Several surprizes and some expected results
1. Despite "Sandy" was best October ever. Passengers up 1/2% vs 2011 revenue up 2%. Of course the figures were well under budget anticipations as # of pass 70.000 below budget.
2. All long distance routes not affected by sandy had higher #s except Southwest chief that AMTRAK noted that SWC had a reduction of capacity in coach. ( no reason given but suspect lack of superliner coaches ? ) SWC sleeper traffic did increase.
3. AMTRAK estimated that they lost about 133,000 ( vs budget of 70,000 ) trips due to sandy and expected the decrease to continue into November.
4. AMTRAK stated that if not for sandy Oct would have been a very good month.
5. load factor was 52% an increase from 50.%
6. Loco / motor availability 82% and passenger car availability 89%
7. Capital spending for new electric motors was $33,9 M less than budget which indicates lower progress payments and consequence a delay in delivery .
8.. Capital spending for the new Viewliner cars was also $ 8.9 M less than budget so also a delay.
9. Break even SD routes were Keystone, Lynchburg, Newport News, Piedmont.
10. Most delays came at hands of CP & CN . CP's delays Adirondack and Ethan Allen ( note; VTR is no longer delaying the Allen. NS's delays on Blue Water were as bad as CP & CN but otherwise were good.
11.. BBrRR no longer the worst but still not good probably due to decrease in CSX's coal traffic ?
12. Least delays were BNSY, NS, UP which were all almost the same. If UP could get the Texas Eagle running correctly they would have easily outdistanced BNSF & NS.
blue streak 16. Loco / motor availability 82% and passenger car availability 89%
Passenger car availability of 89% seems a pretty good number for Amtrak. Argues that the fleet does not really need replacing right now, anyway. New purchases should support growth, not replacement.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
blue streak 19. Break even SD routes were Keystone, Lynchburg, Newport News, Piedmont.
oltmannd blue streak 16. Loco / motor availability 82% and passenger car availability 89% Passenger car availability of 89% seems a pretty good number for Amtrak. Argues that the fleet does not really need replacing right now, anyway. New purchases should support growth, not replacement.
Don; very good point -- 90% is AMTRAK'S stated goal. I wonder if this 89% is the result of the ARRA funds enabling AMTRAK to take care of all the deferred maintenance of the cars ? Maybe finally congress starving AMTRAK of funds needed for regular maintenance has been resolved ? One has to wonder if in the future the maintenance problem will once again rear its ugly head ?
No one has come up with even how much our spartan LD trains will fill up with the new equipment ? The decrease in passengers on the SWC for lack of coaches certainly is not very encouraging.
The break even I am about 70 - 80 % sure it includes state support ? know Piedmont's is because state owns all rolling stock.
Slightly off topic but....
You know what I found interesting is Amtrak is again selling snack items via push cart on the Chicago to Milwaukee trains. At least they were at Christmas time. I thought food service was a money loser but apparently not for this route. Curious why they are doing this on only a 85 mile run?
CMStPnP Slightly off topic but.... You know what I found interesting is Amtrak is again selling snack items via push cart on the Chicago to Milwaukee trains. At least they were at Christmas time. I thought food service was a money loser but apparently not for this route. Curious why they are doing this on only a 85 mile run?
I agree with you, Don. Amtrak isin the transportation business and not in the food service business. I can see a lot of benefits to contracting it out. Even Congressman John Mica might find something about Amtrak to agree with then.
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