Brunswick/Camden lines.

 

[AlanB]

3. MARC Commuter Rail is the latest in a growing string of commuter contracts that are moving out and going with someone else. A disturbing thread is that Amtrak's terms are unacceptable, the leaders are arrogant and reticent, and in at least one case, simply ceded. This to a business line regularly mentioned as a major source of revenue.

I missed that memo. When/where did you hear that MARC was going with another company to operate its trains on Amtrak's NEC?

I think he's talking about Amtrak's failure to submit a qualifying bit for the Brunswick/Camden lines.

Amtrak hasn't run those lines before, so I'm not sure why they'd even think of doing so right now.

 

[Eric S]

5. Silence on the planned Acela tests at 165mph. Maybe this was done to avoid unwanted audience crowds, maybe something else.

It's 160 MPH, not 165. And there is no need to advertise things. It has nothing to do with the public.

Isn't the testing at 165mph, with revenue service potentially at 160mph?

 

[jis]

Run.... Run..... The roof is falling........ The roof is falling...... Amtrak is going bald

 

[Tracktwentynine]

3. MARC Commuter Rail is the latest in a growing string of commuter contracts that are moving out and going with someone else. A disturbing thread is that Amtrak's terms are unacceptable, the leaders are arrogant and reticent, and in at least one case, simply ceded. This to a business line regularly mentioned as a major source of revenue.

I missed that memo. When/where did you hear that MARC was going with another company to operate its trains on Amtrak's NEC?

I think he's talking about Amtrak's failure to submit a qualifying bit for the Brunswick/Camden lines.

Actually, I think he's conflating CSX ceasing to operate the Brunswick and Camden Lines with Amtrak ceasing to operate the Penn Line.

At any rate, Amtrak is going to continue to operate the Penn Line. They do not, and have not, operated the Brunswick or Camden Lines, and the fact that MTA is selecting Bombardier does not - repeat - not - affect that Amtrak is operating the Penn Line, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

As far as I can tell, the original post is nothing but a bunch of rumors and innuendo meant to scare people. Sure Amtrak might be losing one route, but that's up to PRIIA, which is news from 2008. Sure Amtrak has not ordered new Superliners, but they have a Fleet Replacement plan that has that scheduled down the road anyway.

On the other hand, while the OP only cited bad news in his thread, there is good news out there. Including speed and capacity improvements for the Virginia services, an extension of the Downeaster farther north, new Amtrak service to Norfolk, and the continued move forward with the Midwest Bilevel order.

Yes, it would be great if Amtrak was doubling the number of trains it ran every year. Yes, it would be great if everything related to Amtrak ran just perfectly. But the fact that it's not does not mean it's the end of the line (or the end of the world), and much of it is beyond Amtrak's control.

You want more passenger rail in this country? Make sure your elected officials know that. And make sure you vote for the right candidates in November.

 

[CREW-DORM#2524]

Amtrak did not fail to submit a bid. Amtrak withdrew their bid when MTA told all bidders they would assume FULL financial liability.

 

[AlanB]

Amtrak did not fail to submit a bid. Amtrak withdrew their bid when MTA told all bidders they would assume FULL financial liability.

Same reason that David Gunn withdrew from bidding on Boston's T, after holding that contract for many years.

 

[jis]

Amtrak did not fail to submit a bid. Amtrak withdrew their bid when MTA told all bidders they would assume FULL financial liability.

Makes sense since Amtrak is explicitly not allowed to take on full liability for commuter operations.

 

[JoeBas]

Run.... Run..... The roof is falling........ The roof is falling...... Amtrak is going bald

Most men when they hit 40 and start going bald do something mid-life-crisis stupid, like buy a sports car.

So I guess that means the Turboliners DO have a chance?

 

[NE933]

Mr. Boardman made it quite clear that he would NOT order any new cars until Congress made it clear what they actually want Amtrak to do.

Work however does still proceed on new cars for short haul/state sponsored trains; getting more cars for Acela; and the coming needed replacement of the P40's & P42's.

Congress is not clear on the time of day, so if we wait for them we will all be farm fertilizer. Boardman has restressed that capital projects will be moving ahead, knowing he will get something from Washington and so dollars for rolling stock. The Acela cars and diesel locomotive replacement are among the rolling stock needed but as far as i know, nothing is happening, at least in forefront.

 

[NE933]

As far as I can tell, the original post is nothing but a bunch of rumors and innuendo meant to scare people. Sure Amtrak might be losing one route, but that's up to PRIIA, which is news from 2008. Sure Amtrak has not ordered new Superliners, but they have a Fleet Replacement plan that has that scheduled down the road anyway.

On the other hand, while the OP only cited bad news in his thread, there is good news out there. Including speed and capacity improvements for the Virginia services, an extension of the Downeaster farther north, new Amtrak service to Norfolk, and the continued move forward with the Midwest Bilevel order.

Yes, it would be great if Amtrak was doubling the number of trains it ran every year. Yes, it would be great if everything related to Amtrak ran just perfectly. But the fact that it's not does not mean it's the end of the line (or the end of the world), and much of it is beyond Amtrak's control.

You want more passenger rail in this country? Make sure your elected officials know that. And make sure you vote for the right candidates in November.

I do, i do, i shall, and my OP contained news some reported on other sites and some are dated, like the e Ticket problem. Previous post in this thread was the first I heard of an active fix. Yes, i intened to caus worry but not wreck marriages sleepcycles digestive funtions, i saw negative tones here and elsewhere that sounded scary, so i turned tto you for answer. No i dont expect trains to double, unless we cut them in half which will then multiply their number.

Yes I know about the good news things you cited but they were not part of my question so none of them belonged. Move forward with Midwest Bilevel order, how? Someone grabbed the plans and walked forward???

I'll add this in, specifically for poster Track29's abrasive response that penalized me for wondering what's happening with the various points I brough up: I want to you to explain here and now, on AU, to me and everyone else, how you're going to scold and reprimand your elected leaders, or praise them for that matter, on their performance of creating a more robust Amtrak system, meaning more frequencies and routes, where demand exists, and for getting the rolling stock thing going. Tell me what your spoken or written words will sound like. I'll be at my voting booth come November 6, where I'll be judge to my government leaders on not only passenger rail but other items beyond the scope of AU. I've spoken up to NARP to get more fiery, as well as emailing Charles Schumer and while she was still NY Senator, Hillary Clinton. Yes there's lots of joke fodder for both, but they are what we've got.

 

[AlanB]

Mr. Boardman made it quite clear that he would NOT order any new cars until Congress made it clear what they actually want Amtrak to do.

Work however does still proceed on new cars for short haul/state sponsored trains; getting more cars for Acela; and the coming needed replacement of the P40's & P42's.

Congress is not clear on the time of day, so if we wait for them we will all be farm fertilizer. Boardman has restressed that capital projects will be moving ahead, knowing he will get something from Washington and so dollars for rolling stock. The Acela cars and diesel locomotive replacement are among the rolling stock needed but as far as i know, nothing is happening, at least in forefront.

Yes, but capital dollars are not going towards anything for long distance, other than new engines which are used on almost all trains outside the NEC.

As for the Acela cars, things are happening, just not fast enough apparently. We just had a topic on this.

And the diesel engine order is still a ways off, Amtrak doesn't need to put that out to bid right now. But they are working on things right now for that future order, coming up with specs and requirements that Amtrak must get from those who do bid when things are opened up. I personally know the man in charge of the development team, and while he's quite careful not to spill any beans to me, I can assure you that they are working on things and they will be ready when the time comes to put out an RFP and to work with the winner bidder to get things rolling.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

Thats great news Alan. Thanks for sharing that much with us.

 

[NE933]

Thats great news Alan. Thanks for sharing that much with us.

Yes, i'll 2nd that thanks. If any of us have some good news let's cough it up, as Alan said in last post, we all need a little assurances, right? That's one of the things about trains that are so appealing, they reassure, and when they're taken away we feel threatened....

 

[NE933]

Also i think Boardman needs to perform at least a small purchase of Superliner III's to show goodwill to the west and midwest communities who have long felt resentful towards the bias to NE Corridor. 25 coaches tagged onto the midwest bilevel project is a safe and easy token that goes a long way. And depending on November 6, plus if the 2013 sequestration of the Congressional budget doesnt happen, Joey can get his pen out a tad more often.

 

[AlanB]

Also i think Boardman needs to perform at least a small purchase of Superliner III's to show goodwill to the west and midwest communities who have long felt resentful towards the bias to NE Corridor. 25 coaches tagged onto the midwest bilevel project is a safe and easy token that goes a long way. And depending on November 6, plus if the 2013 sequestration of the Congressional budget doesnt happen, Joey can get his pen out a tad more often.

While there is some logic in trying to placate those outside of the corridor; 25 cars is simply to small of an order to do that and to make any logical sense. Sorry!

The cost of running off 25 cars, even cars using the same shell as the midwest order, is simply too high. And you're going to have all sorts of compatibility problems that will need to be addressed at considerable cost. Problems that don't exist with the intended use of those cars on short haul trains. And the cheapest and easiest cars to run off would be coaches, which will do little to placate anyone. Sleepers are needed more than coaches, and they'll be more expensive to make.

So while I hate to be negative, I don't see such a car order as a good idea at all.

 

[NE933]

So while I hate to be negative, I don't see such a car order as a good idea at all.

So in other words you're saying that I better not miss taking any of my meds...

lol..

 

[afigg]

So in other words you're saying that I better not miss taking any of my meds...

lol..

If the contract award for the 130 corridor bi-level cars is announced in October, will that mean you think Amtrak is getting some hair back? Equivalent of Rograine, maybe? :lol:

The schedule in an April draft(?) of the RFP for the bi-levels spelled out a schedule with the final proposals due in August, notice of intent to award in mid-September, and after a window for the other bidders to protest, a pre-award audit, and presumably after some negotiations, the contract award to be made on October 10. The entire contract bid and selection process schedules can and often do slip, so I would not count on a mid-October announcement, but it should happen this fall if there were viable proposals submitted.

 

[NE933]

If the contract award for the 130 corridor bi-level cars is announced in October, will that mean you think Amtrak is getting some hair back? Equivalent of Rograine, maybe? :lol:

Well yes, I suppose so, ... lol...

I just remembered to ask something else, namely what ever became of the plan to convert the Acela Bistro Cafe cars into a new layout that had some revenue seating?

 

[AlanB]

I just remembered to ask something else, namely what ever became of the plan to convert the Acela Bistro Cafe cars into a new layout that had some revenue seating?

That went bye-bye a while ago. Frankly it's not really enough to help things in terms of getting more seats for the trains.