report card

[morseman]

I've been very interested for some time in trying to find a report card or comments on the past actions of U>S> presidents on their support or non-support of Amtrak and a report card on Amtrak presidents since Amtrak's inception. This is my first posting on the forum.
I stat
I started work as a morse operator with CP Telecommns in Montreal in 1953. and retired 13 yeard ago and now living in Bracebridge Ontario.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the forums.[#welcome] your probably shouldn't tell us your password. I wouold highly recomened ereasing your password from the post. II don't have any reports cards though.
Andrew

[locomutt]

[#welcome]to the forums Andy,and I agree with George,you shouldn't put your
password out like that.
And as far as the report cards go,I've got no real idea.[:)]

[UPTRAIN]

WELCOME, hide that password!!! Maybe someone should log on and edit that post for him...

[Anonymous]

BERGIE!

Can you help?

LC

[Anonymous]

http://www.narprail.org/amstat.htm

Here is a link to some interesting statistics. They don't specifically tell votes on grants but they do show delays, grant monies, passenger counts and such.



http://www.trainweb.org/crocon/amtrak.html

here is another link--i haven't fully investigated it but it says it shows voting records.

[Mookie]

And the President's feelings on Amtrak are going to affect Congress how? Can the President, all by himself, make Amtrak well? Doubt it. My thinking is that he could be the president of Amtrak and the country and it still isn't going to make Amtrak any better.

Mookie

[cherokee woman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

And the President's feelings on Amtrak are going to affect Congress how? Can the President, all by himself, make Amtrak well? Doubt it. My thinking is that he could be the president of Amtrak and the country and it still isn't going to make Amtrak any better.

Mookie

[:(]Amen, Mookie. Amtrak would not listen anyway. They'll just do what they want,
and not listen and HEAR anyone else. [banghead]

[morseman]

many thanks to big_girl_4005 for the two web sites. soon as I get my printer reapaired I'll be making a copy of the stats. regarding using my password, I mentioned my password as morseman. I meant to say this was my topic starter.. As mentioned earlier I'm new to this forum game, but I know enuff not to mention my password. Seems quite a bit of ill-will towards Amtrak but my wife and I make an Amtrak trip every year and prefer it to VIA which I will be talking about in future forums.

[UPTRAIN]

KAY BAILY HUTCHINSON FOR PRESIDENT!!! SHE LIKES AMTRAK!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by andy stevenson

many thanks to big_girl_4005 for the two web sites. soon as I get my printer reapaired I'll be making a copy of the stats. regarding using my password, I mentioned my password as morseman. I meant to say this was my topic starter.. As mentioned earlier I'm new to this forum game, but I know enuff not to mention my password. Seems quite a bit of ill-will towards Amtrak but my wife and I make an Amtrak trip every year and prefer it to VIA which I will be talking about in future forums.

Thanks Andy. I found them by going to askjeeves.com and on google.com

For both search engines I entered various versions of {amtrak, federal grants, voting records}

There are alot of sites but the hard part is seperating the wheat from the chaff.

Have fun learning and I hope you will post anything interesting you find out. Just beware that politics can get very heated on here. Some people are so passionate about their feelings it spills over in the wrong places and topics.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by andy stevenson
My wife and I make an Amtrak trip every year and prefer it to VIA which I will be talking about in future forums.

What is the VIA??

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Girl_4005

QUOTE: Originally posted by andy stevenson
My wife and I make an Amtrak trip every year and prefer it to VIA which I will be talking about in future forums.

What is the VIA??

Canada's version of Amtrak, Eh?

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Girl_4005

QUOTE: Originally posted by andy stevenson
My wife and I make an Amtrak trip every year and prefer it to VIA which I will be talking about in future forums.

What is the VIA??

That would be a GOOD one to ask Kevin![:D]

I do think mudchickens answer is close 'tho.[:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
What is the VIA??


Canada's version of Amtrak, Eh?

I kind of got that much--was looking for pictures or route info or why Amtrak is better. Haven't seen the topic poster around though --hope he comes back. It is always nice to have new blood around.

[morseman]

re VIA : this is AMTRAKS version of passenger rail in Canada
It took over operation of Canadian National RR and CP Rail. when VIA Rail took over
CN and CP they routed practically all trains over CN tracks. The "Canadian" used to traval from Toronto to Vancouver on CP's lines around Lake Superior to Calgary then through Banff in Canadian Rockies, spiral tunnels, Connaught tunnel, Frazer Canyon
Avery beautiful trip[. I've taken it about 8 times. The route is now via Edmonton and througn the northern rockies and which are not as scenic and covered mainly at night. . will give more info at a later time. Have to go now, my wife is calling me in to watch the millionaire on TV.

[morseman]

Amtrak vs VIA Rail........... Trains magazine had a very good article on VIA Rail sometime ago extolling its virtues which I mostly agreed with. David Collinet the former Cdn. transportation minister who was a devout railfan did much to improve Via with new eqpt. and inovations. Jean Chretien gave a sizeable grant to Collinet for Via but unfortunately Chretien retired and our new prime minister- Paul Martin fired Collinet and revoked the sizable grant . The future of Via once again appears grim or up in the air as far as improvements go. One or the reasons my wife and I prefer Amtrak is that the transcontinental fare with bedroom is about half of what it costs on Via even taking into account the exchange on theUSA/Canadian dollar. also cross country scenery is more beautiful on the Empire Builder than Via's new route on CN's trackage I"ve only encountered one disgruntled employee on Amtrak. A sleeping car attendand on the Capital from Chicago to Wasington, but have heard of many complaints of surly VIA employees. I've found food service much improved on Amtrak recently. .........There is a p[rivate rail tour company - The Rocky Mountaineer - that has been operating on CP lines through the Canadian Rockies since CP gave it up. This company is doing a great business with trains from Vancouver to Calgary or Edmonton stoping overnight at Kelona (or is it Kamloops???} thus enabling passengers to view the scenery during complete daylight. CP tried to get back into psgr service on this route but the Canadian gov't. refused permission . CP now has a fleet of former business cars which they operate thru the rockies, but it's very exclusive and it seems that one has to dress up in a tuxedo or evening gown for meals. definitely not my cup of tea. Hope this answers a few of your questions. more later.

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for the info Andy. The only train riding I have done was a rare mileage fan trip on the 261 steam locomotive when it was in our area here. I loved that and think it would be alot of fun to see the country from the tracks.