U.P. delaying Amtrak

[jchnhtfd]

May I (humbly?) point out that it is possible to run a freight railroad to a schedule, on time, all the time, or very close to it? And at passenger train speeds? If you don't believe me, or can't find a US example, kindly look at the way Canadian National operates.

The problem is a bit more universal than UP, although perhaps UP is the worst offender. All railroads are going to have to learn to run all of their business to a schedule, and run the trains fast. It can be done -- CN has shown the way -- and it must be done, as otherwise the freight business will evaporate, too. If they can learn to do it right, then this particular problem -- Amtrak's on time performance -- will evaporate.

Incidentally, Amtrak's on time perfomance isn't all that bad -- have any of you checked the airlines' on time performance stats lately?

Good luck...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by donclark Obviously, it starts at the top of the organization. BNSF takes the attitude that they are getting $20 million a year doing what they should be doing, gettting the trains, all of the trains, in on time. Too bad, UP don't think alike.

Maybe Amtrak made the 20 million dollar mistake. For Union Pacific to walk away from easy money like that, Amtrak must have really Tee'd the U.P. off. Perhaps there is a method to the maddness.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by donclark Obviously, it starts at the top of the organization. BNSF takes the attitude that they are getting $20 million a year doing what they should be doing, gettting the trains, all of the trains, in on time. Too bad, UP don't think alike.

Maybe Amtrak made the 20 million dollar mistake. For Union Pacific to walk away from easy money like that, Amtrak must have really Tee'd the U.P. off. Perhaps there is a method to the maddness.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

Amtrak paid the $20 million incentive to CSX, NS, BNSF, all of these railroads made the easy target of 90% on time arrivals. However, UP didn't get the incentive bonus. No wonder, when Amtrak trains on UP pulls in on time around 50%. Not even close..... Obviously, it starts at the top of the organization. BNSF takes the attitude that they are getting $20 million a year doing what they should be doing, gettting the trains, all of the trains, in on time. Too bad, UP don't think alike.

When an utility, such as TXU is upset with the timely arrivals of their coal trains, the bread and butter of freight railroads, something is amiss....

[Anonymous]

Amtrak paid the $20 million incentive to CSX, NS, BNSF, all of these railroads made the easy target of 90% on time arrivals. However, UP didn't get the incentive bonus. No wonder, when Amtrak trains on UP pulls in on time around 50%. Not even close..... Obviously, it starts at the top of the organization. BNSF takes the attitude that they are getting $20 million a year doing what they should be doing, gettting the trains, all of the trains, in on time. Too bad, UP don't think alike.

When an utility, such as TXU is upset with the timely arrivals of their coal trains, the bread and butter of freight railroads, something is amiss....

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

I also think it may be a little bit of work ethic, sloppiness in your job, complacency, etc.

So apply this to railroads. Several cogs in the big wheel are lazy, incompetent, not the most motivated - you have them in every job. As long as someone that is bigger, louder and much more important than they are - doesn't come down on them for an inadequate job - well, you get the picture.


Is my picture out of focus?

Jen

Yes, Mookie Jen, I think it is. In the Los Angeles area, AMTK operates some commuter lines over freight railroads. On the SF, they run on time. Always have. On the UP, they almost never were on time, and the politcal heat got so intense, the UP, now runs them on time. I heard that the political establishment was going to refuse to permit something that the UP very badly wanted to do that was going to save them lots of money. All it took was one phone call. They haven't been late since.

It is not work ethic. It is money. How much? Absent political pressures, take UP's operating proffit figure. It will take that amount and just a little bit more from AMTK, and you will see the trains run on time. I am not blowing any hot air here. I really wish I were, because this is a sad situation.

See the comments about Cheny and Davidson by Don Oltmann above.

ok - i will readjust my focus. I am looking at this from my very small world, which is the higher ups will push work off onto the hourlies. But I guess on a national scale, they play a little different. But when it all trickles down into the little cracks and gets to a more local level, then maybe my point applies sometime. But I am heartened to hear that the earth moved and someone listened! Good for them!

Jen

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

I also think it may be a little bit of work ethic, sloppiness in your job, complacency, etc.

So apply this to railroads. Several cogs in the big wheel are lazy, incompetent, not the most motivated - you have them in every job. As long as someone that is bigger, louder and much more important than they are - doesn't come down on them for an inadequate job - well, you get the picture.


Is my picture out of focus?

Jen

Yes, Mookie Jen, I think it is. In the Los Angeles area, AMTK operates some commuter lines over freight railroads. On the SF, they run on time. Always have. On the UP, they almost never were on time, and the politcal heat got so intense, the UP, now runs them on time. I heard that the political establishment was going to refuse to permit something that the UP very badly wanted to do that was going to save them lots of money. All it took was one phone call. They haven't been late since.

It is not work ethic. It is money. How much? Absent political pressures, take UP's operating proffit figure. It will take that amount and just a little bit more from AMTK, and you will see the trains run on time. I am not blowing any hot air here. I really wish I were, because this is a sad situation.

See the comments about Cheny and Davidson by Don Oltmann above.

ok - i will readjust my focus. I am looking at this from my very small world, which is the higher ups will push work off onto the hourlies. But I guess on a national scale, they play a little different. But when it all trickles down into the little cracks and gets to a more local level, then maybe my point applies sometime. But I am heartened to hear that the earth moved and someone listened! Good for them!

Jen

[Anonymous]

therailnut should take a long hard look at bnsf handling of trains and will find that they do not go out of their way to delay Amtrak, but at the same time if it is a choice of a intemodal or time sensetive train guess wo wins.


Also the schedule padding has gotten to the point of pony express speeds.


Ringer
GOD BLESS THE GREAT NORTHERN

[Anonymous]

therailnut should take a long hard look at bnsf handling of trains and will find that they do not go out of their way to delay Amtrak, but at the same time if it is a choice of a intemodal or time sensetive train guess wo wins.


Also the schedule padding has gotten to the point of pony express speeds.


Ringer
GOD BLESS THE GREAT NORTHERN

[Anonymous]

The best way to handle UP's derliction of duty is to not ship on UP! That is what TXU did....Inside joke at TXu, its former President of Operations used to be a submariner who hated to fly. With the late arrival times of both the Texas Eagle and the Sunset Limited, it didn't take him long to switch his coal shipments to Burlington Northern Santa Fe !

[Anonymous]

The best way to handle UP's derliction of duty is to not ship on UP! That is what TXU did....Inside joke at TXu, its former President of Operations used to be a submariner who hated to fly. With the late arrival times of both the Texas Eagle and the Sunset Limited, it didn't take him long to switch his coal shipments to Burlington Northern Santa Fe !

[edblysard]

Hi Jim,
Try hutchison.senate.gov
then click on the how to contact me link.
Bombard her office at will!
Stay Frosty,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

There has to be a logical reason why Union Pacific is delaying Amtrak. I would like to hear there side of the story before I pass judgment. My feeling is, Amtrak did something to tick (upset) Union Pacific.
Anybody have any idea's as to why U.P. is angry????
TIM A

Watch out for those killer rabbits.

Yes Amtrak did P*** off UP (with a capital P) when they were hauling boxcar freight items. Now I understand Amtrak has stopped this service. Any delays caused by this to freight and passenger trains should have stopped.

Someone please post a link to Kay Baily's office so we can bombard it with emails for Amtrak. And don't forget to start bombarding your own state official and federal officials.

[edblysard]

Hi Jim,
Try hutchison.senate.gov
then click on the how to contact me link.
Bombard her office at will!
Stay Frosty,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by TARGUBRIGHT

There has to be a logical reason why Union Pacific is delaying Amtrak. I would like to hear there side of the story before I pass judgment. My feeling is, Amtrak did something to tick (upset) Union Pacific.
Anybody have any idea's as to why U.P. is angry????
TIM A

Watch out for those killer rabbits.

Yes Amtrak did P*** off UP (with a capital P) when they were hauling boxcar freight items. Now I understand Amtrak has stopped this service. Any delays caused by this to freight and passenger trains should have stopped.

Someone please post a link to Kay Baily's office so we can bombard it with emails for Amtrak. And don't forget to start bombarding your own state official and federal officials.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....There is no escaping the position of the present Adminstration...They simply want to kill off Amtrak, no matter how it's accomplished.

I do agree with your posts. We must do something and do it soon. If we do nothing that is exactly what we will have -- nothing. We must make the best of what we have now and not let it get any worse. It will take money, money, and more money. But it must be done or our common carrier choices will be airplane or bus.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....There is no escaping the position of the present Adminstration...They simply want to kill off Amtrak, no matter how it's accomplished.

I do agree with your posts. We must do something and do it soon. If we do nothing that is exactly what we will have -- nothing. We must make the best of what we have now and not let it get any worse. It will take money, money, and more money. But it must be done or our common carrier choices will be airplane or bus.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...Jim, go to Google and enter in Kay B.H.s name and it brings up her web site...It has all kinds of areas to do communication to her...

Thank you, will do, and I hope others will too.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

...Jim, go to Google and enter in Kay B.H.s name and it brings up her web site...It has all kinds of areas to do communication to her...

Thank you, will do, and I hope others will too.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....Chicken or the egg...Which came first. Seems to be a parellel to Amtrak. Bad service and then on the other side, not enough money to run a suitable service...How can it made better...If the service is stopped, that will be the end of a national passenger service in this country. If we want that service we [our leaders], better fix it while it's still running so one has something to fix. I would not mind paying if we had something we could be proud to use.

THE FREIGHT RAILROADS WILL NOT ALLOW ANOTHER PROVIDER TO OPERATE PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE. IF AMTRAK DIES ALL AMERICAN PASSENGER SERVICE GOES WITH IT. IF YOU WANT PASSENGER SERVICE IT IS NOW OR NEVER. THE ONLY WAY AMTRAK WILL IMPROVE IS TO IMPROVE ITS FUNDING. FUNDING WILL NOT IMPROVE UNLESS WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DEMAND AMTRAK BE PROPERLY FUNDED. IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT AMTRAK NOW YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO SUPPORT LATER.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....Chicken or the egg...Which came first. Seems to be a parellel to Amtrak. Bad service and then on the other side, not enough money to run a suitable service...How can it made better...If the service is stopped, that will be the end of a national passenger service in this country. If we want that service we [our leaders], better fix it while it's still running so one has something to fix. I would not mind paying if we had something we could be proud to use.

THE FREIGHT RAILROADS WILL NOT ALLOW ANOTHER PROVIDER TO OPERATE PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE. IF AMTRAK DIES ALL AMERICAN PASSENGER SERVICE GOES WITH IT. IF YOU WANT PASSENGER SERVICE IT IS NOW OR NEVER. THE ONLY WAY AMTRAK WILL IMPROVE IS TO IMPROVE ITS FUNDING. FUNDING WILL NOT IMPROVE UNLESS WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DEMAND AMTRAK BE PROPERLY FUNDED. IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT AMTRAK NOW YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO SUPPORT LATER.

[Modelcar]

....Chicken or the egg...Which came first. Seems to be a parellel to Amtrak. Bad service and then on the other side, not enough money to run a suitable service...How can it made better...If the service is stopped, that will be the end of a national passenger service in this country. If we want that service we [our leaders], better fix it while it's still running so one has something to fix. I would not mind paying if we had something we could be proud to use.

[Modelcar]

....Chicken or the egg...Which came first. Seems to be a parellel to Amtrak. Bad service and then on the other side, not enough money to run a suitable service...How can it made better...If the service is stopped, that will be the end of a national passenger service in this country. If we want that service we [our leaders], better fix it while it's still running so one has something to fix. I would not mind paying if we had something we could be proud to use.

[corwinda]

QUOTE: Originally posted by donclark
[
The California Zephyr runs on Union Pacific tracks, formally Western Pacific, west of Salt Lake City, I think.

From Denver west the CZ runs on UP (I'm not sure east of Denver). Denver to Salt Lake and Wells NV west it is on former SP track. Salt Lake to Wells is on former WP.

[corwinda]

QUOTE: Originally posted by donclark
[
The California Zephyr runs on Union Pacific tracks, formally Western Pacific, west of Salt Lake City, I think.

From Denver west the CZ runs on UP (I'm not sure east of Denver). Denver to Salt Lake and Wells NV west it is on former SP track. Salt Lake to Wells is on former WP.

[Anonymous]

I live in a small town about 30 minutes from downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Since I cannot fly, due to an inner ear condition, VERTIGO, and since my town no longer has any scheduled bus service, the only option other than driving long distances is riding on Amtrak! Fortunately, for me, I live about 30 minutes away from two Texas Eagle stops: Fort Worth and Cleburne.

Fort Worth has built a brand new intermodal facility to handle Amtrak trains, the Trinity River Express commuter train, and the city's T buses, whereas Cleburne has a wonderfully restored unmanned Santa Fe depot.

Unfortunately, the Texas Eagle runs mostly on Union Pacific tracks formally Missouri Pacific and Texas & Pacific tracks, as does the Sunset Limited west of New Orleans on formally Southern Pacific tracks. Yes, the Texas Eagle does run on formally Santa Fe tracks south of Fort Worth to Temple. I may be mistaken, but I believe the Texas Eagle runs on formally Illinois Central Gulf tracks in Illinois.

The California Zephyr runs on Union Pacific tracks, formally Western Pacific, west of Salt Lake City, I think.

[Anonymous]

I live in a small town about 30 minutes from downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Since I cannot fly, due to an inner ear condition, VERTIGO, and since my town no longer has any scheduled bus service, the only option other than driving long distances is riding on Amtrak! Fortunately, for me, I live about 30 minutes away from two Texas Eagle stops: Fort Worth and Cleburne.

Fort Worth has built a brand new intermodal facility to handle Amtrak trains, the Trinity River Express commuter train, and the city's T buses, whereas Cleburne has a wonderfully restored unmanned Santa Fe depot.

Unfortunately, the Texas Eagle runs mostly on Union Pacific tracks formally Missouri Pacific and Texas & Pacific tracks, as does the Sunset Limited west of New Orleans on formally Southern Pacific tracks. Yes, the Texas Eagle does run on formally Santa Fe tracks south of Fort Worth to Temple. I may be mistaken, but I believe the Texas Eagle runs on formally Illinois Central Gulf tracks in Illinois.

The California Zephyr runs on Union Pacific tracks, formally Western Pacific, west of Salt Lake City, I think.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes
Someone please post a link to Kay Baily's office so we can bombard it with emails for Amtrak. And don't forget to start bombarding your own state official and federal officials.

Why would we want to do that??
As a taxpayer I am getting very discussed with the waste I see with the Amtrak mess. Seems they keep throwing good money at the bad. I believe most of us here agree, Amtrac is broke in more way's then one. They need to come up with a sound workable plan to address the problems. Until they do, why give them support or money??
TIM A

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes
Someone please post a link to Kay Baily's office so we can bombard it with emails for Amtrak. And don't forget to start bombarding your own state official and federal officials.

Why would we want to do that??
As a taxpayer I am getting very discussed with the waste I see with the Amtrak mess. Seems they keep throwing good money at the bad. I believe most of us here agree, Amtrac is broke in more way's then one. They need to come up with a sound workable plan to address the problems. Until they do, why give them support or money??
TIM A

[Modelcar]

....There is no escaping the position of the present Adminstration...They simply want to kill off Amtrak, no matter how it's accomplished.

[Modelcar]

....There is no escaping the position of the present Adminstration...They simply want to kill off Amtrak, no matter how it's accomplished.

[Modelcar]

...Jim, go to Google and enter in Kay B.H.s name and it brings up her web site...It has all kinds of areas to do communication to her...