This is taken from a Don Phillips item on Train Wire:
"WASHINGTON - New Amtrak President Joseph Boardman says many Amtrak managers do not know whether to believe that Amtrak actually has a future, and that anyone who cannot make the transition from a survival mode to a growth mode will have to find another job.Boardman said in an interview that shortly after leaving the top spot at the Federal Railroad Administration last Thanksgiving to take over Amtrak, he discovered that the passenger rail system is in worse shape than he thought, and that some people in Amtrak headquarters in Washington are, in effect, burnout cases"
It seems clear to me that someone in the new Administration has signaled Mr. Boardman that he is no longer an interim CEO. To say that on anything but deep background, you have to be very sure of your own position.
On the other hand, the Administration doesn't seem to be tied to Amtrak, either. Routing the $8 bil HSR funds independently of Amtrak is one sign; limiting the amount of Amtrak additional maintenance/repair appropriation that can go to the NE Corridor is another.
Well if you think things will change don't hold your breath. In an article in the 2/21 Wall Street Journal he basically say's don;t expect any improvements from the additional funds. Another typical federal beuracracy that never gets enough funding to do anything and needs more taxpayer funding. Can you say Post Office? Margaret Thacher said, "there is no limit to the amount of good Socialism can do until you run out of somebody elses money". I guess mine is going to fund a study of mice in San Francisso as part of the stimulus bill or is it to fund Acorn? I forget but then I pay my mortgage every month and live within my means so I need to be punished some more I guess for another useless federal program called Amtrak.
Just watching the NBC TV telecast of NHL's Pittsburg at Washington and they are making a big deal over the Pen's riding Amtrak Charter Philadelphia to D.C. with pics and very favorable comments from players and announcers. In fact outside the clip presentation the announcers have given several good comments about how great riding Amtrak can be! This is an attitude that has not been reflected in the media until lately. So with the highway lobby behind better rail transportation including passenger rail, the administration being pro passenger train and pro Amtrak, and a now a leader at Amtrak who is pro passenger train, pro Amtrak, and the most capable President has actually ever had (OK, that's my opinion, and other's too!), there is a good chance that the passenger train may be put back on track and for the benifet of the country, too!
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
Well said! Why is it everyone who is to take the helm at Amtrak needs to cut. One thing in the fed gov is supposed to do is build roads airports and provide intercity passenger rail. BUT only passenger rail gets the shaft! In NJ where roads cost upwards of $5000000.00 a mile to maintain(the higest in the nation) there is no call to make roads pay for them selfs. It seems everyone got snowed with the current administration, just like the old one when it comes to Amtrak.
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