I SENT AND EMAIL TO TRAINS EDITOR TO SUGGEST THE DVD RECORDING. WE'LL SEE WHAT HE SAYS.
Kalmbach should make a video of the session and sell the DVD to those of us who can not make the meeting. Obviously, there will be a lot of reporting/comment on what was said, but sometimes appreciating the context and listening to the tone with which it is delivered is important to fully understanding it.
A lot depends on when you arrive. Pick up a CTA map - should be available at the Metra ticket office.
As for relatively cheap eats, the Union Station food court on the mezzanine level has Chicago area classics such as Gold Coast Dogs and Robinson's Ribs. You may just want to jump into a cab for the short ride to the Holiday Inn first. However, the French Market under the Ogilvie Center, Half way between Union Station and the HI at Washington & Canal, is an interesting place with ethnic and healthy fare; but closes early. A few blocks north of the HI on Orleans is Mr Beef, a legendary Italian Beef joint and cabbie hangout. North and east of the HI at Ontario & Wells are Ed Debevec's, a throw-back diner, Al's Italian Beef, and Gino's East for Chicao deep-dish pizza. Farther east on Ontario are a 2-story McDonald's that you have to at least walk through, and then Portillo's. Ray Bayless' Xoco is on Clark north of Hubbard. Greek Town is west of Union Station.
Saturday night, try to get Symphony, Lyric Opera, or theater tickets if you can afford it. Otherwise there are lots of cabarets and clubs - check the paper and Chicago Magazine, I'd be a little cautious about concierge recommendations. The Green Mill at Lawrence & Broadway, 1/2 a block (you can see it) from the Red Line, is a great place for jazz. Catch the Brown Line at the Mart and change at Fullerton or Belmont - trains run 24/7.
landnrailroader I cannot attend, but it does appear that with the questions being asked in advance, it will not be a very productive meeting anyway. I would rather seen them hold town hall meetings in the larger cities along the routes and have questions asked from the floor. In any case my question, which I know they will ignore, is: When are you going to restart the Sunset Limited, or a connection, east of NewOrleans without State funding. Remember this is an interstate train and therefore should not be held hostage for state funding. J. H. Sullivan
I cannot attend, but it does appear that with the questions being asked in advance, it will not
be a very productive meeting anyway. I would rather seen them hold town hall meetings in the larger cities along the routes and have questions asked from the floor.
In any case my question, which I know they will ignore, is: When are you going to restart the Sunset Limited, or a connection, east of NewOrleans without State funding. Remember this is an interstate train and therefore should not be held hostage for state funding.
J. H. Sullivan
While there is no indication that questions will not be taken from the floor, I think there are good reasons for requesting questions in advance. Amtrak Chairman Carper and President Boardman are offering 5 or so hours of face time to address the issues raised. Having questions in advance means that they will have had time to consider the questions and hopefully offer knowledgeable responses rather just off the cuff sound bites. These things have to have some structure. Othewise, the respondents may be faced with a bunch of vague general questions in the vein of "Why don't you run Amtrak like a private business and make a profit?"
As for your question, I think you are asking the wrong people. The US Congress hasn't appropriated sufficient funds to make it possible for Amtrak can restart the New Orleans-Jacksonville segment. Where can Amtrak go other than the states involved? Last I checked, Amtrak doesn't have any gold mines or oil wells.
Given that there may well be some people attending that are very knowledgeable about Amtrak and rail passenger service in general, I think Carper and Boardman would be making a big mistake to not provide straight forward and honest answers to the questions raised. There are times we may not like to hear the truth of a matter, but what do we get and how do we proceed if we are left in the dark?
"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
HarveyK400I got down to the Holiday Inn-Mart Plaza today. The entrance is along the Chicago River on the west side of Orleans Street. There is a 2nd floor concourse from the Merchandise Mart L station to the Holiday Inn elevators. A small lobby seating area is across from the registration desk on the 15th floor; and the bar does have nice views. I don't think a lot of people will stick around the hotel lobby or bar on a Friday night, at least 8-10 pm.
I got down to the Holiday Inn-Mart Plaza today. The entrance is along the Chicago River on the west side of Orleans Street. There is a 2nd floor concourse from the Merchandise Mart L station to the Holiday Inn elevators. A small lobby seating area is across from the registration desk on the 15th floor; and the bar does have nice views. I don't think a lot of people will stick around the hotel lobby or bar on a Friday night, at least 8-10 pm.
Thank you for that information. I called the hotel to make sure I will have a good view. I am busy trying to read the long Amtrak Fleet Strategy so I will be ready for discussion.
I'm not sure what else I might do on a Friday or Saturday night, but I would welcome suggestions. I will certainly check the lobby around supper time to see who is there.
I hope Amtrak can tell the people, what they are doing the next few years about new cars and routes.
The invitation for one question was at the end of the request for registration. I of course submitted four to fill the text block. Can't even remember what the questions were.
I wonder whose idea it was to take only those questions submitted in advance (and presumably pick & choose among those)? On one hand, I can understand the need to avoid somebody getting recognition and launching into a long winded statement of their favorite Amtrak pet peeve, but it serves to limit discussion to only those topics Amtrak chooses to discuss.
HarveyK400Again, this is not an open Q & A session. All questions were to be submitted in advance, presumably for staff to prepare answers for presentation.
Interesting! I went back over the two notices about the meeting, and I couldn't find any mention of a need to submit questions in advance.
nyc#25I hope someone questions them on these puny short little trains they run and being so stingy about adding cars to handle heavy travel days. Also ask them why they want to stupidly scrap Amfleet and Superliners rather then keeping some to handle heavy traffic or sell some off to other operators
I hate to be a scold; but replacing the existing fleet has been "explained" by Amtrak in their fleet strategy plan and discussed in an ongoing thread. Amtrak wants to create a large enough market to support long-term domestic manufacturing. Amtrak says it's cheaper in the long run; and you wouldn't be the first skeptic.
Amtrak has said for some time that there are very few if any cars in reserve at the moment. The short trains you see probably reflect the peak demand loads for the service. If a train averages 170 passengers, you'll see only a 3-car train, not 6.
Amtrak is making allowances for not immediately retiring old cars as new are accepted for the very reasons of initial route expansion and peak traffic periods. Eventually production will catch up with demand, including a projected 2% annual increase in existing service ridership, and then they will begin to retire the old cars if they haven't been too conservative.
Again, this is not an open Q & A session. All questions were to be submitted in advance, presumably for staff to prepare answers for presentation. If you feel strongly about an issue, I suggest you at least read the strategic plan documents on their website before contacting Amtrak.
Harvey
I don't get too excited about "profitable" Acelas with some 300 passengers, or even more business class riders, taking up a slot that could be used for another 800 passengers out of Penn Station (New York). As you might guess, I'm more interested in moving people than maximizing the revenue per passenger with artificial limits to the supply of service that is already facing capacity constraints. I'd just as soon see passengers change to Acela at Newark if need be.
As for asking new questions, the format doesn't promise much discussion with questions submitted beforehand. Don't get your hopes up. The face (Boardman) will provide staff answers revealing only what they wish and will not embarrass himself trying to answer questions off the cuff. Everyone will be polite - no angry people in the photos. Still, it's an opportunity to meet both Mr Boardman and other advocates.
cordon...I hope to see some of you there. I will be the old guy with the funny haircut.
And we all should wear those fake glasses, noses & moustaches.
Harvey: A question that may need to be asked is if there is any plans to expand business class and why are business class ridership figures not broken out on the route reports for each month?
I e-mailed Jim Wrinn to ask if there were any activities planned besides the meeting. He said none that he knew of. He expects over 250 people to attend.
I hope to see some of you there. I will be the old guy with the funny haircut.
HarveyK400 The premise that through cars from New York and Philadelphia on 42 & 43 could be added to the Capitol, 29& 30, sounds reasonable and fits the schedule if the Capitol is not Superliner-equipped. The other problem is whether there is available equipment. Write Amtrak. Yes equipment availability is a real problem and will not be solved in the short time. 6 rebuilt superline sleepers and 6 SL coaches first going to the Empire Builder. It will take 3.6 SL sleepers and7.2 SL coaches to cover this additional service. As of last timetable Capitol is superliner equipped. My understanding is 30th st - PHL can handle superliner equipment and that was why I said PHL for destination of cars. If not then Capitol would need to conversion to viewliner type equipment and that would take about 10.8 sleepers and about 21.6 coaches. AMTRAK cannot get the sleepers for many years and the coaches are at least 3 yrs out. Extending Pennsylvanian might be better but still need 3.6 sleepers and that is at least 3 yrs out. The question of switching and the time necessary would have to be worked out; but you seem to have a handle on the layout at Pittsburgh. Do not give me credit for Pitt layout. Its been too long. I do not know where the Pennsylvanian is stored overnight but was hoping that AMTRAK uses the old National Limited track that was stubbed ended when the bridge over the Mon was used for other reasons. It might take some track work now.
Yes equipment availability is a real problem and will not be solved in the short time. 6 rebuilt superline sleepers and 6 SL coaches first going to the Empire Builder. It will take 3.6 SL sleepers and7.2 SL coaches to cover this additional service. As of last timetable Capitol is superliner equipped. My understanding is 30th st - PHL can handle superliner equipment and that was why I said PHL for destination of cars. If not then Capitol would need to conversion to viewliner type equipment and that would take about 10.8 sleepers and about 21.6 coaches. AMTRAK cannot get the sleepers for many years and the coaches are at least 3 yrs out.
Extending Pennsylvanian might be better but still need 3.6 sleepers and that is at least 3 yrs out.
Do not give me credit for Pitt layout. Its been too long. I do not know where the Pennsylvanian is stored overnight but was hoping that AMTRAK uses the old National Limited track that was stubbed ended when the bridge over the Mon was used for other reasons. It might take some track work now.
blue streak 1conrailman I hope someone there ask Amtrak when they are going to put 2 coaches and 1 sleeping car on the back of the Capitol Limited at Pittsburgh, Pa from Amtrak 42&43 or bring back Amtrak 40&41 the Three Rivers or better yet Broadway Limited. Is there a capacity problem that seqment? That sounds like a great idea and gives PHL - Chi through service as well. Only problem is switching at Pitt but could turn pennsylvanian store in pocket track and then one Capitol crew could then back the consist onto the back of the Capitol. Eastbound Capitol could drop cars and Pennsylvanian equipment could back onto them and then return to pocket track.
conrailman I hope someone there ask Amtrak when they are going to put 2 coaches and 1 sleeping car on the back of the Capitol Limited at Pittsburgh, Pa from Amtrak 42&43 or bring back Amtrak 40&41 the Three Rivers or better yet Broadway Limited.
I hope someone there ask Amtrak when they are going to put 2 coaches and 1 sleeping car on the back of the Capitol Limited at Pittsburgh, Pa from Amtrak 42&43 or bring back Amtrak 40&41 the Three Rivers or better yet Broadway Limited.
Is there a capacity problem that seqment? That sounds like a great idea and gives PHL - Chi through service as well. Only problem is switching at Pitt but could turn pennsylvanian store in pocket track and then one Capitol crew could then back the consist onto the back of the Capitol. Eastbound Capitol could drop cars and Pennsylvanian equipment could back onto them and then return to pocket track.
I'm registered, live in Chicago, and would be interested in a bull session 8-10pm (for the sake of late-comers). I imagine there is a lobby at the Holiday Inn where we could gather; but I'll check it out this week.
The Eagle qualifies as an adventure; but 6-7 hrs should cover all but the worst possibilities.
I am about to make my reservations. I plan to arrive Friday on the Texas Eagle and leave Sunday.
Are any of you staying at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza?
Do you know about how many are planning to attend?
Are there any side events planned, such as a railfan visit, a lunch get-together, or just a bull session?
HarveyK400 I signed up for Chicago and submitted more than one question or comment. I'm wondering how Boardman will respond beyond "We'll run 'em if we get the money."
I signed up for Chicago and submitted more than one question or comment. I'm wondering how Boardman will respond beyond "We'll run 'em if we get the money."
I'm signed up to go too, but I'm planning to be more of a listener than an active participant. That will require a considerable amount of self control, but my doctor says he thinks I can do it.
It will probably be something like the HSR meeting in Palo Alto the other night. Nothing but fighting fom all sides and Palo Alto is being a nimby. So a year after taxpayers approved a 10 billion bond measure we are no closer to breaking ground than we were then. The estimated fare last year between LA and SF was $55.00 now it is estimated at $115.00. They say the ground will be broken in 2012 and the system will be complete in 2020. I for one wll probably not live to see a HSR system in California unless the Air Force desides to reacrivate the Rocket Sled. Now that was really HSR.
Al - in - Stockton
I hope someone will find out alot of things, at this meeting and what are Amtrak Plans for Routes, new Cars, and other stuff.
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