Quentin
QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098 QUOTE: Originally posted by edbenton Hey lotus 100 billion to the airlines in the last 4 yrs mean anything to you plus all of the bankrupt ones dumping the peinsions on the goverment to pay. that adds another 22 billion just from United alone with Delta and northwest maybe another 10 billion. Amtrack in 35 years has recived 35-40 billion 1/3 of what the airlines have gotten since 9/11. And what I am talking about is the cash just given to them to keep them afloat. This does not include the subsisedized cost of the ATC program. What we spend on Amtrak a year is about what is takes to fund the building of a Nimitz class carrier per year. Maybe Bush is trying to finish his dads carrier before he dies. The next carrier to be commisioned is th George HW Bush in 2 years.. Lotus just remember this I am a Republican and I can not stand W Bush either. Ah-ha, it's the old "but the airlines do it" ploy. I was thinking about this with the NEC, wouldn't having Amtrak own the track but other trains running on it be similar to the way all airlines run on government maintained airports? Railroads even in heavy traffic zones don't have too much problem with other railroads running on trackage rights, so why is the NEC so much different? Even PRB coal trains have to keep schedules. Also I think that carrier is a bit more important than trains that most people can't afford to, and don't ride on. With the exception of commuters Amtrak is not very useful, it doesn’t haul express good or mail, we need to do something; and Gunn didn’t want to do anything, in fact in the interview he states that if we just keep throwing money at the problem; which as history has proven never works.
QUOTE: Originally posted by edbenton Hey lotus 100 billion to the airlines in the last 4 yrs mean anything to you plus all of the bankrupt ones dumping the peinsions on the goverment to pay. that adds another 22 billion just from United alone with Delta and northwest maybe another 10 billion. Amtrack in 35 years has recived 35-40 billion 1/3 of what the airlines have gotten since 9/11. And what I am talking about is the cash just given to them to keep them afloat. This does not include the subsisedized cost of the ATC program. What we spend on Amtrak a year is about what is takes to fund the building of a Nimitz class carrier per year. Maybe Bush is trying to finish his dads carrier before he dies. The next carrier to be commisioned is th George HW Bush in 2 years.. Lotus just remember this I am a Republican and I can not stand W Bush either.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098 Ah-ha, it's the old "but the airlines do it" ploy. I was thinking about this with the NEC, wouldn't having Amtrak own the track but other trains running on it be similar to the way all airlines run on government maintained airports? Railroads even in heavy traffic zones don't have too much problem with other railroads running on trackage rights, so why is the NEC so much different? Even PRB coal trains have to keep schedules.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098 Also I think that carrier is a bit more important than trains that most people can't afford to, and don't ride on. With the exception of commuters Amtrak is not very useful, it doesn’t haul express good or mail, we need to do something; and Gunn didn’t want to do anything, in fact in the interview he states that if we just keep throwing money at the problem; which as history has proven never works.
QUOTE: Originally posted by co614 IMHO David Gunn was the first capable CEO since W.G.Claytor,Jr. What he and his team were able to accomplish in the last 3 years DESPITE an Administration dedicated to destroying Amtrak,was truly remarkable. Therein lies his doom. Had he been another bungler like Warrington he'd still be there. His successes were ruining the Administrations game plan to implode the Company, and they feared that further progress would surely end any chance of getting rid of it. Firing Gunn however may yet prove a very stupid strategic move as it has substantially energized many in Congress who heretofore were not all that caring on this topic and has led several key members of Congress to put the Administration on notice that it expects 4 new nominees for the Amtrak BOD shortly after the Holidays and that they will be people with credentials in the field, and the recently approved enabling legislation is being "codified" with language insuring the continuance AND future expansion of the LDT's. From the 5 years I served on the BOD(1982-87) I can tell you first hand that at the end of the day the game is decided in the halls of Congress, not in the White House nor the DOT. The next few months should be very interesting to say the least!! Ross Rowland
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
QUOTE: Originally posted by Lotus098 I can see logical won't convince this forest. I will shut my yap. Also I would highly suggest everyone reread won't Ross Rowland said. What I don't like is Iraq and Amtrak are entirely seperate matters. One is a transportation system no-one in this state can even use. The other is a WAR in which we are kicking some terrorist rear-end. I am finished here, carry on with the dogma.
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
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