Perhaps part of the problem for whoever is "in charge" at Amtrak, is that they aren't really in charge, as they would be at a private corporation. They have to answer to politicians who have no idea how to run a railroad (or any enterprise, it sometimes seems).
Those places where the politicians are on board (literally or figuratively), Amtrak, and most regional services thereof, are doing well.
But when some political wonk is trying to micromanage meal service, that's another story.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Jack R. ~snip~ Running a railroad should be a hands on job period. I know if I were a CEO of a major railroad, I would be involved in every level of my little empire. Truth is, many execs just don't care and they appear more interested in being popular versus actually managing their railroad with integrity, honesty, sincerity and distinction. Something, few railroads of today can boast of. Amtrak has the market. Until it is challenged by an up and coming passenger service that is nation wide, Amtrak will, as they say, be Amtrak! Before one can be a leader, one must be a follower. I suspect, Amtrak is leaderless.
~snip~
Running a railroad should be a hands on job period. I know if I were a CEO of a major railroad, I would be involved in every level of my little empire. Truth is, many execs just don't care and they appear more interested in being popular versus actually managing their railroad with integrity, honesty, sincerity and distinction. Something, few railroads of today can boast of.
Amtrak has the market. Until it is challenged by an up and coming passenger service that is nation wide, Amtrak will, as they say, be Amtrak!
Before one can be a leader, one must be a follower. I suspect, Amtrak is leaderless.
I disagree with you on the CEO needing to be hands on running a major railroad...that's why you have railroaders as employees, CEO sets policy and answers to the Board/Investors and has jurisdiction overall. Rules are already in place that cover practically everything to do with operations, let those that are on that level do their jobs with minimal intervention from the CEO. Executive levels at almost all corporations are top heavy, and that is where the fat should be cut first. A companies structure should not look like a pyramid, but instead should resemble a step building, with very wide steps between levels, but that's unheard of in todays world.
BaltACD Not all CEO's of organizations are 'People people'. As we note from the changes in managment in sports teams - some coaches are 'players coaches' and some coaches are hard line 'my way or the highway' type coaches. When a team doesn't achieve the necessary level of results with one form of coach they fire them and hire the other form. Both can win and both can lose. There is a whole lot more to running an enterprise than just one's people skills.
Not all CEO's of organizations are 'People people'. As we note from the changes in managment in sports teams - some coaches are 'players coaches' and some coaches are hard line 'my way or the highway' type coaches. When a team doesn't achieve the necessary level of results with one form of coach they fire them and hire the other form. Both can win and both can lose. There is a whole lot more to running an enterprise than just one's people skills.
I read this and my first thought was the Dallas Cowboys! Lol
Your analogy though is excellent.
The basic trouble with Amtraks leadership is......it is ineffective. This, of course, is my summation of the whole affair.
I love Amtrak. The people are pretty cool on the lower levels, but once you cross into the corporate levels, they become almost sedate and ineffective in my personal opinion of course.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Too bad somebody -- and who better than Don Phillips? -- couldn't have given us the scoop on Boardman back when we could have used it.
I understand that a reporter can't burn his bridges. But protecting his access should be secondary to informing his readers, known as REPORTING.
Quite a switch from the several years of praise from Phillips when Boardman was leading the FRA, including in 2008 when he called him one of "railroading's heroes".
And several columns after his Amtrak appointment praised him as well, including for his people skills as I recall.
Didn't take long for his inadequacy to show through though, I just don't understand why nothing was done 6-7 years ago to remove him from this position. Hopefully his time at Amtrak is at least running short and someone that seems a bit more competent gets the job.
Even the replacement electric power, his earliest focus at Amtrak, is only now coming online after nearly a decade and is one of his few accomplishments. Most of his other actions at Amtrak have either disappeared to never be spoken of again, failed entirely, or left everyone scratching their heads when other seemingly more important needs are left neglected.
Wouldn't E. Hunter Harrison make the best replacement for Boardman? Perhaps a nice presidntial appointment begging Boardman to "save Amtrak"? Wonder if NS could pull that off?
Don Phillips certainly didnt hold back on his discussion of Mr. Boardman.
Ed
My conclusions on Mr Boardman are just based on watching him on youtube and reading his comments in the press. As a leader I would rate him closer to the absent minded professor than to a Industry Captain of any type in the past like a Graham Clayton Jr for example.
Also, watching him on CSPAN being belittled by that clown in Florida over Amtrak Food costs and largely not responding to the criticism on a point by point basis but letting it largely stick instead. Thought that was fairly poor precedent to set as well.
Then there is the whole "Amtrak America" branding for viewliner cars using the three equal stripes of red white and blue..........which can now be confused with the new Empire Corridor branding using the same paint scheme. Anyways, see what I mean about leadership? A leader would have spotted that brand conflict before rolling it out or would have asked why they were market branding a small subgroup of long distance car designs in the fleet.........does it make sense to do so?
You must have gotten your latest issue of "Trains" before the rest of us, I haven't seen the Don Phillips column yet, although I'm sure looking forward to reading it now!
Perhaps some at this site were aware of Mr. Boardmans terrible people skills but I was not. Assuming Phillips would not submit such damning documentation about Boardman without evidence I cannot see how such an individual could (1) be selected for that position and (2) why he was not fired, or had his a** kicked by a railroader who would not tolerate such treatment.
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