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Elijah Cummings Amtrak supporter

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, October 28, 2019 7:42 AM

charlie hebdo

 

 
Flintlock76

Charlie, if you say ticket sales are at record highs two years running that's good enough for me!  I'm sure you've got your sources, so I won't

 

say any more on the subject.

My questioning came about because those two links didn't mention ticket sales at all, they mentioned everything but.   

 

 

 

That was my error.  The link was a little off. 

Try this:

https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/estimated-july-2019-us-airline-traffic-data

 

Got it.  Much better, thank you!

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Sunday, October 27, 2019 7:31 PM

Flintlock76

Charlie, if you say ticket sales are at record highs two years running that's good enough for me!  I'm sure you've got your sources, so I won't

 

say any more on the subject.

My questioning came about because those two links didn't mention ticket sales at all, they mentioned everything but.   

 

That was my error.  The link was a little off. 

Try this:

https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/estimated-july-2019-us-airline-traffic-data

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Posted by York1 on Sunday, October 27, 2019 6:33 PM

I think it boils down to this:

If I live in NYC and want to travel to Boston, I will take a train.

If I live in NYC and want to travel to Los Angeles, I will take a plane.

A dining car, or a toilet in my bedroom, or a restaurant in a station, or a great European rail system, is not going to make much difference.

York1 John       

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, October 27, 2019 6:16 PM

Charlie, if you say ticket sales are at record highs two years running that's good enough for me!  I'm sure you've got your sources, so I won't say any more on the subject.

My questioning came about because those two links didn't mention ticket sales at all, they mentioned everything but.   

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Sunday, October 27, 2019 5:21 PM

Flintlock76

The customer satisfaction surveys are interesting, and one would assume they would translate into greater business for the airlines, but I'd still like to see a straightforward set of numbers as in, are ticket sales up, down, or static.  

The question really is, are the airlines selling tickets at the rate they want, or are the gloomy ticket sales news stories I've seen merely a case of business not as good as the airlines wish it was?   In other words they had a target figure and didn't make it?

It's kind of like when I see a news story of  "Business X" claiming they lost "ten gazillion" dollars last year.  Turns out they didn't lose anything, they just didn't make as money as they thought they would.  If they "lost" as much money as they said they did they'd be out of business!

 

I don't understand why you still wonder about ticket sales. They are at record highs two years running. 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, October 27, 2019 4:45 PM

The customer satisfaction surveys are interesting, and one would assume they would translate into greater business for the airlines, but I'd still like to see a straightforward set of numbers as in, are ticket sales up, down, or static.  

The question really is, are the airlines selling tickets at the rate they want, or are the gloomy ticket sales news stories I've seen merely a case of business not as good as the airlines wish it was?   In other words they had a target figure and didn't make it?

It's kind of like when I see a news story of  "Business X" claiming they lost "ten gazillion" dollars last year.  Turns out they didn't lose anything, they just didn't make as money as they thought they would.  If they "lost" as much money as they said they did they'd be out of business!

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, October 27, 2019 4:43 PM

Added: Transcipt of Elijah's statements with Moorman

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Sunday, October 27, 2019 3:49 PM

According to JD Power,  customer satisfaction with airline travel is at an all-time high,  topping last year's record by eleven points on its 1000 point scale.

https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2019-north-america-airline-satisfaction-study

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, October 27, 2019 3:37 PM

Overmod
With respect, I think alphas was talking about 'popular' in the sense of satisfaction,...

Indeed - I flew one airline on a trip to AZ last year that seemed to go out of it's way to be inconvenient, even to the point of not allowing me to upgrade my "economy" seat.  It wasn't even a case of no upgrades available - it simply wasn't an option.  I won't fly them again.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Sunday, October 27, 2019 3:25 PM

Overmod

 

 
charlie hebdo
 
alphas

What are the stats for you saying air travel is less and less popular?    There's been more and more griping from air customers since the increased security and [since] most [airlines started] charging for all luggage (and some even for carry-ons)

All-time high in 2018, surpassing previous high in 2017, up 4.8%.

 

With respect, I think alphas was talking about 'popular' in the sense of satisfaction, not in the sense of patronage.  I doubt you'll find many people who think air travel is more enjoyable now; it's going to be interesting to see what the effect of Delta's service changes starting November 5th will be ... not in terms of number of 'butts in seats' but in terms of quality and service reviews or lower numbers of complaints.

 

Maybe he was,  but satisfaction surveys are less reliable and/or valid than number of passengers using,  which is the same as 'butts in seats' AFAIK. 

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Posted by Miningman on Sunday, October 27, 2019 3:09 PM
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Posted by Overmod on Saturday, October 26, 2019 9:46 PM

charlie hebdo
 
alphas

What are the stats for you saying air travel is less and less popular?    There's been more and more griping from air customers since the increased security and [since] most [airlines started] charging for all luggage (and some even for carry-ons)

All-time high in 2018, surpassing previous high in 2017, up 4.8%.

With respect, I think alphas was talking about 'popular' in the sense of satisfaction, not in the sense of patronage.  I doubt you'll find many people who think air travel is more enjoyable now; it's going to be interesting to see what the effect of Delta's service changes starting November 5th will be ... not in terms of number of 'butts in seats' but in terms of quality and service reviews or lower numbers of complaints.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, October 26, 2019 9:25 PM

I'm more than willing to admit I'm wrong, honestly I based my opinion on airline gloom-and-doom headlines, but I just checked that link Charlie supplied and I see plenty of stats, but no "butts-in-seats" stats.  Are they up, or down?  And where do we find the numbers?  

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Saturday, October 26, 2019 7:19 PM

alphas

What are the stats for you saying air travel is less and less popular?    There's been more and more griping from air customers since the incresed security and most charging for all luggage (and some even for carry-ons).    But that doesn't mean air travelers would ride Amtrak LD trains even if more were available.

 

You've entered the fact-free zone. 

https://www.bts.dot.gov/newsroom/2018-traffic-data-us-airlines-and-foreign-airlines-us-flightshttps://www.bts.dot.gov/newsroom/2018-traffic-data-us-airlines-and-foreign-airlines-us-flights

All-time high in 2018, surpassing previous high in 2017, up 4.8%.

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Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, October 26, 2019 6:52 PM

alphas
What are the stats for you saying air travel is less and less popular?    There's been more and more griping from air customers since the incresed security and most charging for all luggage (and some even for carry-ons).    But that doesn't mean air travelers would ride Amtrak LD trains even if more were available. Add Quote to your Post

Further Amtrak really blows it with the intermodal Airport stations which are not even at the airport terminal in almost every case.    If Amtrak was ever serious about being an alternative to the plane on it's corridors it would pay to move the station onto airport property and serve the terminal just like the airlines do.

I would be real curious if Amtrak developed an Airport terminal to Airport Terminal corridor, with 90-95% reliability if Airlines would respect it as an alternative in bad weather or potentially pay to have it as a subcontractor similar to a regional jet.

It definitely would cost some serious money but I don't see why Amtrak can't serve Chicago Union Station and O'Hare (at the main terminal).    For that matter the Milwaukee Airport station could have been built right at the terminal of Milwaukee Mitchell field just by spending more money.    They manage to build spurs that leave and rejoin the mainline for frieght customers like power plants but apparently too much of an expense for passengers.

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Posted by alphas on Saturday, October 26, 2019 6:35 PM

What are the stats for you saying air travel is less and less popular?    There's been more and more griping from air customers since the incresed security and most charging for all luggage (and some even for carry-ons).    But that doesn't mean air travelers would ride Amtrak LD trains even if more were available.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, October 26, 2019 9:45 AM

tree68

 

 
Electroliner 1935
THe administration is still trying to destroy Amtak as Mr Gunn testified.

 

That's been the case since Day One.  Amtrak was supposed to fail, but has somehow managed to hang on...

 

Well that's the crazy thing, isn't it?  Congress hasn't the guts to kill it, if that's what they really want, nor do they have the guts to fund it into the powerhouse it could be, especially in this day and age when air travel is becoming less and less popular and a viable alternative could be very attractive to travelers.  

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, October 25, 2019 4:19 PM

Electroliner 1935
THe administration is still trying to destroy Amtak as Mr Gunn testified.

That's been the case since Day One.  Amtrak was supposed to fail, but has somehow managed to hang on...

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, October 25, 2019 3:01 PM

Backshop
Yep.  Currently, 33 Senators and 77 Representitives are at least 70 years old.

Remember - Cummings was not yet 70!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Friday, October 25, 2019 1:52 PM

Backshop
Yep.  Currently, 33 Senators and 77 Representitives are at least 70 years old. Ad

As one who is over 80, I resemble that and while age can add wisdom, it also can slow one down. Mr. Cummings was not slowing down in my opinion. And he was doing a good job on the committee he chaired. And I thought the original post's excerpt of his Mr. Gunn's interrogation was very well done. THe administration is still trying to destroy Amtak as Mr Gunn testified.  think if we loose it, we will wish we had not. And we won't be able to we won't be able to build a new national passenger railroad system. This I think is bad for the country. 

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Posted by Miningman on Thursday, October 24, 2019 5:01 PM
Excerpt from Teamsters Rail Conference press release May 17, 2007
Hundreds of Amtrak workers rallied today at Amtrak's headquarters at Union Station, expressing frustration about working without a union contract for eight years with no negotiations on the horizon...
"We have to say to our Republican colleagues, 'Get Your Hands Off Amtrak,'" said Rep. Elijah Cummings, (D-MD). "You, the workers who keep this railroad running, have been deprived of what you are rightfully due. We are doing everything in our power to preserve Amtrak."

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Posted by Miningman on Thursday, October 24, 2019 3:52 PM

Excerpt from Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-elijah-cummings/mourners-remember-the-late-u-s-representative-elijah-cummings-kindness-idUSKBN1X32CP

Jawauna Greene, a former Cummings staffer, took the train from New York on Wednesday night to pay her respects.

She said she first met Cummings 24 years ago when he was working in a small law firm. She was pregnant, her Marine Corps husband was deployed and she needed to supplement the family's income.

Cummings hired her on the spot, said Greene, who later worked as a scheduler in his congressional office. 

"He was always helping neighbors, paying people's bills out of his own pocket when he barely had money," she said.

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, October 24, 2019 3:17 PM

Backshop
 
JPS1 
Flintlock76
 The last time I watched a "State Of The Union" address and the cameras panned over the assembly I wasn't sure if I was looking at the Congress or a nursing home.  

Right on! 

Yep.  Currently, 33 Senators and 77 Representitives are at least 70 years old.

Except for being in Congress - I resemble that.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Miningman on Thursday, October 24, 2019 3:15 PM
 
 
 
From Mike :
 
 
Excerpt from Progressive Railroading
Chuck Baker, president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), said Cummings' career was characterized by doing the right thing.
 
"He was relentless in his support of Baltimore and for civil rights across the nation," Baker said. "For short lines and the ASLRRA, we were blessed to have him in our corner — he understood the importance of infrastructure investment and rail service to companies in Baltimore, and the importance of the jobs railroads support."
 

 

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Posted by Backshop on Thursday, October 24, 2019 3:03 PM

JPS1

 

 
Flintlock76
 The last time I watched a "State Of The Union" address and the cameras panned over the assembly I wasn't sure if I was looking at the Congress or a nursing home.  

 

Right on!

 

Yep.  Currently, 33 Senators and 77 Representitives are at least 70 years old.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, October 24, 2019 2:33 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

One of the problems with term limits is that there are no term limits for the lobbyists, who would wind up being much more experienced than the legislators.  do you really want that??

Fortunately, it would take a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on the House of Representatives and the Senate.

 

They can always say "No" to the lobbyists.  Some do, some don't, some will, some won't.

Lobbyists aren't magical all-powerful creatures, they're people who persuade by various means.  I won't go into those means as we're getting a bit beyond the scope of the original post.   Suffice to say if a congressman or a senator goes out, another one comes in, and the lobbyists have to start all over again. 

And it goes without saying the lobbyists aren't on the House or Senate floor voting. 

Don't forget, the president is term-limited.  It hasn't hurt the office at all. 

Old saying, "The graveyards are full of 'indispensable' men." 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, October 24, 2019 1:52 PM

One of the problems with term limits is that there are no term limits for the lobbyists, who would wind up being much more experienced than the legislators.  do you really want that??

Fortunately, it would take a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, October 24, 2019 1:16 PM

Overmod

Charlie Wilson went on to have 12 terms, didn't he?

Dunno - never checked.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, October 24, 2019 1:05 PM

Charlie Wilson went on to have 12 terms, didn't he?

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