Trains.com

Boardman testifies about investment crisis and what funds needed

1311 views
4 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Boardman testifies about investment crisis and what funds needed
Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 10:37 PM

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/353/907/NEC_Investment_Crisis_ATK-13-033.pdf

Some highlights.

1.  Boardman says that without funds NEC capacity outlook grim.

.2.  Planned start on WASH expansion this year

3.  Capacity improvements PHL & BAL will start 2014.

4.  Hopes to start new HSR train set initial procurement ??

5. Needs minimum of $2.0B to keep NEC at present level of SOGR.  (good repair) not all in good repair

6.  Portal bridge is having almost constant maintenance and take 4 persons to operate this swing breidge.

7.  The 6 highest loss LD trains if discontinued would all be the trains west of the Mississippi river. 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Atlanta
  • 11,971 posts
Posted by oltmannd on Thursday, April 18, 2013 10:40 AM

The testimony shows that Boardman "gets it" in terms of the NEC and what Amtrak's mission is.  The NEC is THE vital, relevant thing that Amtrak owns.

The LD map trick looks like it's in there to help keep the conversation from turning from the NEC focus and to keep the political "ducks" in a row.

blue streak 1
7.  The 6 highest loss LD trains if discontinued would all be the trains west of the Mississippi river. 

I still wonder why there is no middle ground on this...  It's always all six and status quo vs. none at all.  

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    August 2012
  • 3,727 posts
Posted by John WR on Friday, April 19, 2013 8:00 PM

oltmannd

The testimony shows that Boardman "gets it" in terms of the NEC and what Amtrak's mission is.  The NEC is THE vital, relevant thing that Amtrak owns.

Yes, Joe Boardman did focus on the Northeast Corridor.  But he also pointed out that a number of long distance trains use the Northeast Corridor and the NEC is very much part of the coast to coast and border to border service.  

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 9:51 PM

Bed time reading only will take about 4 days.  This is the FRA 2014 budget estimates.  ---

http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.dev/files/docs/FRA_FY2014_Budget_Estimates.pdf

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 9:58 AM

Current Passenger Rail Service  2,700,000
Northeast Corridor - - 675,000
State Corridors - - 300,000
Long-Distance Routes - - 800,000
National Assets - - 925,000


Rail Service Improvement Program  3,660,000
Passenger Corridors - - 3,250,000

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy