DON'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER! Write a letter to save U.S. passenger rail.

[siberianmo]

No matter where one stands on the issue of Amtrak, our national passenger rail carrier, I would hope that the readers of this forum would at least concur with one thing - passenger railroad operations must not cease throughout our country.

Without casting blame in any particular direction - OTHER THAN CONGRESS - I would think that those of us who want to see service continued, WRITE A LETTER - do NOT send e-mails to our legislators as your primary method of communicating.

Let me share a bit of experience with you - I worked for a state legislator (representative/senator) for six years. He and his colleagues responded to the written word FIRST (as in letter with a stamp!). E-mails came in fourth followed FAX and telephone calls.

E-mail is so proliferated with junk these days that our legislators simply do not have the staff nor the time to scroll through - and hopefully read - all of it. Letters on the other hand go directly to "staffers," which at least gives you a fair shot at being heard. The more correspondence received on a particular subject, the more likely the legislator will see it - if not all the letters, at least a summary sheet of "concerns."

Now, Amtrak is troubled. That's not news. Congress hasn't been at all fair with the way subsidies have been handed out (airports, highways, etc....) and that's not news. But to let Amtrak die on the vine is absolutely foollish.

What we need to impress upon those making these decisions is that Amtrak must remain in place UNTIL our CONGRESS can come up with a viable Transporation Plan taking us well into the 21st century that INCLUDES passenger rail. Not the rail travel of decades past, but fast, reliable, safe and cost effective. Tell them that in your letter, and my guess is you'll at least get to first base.

Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water! If Amtrak dies and there is nothing to replace it - we can forget about anything resembling a national passenger rail system for years to come.

I want to be part of the solution, not the problem. How about you?

[chad thomas]

How about a link to where we can find who to write to and where.

[siberianmo]

Do a search on U.S. Senate and U.S. House (Yahoo - Google - Dogpile, etc.) and you'll get to where you want to go.

Suggest you use the MAILING address rather than e-mail.

Also, all states have a State Legislative web site - in case you want to find out who your reps are and how to contact them. A similar search will reveal what you need to know.

[slotracer]

I found the link on another thread. Will be happy to send a letter (as would my wife, my brother and several relatives) to them and ask them to STOP sending ANY money to a transportation system (long haul passenger trains) that 50 year now obsolete.

There are alternatives, they are called airlines, autos and commercial buslines.

The sooner someone with backbone stands up and says enough of this Amtrack folly, lets stop flushing billions down the toilet the better.

It's 2005.......passenger trains were about done when Elvis was a new sensation. Let them go to museums and fond memories like horse and buggy carriages, clipper ships, musket loaders and vacume tube radios where they belong.

[chad thomas]

slotracer,
What, are you just trying to **** people off here ?

This is a railroad forum, a statment like that is just asking for it.

[Anonymous]

Not so fast, chad thomas.

Just because we're on this "railroad forum" doesn't mean we're all going to support AMTRAK or any other entity or be p***sed if someone disagrees. We all still have minds (well, most of us) and are able to agree or disagree with whatever we want. I wouldn't write a letter to "keep" AMTRAK either, and it doesn't have anything to do with whether or not I love trains. In fact, go back and look at all the great conversations we've had about this subject without anyone getting really upset. The fact that you think slotracer or I should or anyone else has to agree with this, or eveyone will be p***ed, is absurd.

mike

[ericsp]

Whenever I heard someone imply that I must like Amtrak because I am a railfan, I dislike it more. Actually, I would be neutral on the subject if it were not for that sentiment.

[siberianmo]

Hey guys! I respect your opinions and I hope that is reciprocal.

What the point is with this topic is not really about Amtrak per se, rather what alternatives will we have when and if the day comes when the costs become so prohibitive to continue flying fuel guzzling aircraft and highway vehicles?

I don't particularly care what the rail system is called - but we need a MODERN, reliable, safe and cost effective way of moving people over long distances. For example - we invented the "Maglev" technology - but is it in use in North America? There are reasons why the Japanese and Euro's have surpassed us when it comes to "trains." Time for America to play catch up, big time. Our Congress is more to blame than any individual or administration. This "sham" has been going on for decades and decades.

Being upset and angry over Amtrak's mismanagement or conceptions that it hasn't met the high expectations some have attached to it, isn't going to get us anywhere.

Our country deserves a Transportation Plan that includes rail as a viable means to move people. Not the rail of yesterday - but of the future.

Check out Joseph Vranchich's "Super Trains - Solutions to America's Transportation Gridlock." This book, written in 1991, makes valid positions for modernization of our rail system that apply today and into the 21st Century.

My guess is that there are more people "out there" wanting to save U.S. passenger rail than who are opposed to it. Those are the folks who I am appealing to.

Thanx!

[Anonymous]

Siberianmo,
Of course we respect your opinion! You make some good points. I was just upset because chad thought we all had to agree or someone else would be mad. I love it when we disagree, because that's when all the good discussions happen.

If passenger rail service disappeared tomorrow, how would it affect you?



m

[siberianmo]

mehrlich:

If passenger rail service disappeared tomorrow, the impact on me would only effect my traveling by train for the pleasure of it. We travel Via Rail in Canada more than with Amtrak - relatives and friends in Canada. We do not rely on rail travel for anything more important than "fun."

I am more concerned about those people who would have no way of making the trips they now make - whether it be between the rural communities here in Missouri or similar situations throughout the U.S. Believe me, I fully understand and appreciate the absolute opposition to pouring more money into a sinking ship. I get it - really do.

Mine is not to endorse Amtrak - it is to push Congress to do better than Amtrak without totally abandoning passenger rail. For example, in Europe short distance trips between cities (300-500 miles) are generally made by train. Those trains are appreciated and well used by the public. In America - we fly, or of course, drive. I'm not opposed to either - I drive too, and fly to get to Canada in order to take the train!! I simply want to see the day come when we can have that reliable alternative for travel BEFORE we find ourselves in deep dire straits thanx to Opec and their friends.

G'nite and thanx for the response!!

[coborn35]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

Whenever I heard someone imply that I must like Amtrak because I am a railfan, I dislike it more. Actually, I would be neutral on the subject if it were not for that sentiment.

I must agree with you to some degree.

[Anonymous]

siberianmo,

I'm afraid the answer to my question will be something along the same lines as how it affects "you", that most, if they're honest, will miss pleasure trips or railfanning.

m

[chad thomas]

Hey guys,
I'm not saying you can't have your own opinion about Amtrak. I'm mot saying if your on this board you SHOULD support Amtrak. As the matter of fact, I also am quite neutral on this issue. If Amtrak dissapeared I would not miss it. I just thought slotracers post was somewhat offinsive the way it came off. I hope you don't hold that against me Slotracer.

[mnwestern]

I wanted to comment on who would be impacted if Amtrak was abandoned. Having traveled to Washington, D.C. four times from St. Paul, I got to meet many people on the train. They are not all "railfans" using the train as a land cruise. I met an older couple from Montana who were traveling to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for the husband. They really couldn't drive, a bus wasn't a very good option for his condition, nor did they have a good airline option.
I've met many students using the train going to and from home to college. The train was the most affordable way for them.
I've met scout groups headed to D.C. for their summer gathering.
I've met people, who because of a health condition, were advised not to fly.
As for myself and my wife, we probably could fly, if we wanted to put up with the hazzle and a half that trip is today. We could drive, if we wanted to spend $2.20 per gallon of gasoline and support our local Middle Eastern shiek.
At a time when light rail and commuter rail are making strides in cities all across the country, doesn't it seem to make sense to have a national network to knit those together.
I agree, Amtrak has problems. We need better, faster trains, not writing them off. Anyone who thinks Amtrak is the only subsidized form of transportation just isn't facing reality. Highways are heavily subsidized. Your gas taxes don't come close to building all the roads necessary to handle today's traffic. Just check out the situation in Minnesota for proof, where the radical right of the Republican party has hijacked our state government with a "No new tax" pledge that keeps us from raising the gas tax that hasn't increased in 18 years.
Airlines don't make money and they are basically given airports and a control system to use. They don't come close to paying for the cost of those. Don't forget the billions they were given after 911 when trains were about the only things moving.

[Anonymous]

Here's how Amtrak cuts already effect me. I regularly take the train east to Harrisburg, PA. Sometimes with my now 6 year old son and railfan Matthew (he's the kid in the cab of the Wabash E unit painting in the April edition of TRAINS by the way.) We go to se my good friend and his godfather there. We liked using the Three Rivers. It beat driving as I find that tedious, and the cost of lodging, plus gas, plus car usage foolish. We would get a room in the sleeper, enjoy the sights out the window, walk up to the head end during the Pittsburgh layover, eat on the train and enjoy going around Horseshoe Curve. From our area in North Centrl Indiana, it wa's an easy drive to the Hammond Depot. We could arrive just minutes before departure, walk right from the car and into the sleeper. The first time we did that Matthew was only 4 years old. It would have been a real pain to go 4 hours to O'hare, go through the 2 hour airport dance, board, fly, land, find out our luggage was sent to Spitzenberg by mistake, etc. with a small child.(I know, other people do it all the time, but I don't like it.)
I only use the train for business travel, even to the west. What I would have paid for an extra night's lodging I use for the sleeper, then the meals are complimentary. I do not fly anymore. The night's rest I get on a train is a reward of sorts. By the way, all these unpopular long distance trains require me to book a good 2 months in advance. Go figure.

Mitch

[conrailman]

Over in Russian long-distance trains have carried more than 74 Million passengers in the year 2003. Also they orders 1400 New long-distance car for Long-Distance train services. Other Country spent money on they systems, but U.S. gives all the Money to Airlines and Highways. And gives Amtrak little or No Money. The US needs to be like other Countrys spend money on Rail System. Amtrak would be in Great shape if they spend money on Amtrak like the Airlines and Highways. It time People that Amtrak get its Fair share of the Money Pot in D.C.[:)][8D]

[Anonymous]

artmark,
I think it's cool your son is the model for that painting in the April issue! Every time I look at that picture I gotta smile, it looks like he's having so much fun!

mike