Amtrak Cuts

[Modelcar]

...I do not wi***o make my comment political....The facts really are: President Bush has make it public that his adminstration wants Amtrak to cease to be a National system and will not support it to the extent Mr. Gunn indicates is necessary to continue with even what is now in place....Mr. Kerry has not had that responsibility as of yet and we really don't know what "his" adminstration would do to try to solve the problem.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: No. Silver Star will go to Tampa and then on to Miami. The Palmetto's route thru Ocala goes away, though.

Yep! I stand corrected! I read the info at NARP NEWS and Railpace Hot News! Apparently the young lady at Amtrak didn't mention the additional info. She just kept telling me on the phone "Yes, Bush is trying to eliminate Amtrak. Wants to shut us down". Talk about politics! Just added to my emotions.

David Gunn wants to get out of the mail handling service because the profit margin is small and passengers have been complaining about the delays due to the coupling and uncoupling of the roadrailers.

The Silver Star is returning to Tampa on the route it had years ago; by way of Orlando. Schedule will have a faster running time and will be during daylight hours. The Palmetto is going back to its original service of years back also, NY to GA. It is still bad though that other than Tampa, the western Florida cities of Gainesville and Ocala won't have any passenger trains.

Regardless of political affiliation, neither Mr. Bush nor Mr. Kery have shown a dedicated interest in expanding and improving Amtrak. So the Amtrak rep's point to me was pretty much moot.

Realistically, inspite of Amtrak's problems it's popularity is still growing long distance ridership is steady. Politicians look at Amtrak as a hot potato. Many don't want to support it, but they don't wi***o be known as the people that killed it either, so it looks like Amtrak will continue to limp forward.

[Anonymous]

AMTRAK itself cannot save itself. It has fallen over the edge of the cliff.

With the equipment it has now it cannot handle enough business to cover current operating expenses let alone invest in additional equipment to handle any increased ridership from advertising or other promotional activities. Without a huge infusion of cash it will eventually hit bottom and be a pile of junk on the used market.

In that case, if the NEC survives it will probably be a joint operation of some type between BMT, CDOT, Metro North, NJT, and whatever other public transportation entities there are along the corridor.

[oltmannd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by RudyRockvilleMD

Those who guessed The Three Rivers, Amtrak #'s 40 & 41would be eliminated due to the cuts in mail and express were right on the mark. The Palmetto will be cut back to Savannah, GA for the same reason.

THIS IS INSANE! The Palmetto is the only direct train that is servicing Tampa! We lost the Silver Star and Silver Meteor just over a decade back. I've seen the Palmetto many times and that train is almost always full! So bascially for the 1st time in history since the Plant System was established the Tampa bay area will be without passenger rail service.

Oh, connecting bus service? That's a joke. I used to drive Gray Line buses years back. Most people prefer to get on a train to their destination, not hop aboard a bus to connect to a train. Ironically over $12 million dollars was spent a durng the mid 1990s restoring Tampa Union Station, only now to become a bus station. Greyhound is just a few blocks west of it.

Pretty disgusting situation.

No. Silver Star will go to Tampa and then on to Miami. The Palmetto's route thru Ocala goes away, though.

[Modelcar]

....NO, no class I railroad is going to bring back passenger service on it's own....Remember they wanted out back when Amtrak was created....Too costly...Not making money doing it then and for sure wouldn't now.

[wcfan4ever]

Hey, maybe with Amtrak cutting all this sevice, the Class 1's will bring back there own passenger service[:D][:D] I doubt it would ever happen but hey it was a good thought[;)] Just think, UP E-Units are still around, BNSF has a couple of executive units, CN does, CSX as F40's, and NS as the old Conrail E's they can use...see, its all off to a good start!![:)]

[Junctionfan]

For so far I think Amtrak's biggest problem is poor marketing. They need more comercials and should be an advertising agency like Via is with their engines. Maybe Amtrak could have a Microsoft unit, Pepsi unit, Citigroup unit, American Express unit, Gillete unit, NBC unit, WWE unit, Superbowl unit......etc. Via makes alot of money from doing this so maybe Amtrak should do it with their stuff.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RudyRockvilleMD

Those who guessed The Three Rivers, Amtrak #'s 40 & 41would be eliminated due to the cuts in mail and express were right on the mark. The Palmetto will be cut back to Savannah, GA for the same reason.

THIS IS INSANE! The Palmetto is the only direct train that is servicing Tampa! We lost the Silver Star and Silver Meteor just over a decade back. I've seen the Palmetto many times and that train is almost always full! So bascially for the 1st time in history since the Plant System was established the Tampa bay area will be without passenger rail service.

Oh, connecting bus service? That's a joke. I used to drive Gray Line buses years back. Most people prefer to get on a train to their destination, not hop aboard a bus to connect to a train. Ironically over $12 million dollars was spent a durng the mid 1990s restoring Tampa Union Station, only now to become a bus station. Greyhound is just a few blocks west of it.

Pretty disgusting situation.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Junctionfan

I wonder how well amtrak markets itself. I see tonns of ads for United Airlines, and Carnival cruise lines and yet I don't remember the last time I saw an Amtrak commercial.

I see more Norfolk Southern commercials that I do Amtrak. I might see an Amtrak one once a year, but NS I see a few times a week.

[willy6]

as a novice railfan I would like to make an Amtrak comment.Since the beginning of the USA, being in the business of moving human beings form point "A" to point "B" has had it's ups and downs, mostly downs. Look at all the fallen flag railroads that delt with passenger service. And the fallen flag airlines, buslines and so on. Trying to make a profit moving people is a challenge, people have thw ability to change thier mind, instead of taking Amtrak to miami they may opt to drive or fly or take a cruise. Also, being Amtrak is in the "fishbowl", everytime Amtrak derails it's front page news where as that freight train that derailed in Omaha is a small blurb on page 9 of the newspaper.Another thing I have noticed about some Amtrak stations is that they are in the "worst" neighborhoods. I know here in Charleston,SC. there is now way I would have my family waitng on a train after dark. We all know Amtrak is the life blood of the NE corridor and the west coast.Maybe a little advertising would help like that commercial years ago........"See America by rail". There's going to come a day when Amtrak is going to run out of life preservers, they need to find a way to fix the hole in the ship.

[twhite]

I see in the current issue of TRAINS that the Coast Starlight is in danger of being cut between San Jose and San Luis Obispo, CA. What I'm curious about is what are they going go DO? Terminate at San Jose and bus people to the Cal-Trains connection in San Luis Obispo, or just terminate the southbound run at San Jose and say "well, people, you're on your own' to find a way south?" I can understand part of it, I rode the train this summer between Sacramento and San Luis Obispo, and we spent most of the morning in the Salinas Valley waiting for northbound UP freights. I remember the Coast Line years back when it was SP's primary north-south passenger line and most of the freights were scheduled at night, so as not to interfere with the Daylights. Of course I understand UP's position--after all they are a freight railroad and Amtrack simply rents the right of way, but I also understand--and correct me if I'm wrong--that UP's operating policy is to dispatch trains 'when they're ready' and not on any particular timetable (and WHY, in God's name, are trains in California dispatched from Omaha?). According to what I hear, UP only runs about 7-8 freights per day between LA and San Jose, which seems to be about four each way. One would think that even on a single-track line like the Coast Line, meets could be scheduled on passing tracks, instead of having to wait forever because UP decided on a whim to send a northbound freight at an odd time that is right now struggling up Cuesta Grade at 10mph because--oops!--there was no pusher at San Luis Obispo. I don't know about the rest of the country, but it seems to me that long-distance passenger travel here in the West is in grave danger simply because UP refuses to work on a TIMETABLE.

[Junctionfan]

I wonder how well amtrak markets itself. I see tonns of ads for United Airlines, and Carnival cruise lines and yet I don't remember the last time I saw an Amtrak commercial. Maybe if people were bombarded with media promotions as they are with Coca-Cola, they would be more inclined to use the train. I know I see a good few VIA comercials every once and awhile. An other suggestion which seems to work well for VIA is that maybe Amtrak should put advertising on there engines. VIA has had Spiderman 2, CBC Broadcast, Home Hardwear and Telus for so far. GO Transit has had various advertisements on their commuter cars as well. Surely Amtrak could find quite a few companies that would be interested in this. Amtrak could make extra money on the advertising.

[Modelcar]

...As I stated above....No operating money....train offs. Simple as that. The leader of Amtrak, Mr. Gunn, I believe most people agree is one of the most competent and knowledgeable presidents we've had on the system....If he can't do it, it probably can't be done under the present circumstances.

[Junctionfan]

I am very concerned for the U.S and how amtrak is being run. I don't have the answers as I would have to examine the issues more carefully for a better informed opinion. I do know that in Canada, we operate quite a few trains and get used quite abit. The amtrak that ran between Toronto and Chicago stopped and now we Canadians can't take a train there anymore unless we take the amtrak at Toronto to Buffalo Depew and wait for the Chicago bound to come at after 11 pm which is quite the wait when we would arrive at Depew at about 1pm. To me that is too long to wait and I am sure alot of people feal that way about amtrak and instead use the Greyhound or an airline.

[Modelcar]

....Mr. Gunn cannot continue to run trains we now have with reduced fiscal funding from the present Adminstration each cycle.....Just a fact the money is not there to do it. I believe most fans realize most passenger trains can not pay their total way even with great patronization. Their structure is of service and not a complete money making process. Our Adminstration has indicated publicly it wants to eliminate our National system and they are going to get it done one way or another. Piece by piece. Who knows what we are going to end up with....Probably sections that the area can hardly get along without like the NEC.....or create gridlock....Are there enough airplanes and air space and highway lanes to handle that traffic, etc....on and on. Oh, and ALL the tax payers will still be footing the bill, etc...but most without service they previously had.
Unless our government and Leaders like Mr. Gunn can somehow create an acceptable system for all of us....I believe Amtrak as we know it will be killed by taking it away piece by piece until what we have left is about next to nothing.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CHPENNSYLVANIA

The Three rivers I hope will never be cancelled bad enough in 1995 they cancelled the Broadway limited What is Amtrak thinking????????

They never really cut the Broadway, the only thing they really did was cut it to Pittsburgh and rename it the Three Rivers.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Those who guessed The Three Rivers, Amtrak #'s 40 & 41would be eliminated due to the cuts in mail and express were right on the mark. The Palmetto will be cut back to Savannah, GA for the same reason.

I am not surprised by Mr Gunn's move: in fact, he mentioned cutting out mail and express traffic in 2003. Several of Amtrak's trains started carrying mail and express as a way to cushion its losses,but I never thought it would work.

[Anonymous]

The Three Rivers will be cut to Pittsburgh, IMO I can't see Amtrak running 2 NYC to Pittsburgh trains, I think either the Three Rivers or Pennsylvanian will be cut, the Three River pretty much lived off of the Mail, Express, and Roadrailers it usually had 25 freight and 5 coaches!

[CG9602]

If Amtrak was serious about generating more Revenue Passenger Mileage, and focussing upon the "core business," obviously they should keep the current trains, and increase the frequency of service/departues over the existing route network. I hate to see the Three Rivers go. My experiences with riding that train have been positive, with professional crews who were competent in thir job skills and positive attitudes towards their passengers. During my last trip viw the Three Rivers, I witness the crew handle two tricky situations - ne with an older passenger who had some mobility challenges, the other with a drunken passenger who was "hitting on" several of the younger women aboard the train. it was quite professional. I'll be sorry to see that train go. I can only hope that the crew gets to other Amtrak trains, were they can spread the positive attitude around.

[Anonymous]

The Three rivers I hope will never be cancelled bad enough in 1995 they cancelled the Broadway limited What is Amtrak thinking????????

[conrailman]

Very Sad in amtrak Train 40 and 41 are gone also 43 and 42 to be with 40 and 41 in Nov.1 Go to Http://www.Post-gazette.com go under local news section in Transporation. A very sad day.[:(][:(][V][V]

[FThunder11]

I don't think any should be cut unless there is already a train servicing that station

[Anonymous]

My guess is train 40 and 41. The three rivers.
Andrew

[RudyRockvilleMD]

We will have to wait and see which of Amtrak's long distance trains are cut because it will no longer haul mail and express. You mentioned the Cardinal and the Sunset as endangered. The Cardinal does not carry any mail and express cars although it does have a baggage car.

[conrailman]

Amtrak should cut the Sunset Limited and the Cardinal in Nov.1

[conrailman]

What Amtrak Trains are to be cut in the Nov.1 timetable, because of the Mail and Express?