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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by gfjwashdc Amtrak and the rest of the railroad industry was the only transportation entity that this country could relie on when this country WAS IN NEED, and what was our thanks for it...A KISS MY BEHIND[B)], from our President and our congress. They continually short change us when it comes to federal dollars to keep us operating[8]! Now, I know there's waste in this company, but look at how much our government waste on thing that don't benefit any human being nor humanity in general[:o)]. How can we be held accountable for wasteful practices, when the airlines (which were bailing our with our tax dollars) were going bankrupt long before the events of 11 September 2001, due to wasteful spending practices[:o)]. If some one out there doesn't see a problem with this scenario, please by all means, tell me I'm wrong[|)]. We need everyone out there in railroad land to call their respective government representatives, from local to federal, and let them "KNOW" that we "NEED" a more balanced federal transportation budget, that provide more spending on/in our nation's railway industry, "ESPECIALLY" on the issues regarding Amtrak[:(!]!! "WE NEED TO HAVE A 'R E A L' WORLD CLASS PASSENGER RAIL NETWORK ACROSS THE UNITED STATES!!" Tell them, "If you can spend money on nonsense, then you can spend money on Amtrak!" Glenn A REAL RAILROADER...A TRUE AMERICAN[:D]!!!!!!!!!!!<div align="left"></div id="left"> [/quote] I wholeheartedly agree. There is NO reason this country could not have a Class ONE passenger railroad IF it really wanted to. But we must convince Congress of this fact. Amtrak has been short-changed financially since its inception. Now it is time for the Government to step in and actually help the railroad achieve this. Double track where necessary, add signals, do the things that are necessary to cut down congestion and improve on-time performance. Help the railroad add the capacity needed. It is unfortunate that in the 50s, 60s, 70s that the railroads cut back employees, trackage, and the things necessary to improve service. Now they are again needed but we don't have them. Let's face it. The railroad management of the recent past "blew it". Their short sighted conquest of the might $$$ lead them down a one-way track into cost cutting, line closures, employee layoffs and firings. Now that experienced railroad workers are needed, many are gone. Now that more capacity is needed, it is not there. Now because of short sighted management goals, they are in a pickle of a mess. What happened to the spirit of the railroads that built this country? What happened to the governments's willingness to help the railroads achieve success? World War II was the finest hour for the American railroads. Since then they have been in a steady decline. Thankfully, I can get on Amtrak locally. Many can't. However, the only direction I can go is North/South. Should we need to "win the west" again. I could not do it from here on a passenger train. That is UNLESS I took a round about route. It is not time to cut back funding for the railroads, or Amtrak. It is time to increase funding and return to a comfortable level of passenger travel. Many will not fly. The bus is no longer a reasonable alternative either. The passenger trains were a safe mode of transportation. It is time to return to that safety and comfort which the passenger train can provide. I applaud the American Railroad Worker of today. I wi***here were more of you. Hopefully in the near future things will change for the better. We must convince Congress of this.
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