Amtrak Shutdown Will It Happen?

[Modelcar]

Can't imagine why "Amtrak not making money in 31 years", should surprise too many folks that are aware of what a passenger train is...Check out many of our Airlines and see how flush with money they have been over many years...Not many of them make money.

As for McCain leading the pack to kill off the passenger train...He's been on that kick for some years now. Before Bush was in the White House.

QM

[Modelcar]

It's irresponsible on all involved...but we all know Amtrak could not be run as it should have been on the kind of financing it has had over the years. Most of the time when they were short on financing they cut service, train off's, cut personell, deferred maintenance in order to even meet payrolls. With no other means of improvement, what were they [Amtrak], to do...

QM

[Anonymous]

The catch line on the radio this morning was 'Amtrak hasn't made money in all of its 31 years. Why should we think this will be a loan?'

I have avoided all political references as long as possible but the solution will be overrun with politics. I think the political reality is that if the other routes get dropped, then the whole country will demand that the NEC get their funding from the NEC states. This would reflect the regional perspective that I have advocated several times in the past. On the brighter side, if the NEC states start funding it, then NECtrak will be more accountable to their customers.

I am shocked that McCain is the champion of the 'kill Amtrak' movement in congress. He has been such a staunch opponent of all things Bu***hat I would have expected him to be more congenial toward all Democrat controlled regions of the country, particularly the NE US. - Ed

[Anonymous]

Ed:

I think it was $521 mil.

I was just thinking something much like what you wrote... and I am also thinking that, whatever your opinion of him, (and beleive me I am no McCainiac!), that we might soon see some McCainiaction.

It appears that the House will not be receptive to a bailout, and any Congressional action will thus take place in the Dem controlled Senate. Which should be fun, . Especially for you free market types.

Seriously, the thing is the FRA will meet in, oh, six hours? By the time you read this, then. I am betting you will see them bail out the carier at least partially....

But don't be surprised if you see the EB, CZ, SWC, etc... go bye-bye. Oh, and the Star-late. If not now than very soon. Why? If the House is any indication, I don't think the "throw more money and don't look too closely" approach will work. And even the Dems know this, (though they'll play it to the hilt accusing the other side of "killing rail" and "abandoning the poor".)

Don't mean to be "partisan", as they say now. I'm just reading the facts as I see them, take it or leave it how you will.

The end result will probably be this: the Senate will let the long distance trains die in exchange for NEC continuance. And that will be that. Long distance trains will be, for now, gone.

Because who's going to agree to re-authorize them? Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Why isn't it irresponsible for the leadership of Amtrak to have allowed it to come to this? How much did the Federal government give Amtrak to run this FY? - Ed

[Modelcar]

If someone doesn't act and provide the financing...according to today's paper in our area [Indiana], it will start to do that this coming Wednesday...The 26th.

You have it well covered on what is expected to happen....I think financing will come but, it is really irresponsible for our leadership [in Washington], to let it go this close to Chaos.

QM

[RudyRockvilleMD]

The question on many travelers' minds is will Amtrak have to shutdown by the end of June? My guess is it won't happen since some way will be found to cover the $200 million shortfall for the lst quarter of FY 2002. Note: the federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.

Don Phillips who writes on transportation issues in the Washington Post had an article in the Saturday, June 22, 2002 Washington Post which clearly detailed how shutting down Amtrak would create havoc in the commuter rail service in the northeastern part of the country as well as in Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

In addition to that the freight railroads that have trackage rights on Amtrak won't be able to use them to reach their lines or shippers. For example, Norfolk Southern uses Amtrak between Perryville, MD and Baltimore also between Perryville and Wilmington, DE. CSX uses Amtrak between landover Jct. (Outside of Washington, DC) and Bowie (Huntington), MD to reach their Popes Creek Secondary Line. The importance of this line is it serves two power plants. This is all the more reason why the $200 million loan or whatever you might want to call it is important.