I would almost agree with you, blue, except that things are different today. If Amtrak is sabatoged this time around it won't be by some calculated politics to destroy it out of hand but rather by an ignorant and stubborn Tea Party movement that is against spending any money for anything without studying the reasons for something and the consequences of defunding it. In fact, this time around, railroads and big business are again warming to the need and prospect of rail passenger service. And why not? If the economy fails because all manufacturing is done off shore the only thing left to move on rails will be people!
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
The question becomes “Is AMTRAK becoming a victim of its approach toward success?”
First a small primer on its history.
1. Amtrak formed May 1 1971.
2. Trains starting to get cancelled due to equipment shortages mid 1970s (Lakeshore [money]; Miamian, Champion & Silver Meteor combined, Mountaineer,
3. National Limited gets Amfleet and HEP heritage sleepers.
4. Congress in spring 1979 mandated restructuring with cuts effective Oct 1. National Limited ( was showing much progress with thru cars to LAX), Champion, Hilltopper, Floridian, Lone Star ( another with promise) , NC HIA.
5. Fall 1981 Restructuring eliminates many trains including Black Hawk, Cardinal, Shenandoah, Beacon Hill, Blue Ridge, Inter American Houston section, Terrible dinning car service reductions begins.
6. All this late 1970s when Superliners and Amfleet cars coming in large numbers. Also HEP added to Heritage cars.
7. 1986 Funding cuts Crescent to tri-weekly ATL – New Orleans, Palmetto weekends only.
8. Do not have dates but funding cuts discontinued not in any particular order Broadway limited, Pennsylvanian west of Pittsburgh Florida service, Inland service BOS – NH, Second PHL – Pittsburgh - CHI, Riley, Palmetto SAV – MIA, Desert Wind & Pioneer, (The combined train with Cal Z east of Salt Lake city was near break even), Down to 1 train (SW Limited) on transcon, and others.
9. The funding cuts and restrictions seem to have caused a premature retirement of HEP modified Heritage sleepers and coaches that may have been used to maintain some routes if interiors refurbished. The aborted effort to diner lite was certainly an effort to drive away passengers.
Now to the present
We enter the Boardman era and Fred Frailey’s post that Boardman has planned well for when money is available seems to have much merit.
10. The down payments for both the additional single level cars and the new electric motors have been added into the April monthly performance report (funding for motors now guaranteed by FRA). The total ARRA dedicated funds and regular funds for upgrading the NEC electric system voltage problems has proven to be much higher than originally forecast but that certainly will increase the on time reliability especially for NJ Transit and Amtrak NYP – PHL.
10a. Now we are in FY 2011 and Amtrak has ridership increasing on all routes except those that have been subject to the various weather delays. May over last year +8.1% and FY +6.7%. Especially improved are Lynchburg and Newport News with both nearly doubling and meeting avoidable costs. Good performers Carolinian, Piedmonts, & Auto Train. June ridership figures should be available soon
11. ACELA is showing very positive numbers and with the order for 40 additional cars to add to present Acela train sets ( + 130 seats per train set) has a very good chance of being very positive. NEC ridership is also up 10 % for May month and may also beat avoidable costs. The additional single level baggage-dorms and sleepers that are now on order will allow for an average of one additional sleeper car on each single level train with a net increase of approximately 42 sleeper passenger spaces on each single level train. (assuming 13 Roomettes + 3 Bedrooms with 2 person average per room and 10 persons into available space now taken by off duty crew). The new single level cars will allow 125 MPH operation on the NEC for trains equipped with these cars, + Viewliners, and Dinners
12. IMHO it appears that there is real worry by Amtrak opponents that Amtrak will approach success close enough that too many voters will want it to continue and expand. These opponents appear to be trying to strangle Amtrak before that happens?
13. All the above examples seem to point out that every 5 – 10 years throttling down Amtrak is proposed just as Amtrak seems to be on a very successful rise. The additional cars that are necessary for real service have always been out of reach.
14. Opponents might just shoot themselves in the foot if the sudden release of long distance equipment into corridor trips allowed the pent up demand for short haul seats to be was satisfied. Imagine 14 car Lynchburg or Newport news trains. Unfortunately doing away with LD trains would kill the LD station infrastructure which I do not advocate.
15. If once the corridors to Richmond - Newport News/ Norfolk; Lynchburgh; Chi - St.Louis Wash succeed then demand for AMTRAK on other routes may increase exponentially? Note: the Capitol corridors & San Diego - Santa Barbara California growth is maybe still looked upon by the rest of the country as "well that is just CA"?? But if I were an opponent it would worry me very much.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.