Now here a friend of Amtrak. We can thank him for Amtrak diner or dinerless tlong distance trains.
I can't get too excited about this because typically Secretary's carry out policy of the Executive instead of making it up themselves. Secondly, he had a point to a lot of his complaints even though he did not illustrate them well. I don't think folks that criticize Amtrak should be demonized, I think they should be listened to.
I agree that folks who criticize Amtrak should be listened to in order to evaluate their positions. In many cases they have valid, and valuable, points.
That said, I fail to understand how finding a job for a 12 term ex-Congressman whose record in that office was somewhat pedestrian (I'm being polite) conforms to the theme of "draining the swamp".
Dakguy201I agree that folks who criticize Amtrak should be listened to in order to evaluate their positions. In many cases they have valid, and valuable, points. That said, I fail to understand how finding a job for a 12 term ex-Congressman whose record in that office was somewhat pedestrian (I'm being polite) conforms to the theme of "draining the swamp".
Swamp is filling rapidly with the unemployed.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Is Martin Whitmer, the transition team leader for transportation and infrastructure, possiby cabinet material?
http://www.whitmerworrall.com/martin-t-whitmer.html
Dakguy201 I agree that folks who criticize Amtrak should be listened to in order to evaluate their positions. In many cases they have valid, and valuable, points. That said, I fail to understand how finding a job for a 12 term ex-Congressman whose record in that office was somewhat pedestrian (I'm being polite) conforms to the theme of "draining the swamp".
I really agree with both of Dakguy201's points. Absolutely, we need to listen to critixisms of AMTRAK's service ( or the lack there of). Many here are pinning our hopes on the abilities of Wick Moorman to get AMTRAK into a position in all areas as a viable and reliable National Passenger Carrier.
Much of that will come from efforts at the Federal Level, both legislatively, and with positive consistant financial support.
It is to that area I have concerns that abt to be former Congressman John Mica,is NOT someone we need in an authorative position in Washington. He need to take his 20 years as a legislator and go to Florida, retire and drink mohitos on a beach.
Here linked is a recent article published about his career as a derail on AMTRAK's main line. @ http://www.trainsandtravel.com/amtrak-nemesis-mica-is-in-trouble/
"Amtrak Nemesis Mica Is In Trouble." by Jim Loomis
The lead in paragraph pretty well lays 'it' out. FTA:"...Congressman John Mica (R-Florida) has made a political career out of bashing Amtrak, “America’s soviet-style railroad”. (Mica has been using that line for 20 years. He delivers it, then pauses and smirks, waiting for the audience reaction, which is usually a few polite titters.)..."
Certainly, does not seem to be a good start for someone who could be steering the future of our National Rail Passenger Company. It does seem that in his 'fight' against AMTRAK, freight rail comanies could suffer as collateral damage. Just
Here is a previous FORUM link from 'PASSENGER' site here @ http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/743/p/259528/2914245.aspx
Re: [Ex] Florida Congressman John Mica
samfp1943It does seem that in his 'fight' against AMTRAK, freight rail comanies could suffer as collateral damage. Just
Sam,
I do not understand your logic. If ATK goes away the freight carriers get back the capacity they are forced to give ATK at far less than market value.
That seems like a win for freight carriers, and the economy, to me. How do you see the freight carriers loosing?
Mac
Becaiuse fixing choke points so Amtrak can perform better means that freight will also perform better.
daveklepper Becaiuse fixing choke points so Amtrak can perform better means that freight will also perform better.
The choke points that I know of are choke points because of ATK, either at current volume or because ATK wants more trains as in CHI-MKW case. If those ATK moves go away so do the choke points.
If you have an example of ATK or the state fixing a freight choke point other than to run more trains, please advise.
We and Amtrak have been fixing choke holds for a while. Amtrak on time performance improves very little for the dollar s it had paid. I think the case of how BNSF treated the empire builder is a case in point. The millions the class one railroads want so Amtrak can add one daily train is some times outrageous.
Mica joining the Trump team the swamp one, Amtrak zero.
PNWRMNM samfp1943 It does seem that in his 'fight' against AMTRAK, freight rail comanies could suffer as collateral damage. Just Sam, I do not understand your logic. If ATK goes away the freight carriers get back the capacity they are forced to give ATK at far less than market value. That seems like a win for freight carriers, and the economy, to me. How do you see the freight carriers loosing? Mac
samfp1943 It does seem that in his 'fight' against AMTRAK, freight rail comanies could suffer as collateral damage. Just
Mac: Agree that IF Rep. Mica succeeds in somehow putting a 'legislative javalin' in AMTRAK. The freight railroad would gain that capacity that AMTRAK is currently utilizing. IF it is killed, and simply goes away, that capacity would be theirs, but no value received. The issues seem to be that it is a " Hatfield and McCoy's" situation. Potentially, no winner and either party winds up spilling blood.
Particularly, in the areas of the East Coast; and Chicago, (West Coast,as well); where there is 'capacity' being used to support the many origins and destinations that AMTRAK traffic supports. Even with the mix of 'various regional services' municipal and state supported survices. I know that where AMTRAK 'operates ( or 'subsisizes'(?) those services. The railroads that 'host' those passenger services get funds to increase issues of traffic density and volume. Take out AMTRAK and the railroads still get benefits of improvements made to their capacity.
It seems that a majority of politicians and citizens agree that AMTRAK performs a needed service with its various operations around the country. The loss of those 'services' would cripple the economies in the areas where those 'services' are provided; workers would not be able to get to their jobs, and all the arrendant problems that go along with those issues.
True, the freight railroads would still haul and deliver the goods needed to make the American economy function; possibly, with AMTRAK removed the railroads would do that without the impediments of AMTRAK's timed, and scheduled trains 'interfering' with those operations(?)
My point about Cong. Mica, is in his twenty years in Congress, has been a voice that sought to interrupt the building of a national passenger rail network.He has consistantly, been a negative voice in Congress, attempting to stop the 'construction' of a passenger rail network. I would suspect that IF, he had ridden the Train between his home constituancy in Florida, and Washington,D.C. Those trips would be counted on the finger of one hand.
His role has been more destructive than constructive of the process of the goal of a national passenger carrier. In 1970 the Congressional goal was to take 20 railroads [in May of 1971] offering services in over thirty states, and create one carrier operated as an adjunct corporation of the Federal Government, Similarly, (?) to the Post Office. Congress finally killed the Railway Post Office Service in 1977. It had been dying a slow death since WWII, and the discontinuance of its subsisized routes, also signaled the death of many railroad passenger trains. Those subsidies were the funding that kept passenger trains on the railroads, and the withdrawal of those mail subsidies were parallel to the decline of the passenger trains.
Removing those 'mail subsidies' and then throttling the 'then new' AMTRAK with a budget process that stunted long term plans, and goals with a yearly budget process that created an environment of an uncertain future. Forcing AMTRAK management to make regular trips back to Congress to request more funding,created an uncertain future; both for AMTRAK and its hosting railroads. No wonder the railroads view AMTRAK as a tenant they do not want, and some one they are forced by legislation to live with. Not a good situation at ant level.
and it is as you stated else where, in the linked Thread:"...Be careful what you wish for. Mica may go from ATK's foremost critic to ATK's executioner..."
Yep! Congressman Mica may be the Luddite who thrws his sabot into the works on his way out the door...
John Mica at DOT? I don't know, The Trumpster likes achievers, and has Mr. Mica actually achieved anything? Just asking here, not being a wise guy.
https://mica.house.gov/press-releases/mica-turns-multimillion-dollar-taxpayer-loss-into-revenue-generator-with-redevelopment-of-old-post-office1/
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/donald-trumps-postal-hotel-gets-stamp-approval-john-mica
I won’t be surprised if Mica is appointed Secretary of something, if not transportation.
Trump’s daughter Ivanka says,
“When this property was put out to bid, Congressman John Mica, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, held a press conference in the vacant building; it was without heat, and in the freezing cold, he admonished the crowd about government excess and noted that the Old Post Office was losing the United States Government between $6-8-million a year. At a committee hearing following our soft opening last month, Congressman Mica said that Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C., is now creating hundreds of jobs and is a stellar example of turning underutilized properties around with the help of the private sector.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9LKS-nwxhQ&t=5m18s
wanswheelI won’t be surprised if Mica is appointed Secretary of something, if not transportation.
Once again, someone who speaks out against gov't spending will keep sucking at the government teat. Have to love those hypocrites and the fools who believe them.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Fire lock, John mica had one achievement. He found away to destroy food service on Amtrak.
ROBERT WILLISON Fire lock, John mica had one achievement. He found away to destroy food service on Amtrak.
Mica was one of the main forces in getting Sunrail, Orlando's commuter rail service, built. Please though, don't permit those facts from getting in the way of your Mica bash fest.
An "expensive model collector"
n012944 ROBERT WILLISON Fire lock, John mica had one achievement. He found away to destroy food service on Amtrak. Mica was one of the main forces in getting Sunrail, Orlando's commuter rail service, built. Please though, don't permit those facts from getting in the way of your Mica bash fest.
n012944: Very true. Demonizing supposed enemies and all or nothing thinking are not helpful. Seems to me the main thing Mica did was try to push Amtrak into obeying the law on LD food services. Not sure how that makes him the enemy of modern passenger rail.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimm n012944 ROBERT WILLISON Fire lock, John mica had one achievement. He found away to destroy food service on Amtrak. Mica was one of the main forces in getting Sunrail, Orlando's commuter rail service, built. Please though, don't permit those facts from getting in the way of your Mica bash fest. n012944: Very true. Demonizing supposed enemies and all or nothing thinking are not helpful. Seems to me the main thing Mica did was try to push Amtrak into obeying the law on LD food services. Not sure how that makes him the enemy of modern passenger rail.
all a part of 21st Century politics - trash the demon
Anybody you are not for is the demon.
Sure, that was for Florida. Being a good homeboy doesn't get him off the hook for the war he has made on passenger service for everybody else.
dakotafredSure, that was for Florida. Being a good homeboy doesn't get him off the hook for the war he has made on passenger service for everybody else.
Seems like the only passenger services you care about are the heavily-subsidized LD sleepers and diners, especially the EB..
So the rumor is that Mr. Trump has called Senator Charles Shumer several times already and is closing in on a deal on passage of a Economic Stimulus package that includes Passenger Rail funding but so far only rumor........stay tuned.
Heard 2 speeches during the campaign where your President-elect referred to railroad infrastructure and high speed rail in the US needing improvements and to become world class. Would not surprise me in the least if he can do twice as much with half the $'s. He will be good for railroads in general and a high speed rail showpiece or two with a Made in America solution.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2016/11/schumer-identifies-common-ground-with-trump.php
Trump, being more liberal-progressive than conservative, could easily turn out to be a robust continuation of the last eight years. The country needs an economic comeback, not an economic "stimulus package."
Miningman Heard 2 speeches during the campaign where your President-elect referred to railroad infrastructure and high speed rail in the US needing improvements and to become world class. Would not surprise me in the least if he can do twice as much with half the $'s. He will be good for railroads in general and a high speed rail showpiece or two with a Made in America solution.
Trump might also be supportive of the nation's commuter railroads. He is a Northeasterner and again see how many areas of country depend on them.
I also think the long distant trains could be in trouble. Even thinking about putting mica in the dot, might be an indication of how Trump might want to impact the rest of the Amtrak system. John mica simply is not an big fan of Amtrak. It one thing to be critical of Amtrak for its long term improvements, another to try to make it disappear.
Actually Trump is more of a Reform Conservative with Some Liberal lean. He knows that getting Government out of the way is the right thing to do for a lot of industry. Yet he knows that improving our nations infastructure and increasing our manufactoring base is huge. He knows that we can not keep being dependant on forgien sources of energy. He has seen being from the Northeast what can happen with overregulation to industry and how it does effect everyone.
Here is something to remember about him. He is not from Manhatten he is from Queens he doen't drink smoke do any kind of illegal drug and never has. Why those items he has seen what it did to his late brother Fred Jr. He tried and failed to run an airline in the Northeast with Trump Shuttle. When he does take on a project he does get it done take his overhaul of the old Washington DC post office over 1 year ahead of Schedule and under Budget. He does not tolerate incompetance and will not allow people that are to rise to the top in his organization. He expects results if not your gone. For those that think he is unfair he tackled the toughest real estate market in the USA being Manhatten and he sure has had a lot of success in a city that spits out more people than make it in that city.
Well, there's one thing we can all agree on. Love him or hate him or be indifferent to him, Mr. Trump's got four years to deliver or he's history. Matter of fact, the now Republican controlled House of Representatives has two years to start getting it done or a lot of them will be history.
It's going to be interesting.
ROBERT WILLISON I think Trump will improve the North East corridor. He a life time new yorker and knows the importance of the corridor is to the region. The infrastructure is largely in place with perhaps some track realignments. Alot of the upgrading is close to being shovel ready. Trump might also be supportive of the nation's commuter railroads. He is a Northeasterner and again see how many areas of country depend on them. I also think the long distant trains could be in trouble. Even thinking about putting mica in the dot, might be an indication of how Trump might want to impact the rest of the Amtrak system. John mica simply is not an big fan of Amtrak. It one thing to be critical of Amtrak for its long term improvements, another to try to make it disappear.
I think Trump will improve the North East corridor. He a life time new yorker and knows the importance of the corridor is to the region. The infrastructure is largely in place with perhaps some track realignments. Alot of the upgrading is close to being shovel ready.
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