SO, WHAT'S THERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONCE AMTRAK IS GONE?

[siberianmo]

At the onset, I am not an Amtrak "lover" nor "hater." I do enjoy traveling on U.S. and Canadian passenger trains - very much. I also love the memories of days gone by when the U.S. had some of the greatest passenger railroads in the world.

Then, along came the "end" and with it, the birth of Amtrak. Perhaps history will be kind to those who founded this idea of trying to preserve passenger routes in the U.S., while building for a better and more reliable "system." We all know what happened - it has failed. But do we really know why? I think not AND I do not have the answers either.

I won't pretend to know more than I do, nor will I cut 'n paste snippets of information in order to build my case. I'll just go with the sad reality of the day - Amtrak is to cease operations in Missouri on July 1st. The nationwide shut down supposedly will occur on October 1st.

I am going to miss my round trips between Kirkwood, MO (just west of St. Louis) and Kansas City, MO - do that about 4 or 5 times a year. Going to miss my quick turnarounds between Kirkwood and Jefferson City, MO - do that at least twice a year. Really going to miss the long distance trains ....... Has it all been roses? Absolutely not! Some of the crews have been borderline incompetents, whereas others have been extremely professional. On time performance? Forget it. Rail fans look over that aspect ....... Always get the services you pay for? Hardly - but the Customer Relations folks are good about making it up the best they can, and they are just a phone call away.

Anecdotal and emotional soap boxes fill the pages of these forums regarding anti-Amtrak, pro-Amtrak - why at times you would think our national security was at stake - DUH - it is! But for a far different reason, folks - can't blame "911" on Amtrak, but seemingly some of you would like to!

For me, I've written to my representatives and senators. From experience I know that letters get more attention than e-mail - so a few postage stamps is well worth it to perhaps extend the inevitable demise of America's only nationwide passenger rail system.

So, what's there to complain about once Amtrak is gone? It will be interesting to observe ......

[daveklepper]

I hope yopu don't have to observe it put continue your travel instead,

[Anonymous]

There will always be the Union Pacific and Wal-Mart.

John Timm

[garr]

And the weather.

Jay

[underworld]

And crappy government.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Junctionfan]

And a discussion on Amtrak.[:D]

[dharmon]

I DON"T KNOW! WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

[Paul Milenkovic]

It has been oft' said on this forum that "stamps are better than e-mails." That may have been true before the Fall of 2001, but the anthrax-letter case has not been solved, and the men and women in Congress are very careful these days in opening mail (it takes them a long time). Senator Bill Frist, I believe, states on his Web site that he prefers e-mail to s-mail for that very reason.

I suppose all things being equal, some going to the trouble of mailing a letter gets more attention than someone shooting off an e-mail, but these are strange times.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by siberianmo

At the onset, I am not an Amtrak "lover" nor "hater." I do enjoy traveling on U.S. and Canadian passenger trains - very much. I also love the memories of days gone by when the U.S. had some of the greatest passenger railroads in the world.

Then, along came the "end" and with it, the birth of Amtrak. Perhaps history will be kind to those who founded this idea of trying to preserve passenger routes in the U.S., while building for a better and more reliable "system." We all know what happened - it has failed. But do we really know why? I think not AND I do not have the answers either.

It has not lived up to its mandate, because it was set up to fail. One of the biggest reason for this mandate for failure was that there was no source of funding. So, every year it had to do a dance for its funds.

It really amuses me to see one of you middle state guys just give up on a program that you have grown to use. Its like your saying "I'm not important enough to deserve this," mean while back at the trough in Washington, every Big Business Buddy has hired every lobbyist in town to transfer more Corporate responsibility somewhere else.

As the lobbyist's office space grows in Washington, the quality of life for plain folks gets worse. As a middle class American, my standard of living over the last 25 years has declined! The tax burden has been effectively transferred from corporate America, to working Joes and Jills like me and my wife.

Once Amtrak is gone it will only mean us plain folks will carry more of the burden, and one more benefit for the middle class is just gone...

I'm sorry, been working here in America for thirty five years, this country no longer has the highest standard of living, and yet productivity of Americans continues to out perform Europe and many developed Asian countries...

You know, I could go on and on and on, but what good is it. You middle state fellows just keep giving everything back. I'm SORRY, YOU AND YOUR KIND ARE THE PROBLEM, you just roll-over to special interests, you have no idea which side of your bread the butter is on. I'm so glade I'm old and will die soon

Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236

[Anonymous]

CHECK OUT THE COUNTRYS THAT HAVE PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE AND SEE WHO PAYS THE BILL. THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM IS OVERCROWDED AND FUEL TAXES DON'T COVER THAT EITHER. THE AIRLINES GET THE MAJOR SHARE OF SUBSIDIES FOR SOME REASON. A LOT OF QUESTIONS , HUH?????
A RETIRED RAILROADER.

[THayman]

Why is it that VIA can survivie in Canada as a government run railway, but Amtrak cannot? What is it that we know in Canada that they don't?

[spbed]

Probably higher gasoline prices just like in Europe. Also maybe the Canadian road system is not as developed as ours is. To say why passenger service can suceed in like Europe & not suceed in the USA in my opinion is like comparing a apple & a orange as their are so many factors that go in to why it is successful in one country but not in a other. Just as a example in Russia ownership of a car is very rare so the only way to get from point A to point B is via rail. Also Russia has no interstate system whatsoever so it is actually quicker to take say the St. Pete/Moscow xpress then drive. [:p][:)][:D]

Originally posted by THayman

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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