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Refocusing Amtrak
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Trains will only run on-time when they become a source of pride instead of shame. operating railroads seem to wear them as a shackle. There has to be a "Will to Operate." I.e. enthusiasm for the transportation product provided. Post WWII, after the gilt wore off the new streamliners, passenger trains went out of fashion in the United States. When that happened they became the "nerds of transportation." <br /> <br />In the still black and white movie era of the early '50s one could still find a stock shot or two of passenger trains when the movie script called for a journey between cities. By 1960 all you could see in the flicks was a TWA 707 landing and Zsa Zsa Gabore stepping out with a pink poodle in arms to step into her Cadillac limo. By 1966 we had "Petticoat Junction" on TV, and all was lost in the PR Department. <br /> <br />As long as the general public equates trains with umpah bands, striped shirts and straw hats, and poorly conceived theme restaurants, we're not gonna go anywhere fast. The product still isn't important to the public. <br /> <br />Retro has been in for some time now, and when in the right hands can boost an image. Amtrak's first big mistake, when enthusiasm for a renewed rail service was unbridled, and a good railroad show would have sold well, the new management chose instead to create a very bad airline burlesque show. And don't get me going on the uniforms from that era. Be that as it may, and after what I've seen in over 30 years of railroading, everybody has to really want good, on-time service of a product that instills pride. <br /> <br />Mitch <br /> <br />
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