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Wick Moorman at Amtrak, Any Big News Yet??

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Posted by Dakguy201 on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 5:24 AM

Toward the end of Mr. Boardman's tenure, it was reported that he had more then 20 direct reports.  That suggests to me that Amtrak is stovepiped to an extreme with all kinds of departments going their seperate ways.  Such an arrangement is nearly guaranteed to defeat any unity of purpose within the organization.

I would hope that the new year brings a massive management reorganization at Amtrak!

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Posted by conrailman on Monday, December 19, 2016 11:56 PM

We will just have wait, what great idea WicK have for Amtrak in 2017.

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Posted by PJS1 on Sunday, December 18, 2016 2:51 PM

CandOforprogress2

Well finding how many people work in the back office is hard to find as well as a current employee management directory 

According to the Headcount Summary, Page D-1, Amtrak Monthly Performance Report for September 2016, at the end of September 2016 Amtrak had 20,183 employees. 

Excluding the Office of the President, as well as Marketing & Sales, which I consider a front line activity, 2,091 or 10.4 per cent of Amtrak's employees worked in what many people familiar with large organizations define as a support or a back office role.

The General Counsel's Office had 143 employees.  The number of lawyers, paralegals, secretaries, etc. is not identified.

The number of back office employees at Amtrak does not appear to be out of line with the structure of large business organizations.

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

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Posted by oltmannd on Friday, December 16, 2016 7:49 AM

conrailman

Maybe We will see some change Jan 2017??

 

Hopefully, it will be easier to arrage some funding for some new Hudson River tunnels and the NEC in general.

There is one new route happening, but it was in the works before Wick.  The extension of the Lynchburg train to Roanoke.  Looks like the Fall of 2017 is the start date.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by conrailman on Friday, December 16, 2016 12:01 AM

Maybe We will see some change Jan 2017??

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Thursday, December 15, 2016 11:51 AM

Well finding how many people work in the back office is hard to find as well as a current employee management directory

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Posted by PNWRMNM on Thursday, December 15, 2016 11:45 AM

CandOforprogress2

Wick needs to "Drain da swamp" that is the bloated Amtrak management at Washington Union Station. Amtrak is one of the largest defacto law firms in DC.see-

http://abovethelaw.com/2006/10/legal-fee-voyeurism-amtraks-law-dept-train-wreck/

C&O

While I am no fan of ATK, citing this ten year old item tells me nothing about the depth of the current ATK swamp.

Mac

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Posted by conrailman on Thursday, December 15, 2016 10:45 AM

CandOforprogress2

Wick needs to "Drain da swamp" that is the bloated Amtrak management at Washington Union Station. Amtrak is one of the largest defacto law firms in DC.see-

http://abovethelaw.com/2006/10/legal-fee-voyeurism-amtraks-law-dept-train-wreck/

 

They are alot of People should be Cut in Amtrak management in that D.C. Office, Drain that swamp.

 

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Thursday, December 15, 2016 6:32 AM

Wick needs to "Drain da swamp" that is the bloated Amtrak management at Washington Union Station. Amtrak is one of the largest defacto law firms in DC.see-

http://abovethelaw.com/2006/10/legal-fee-voyeurism-amtraks-law-dept-train-wreck/

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Posted by oltmannd on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 7:22 PM

conrailman
I hope we get Big Change for a better Amtrak with Wick

Me, too.

conrailman
With Routes,

Not happening

conrailman
New Engines

Process might start.  I'd root for AC rebuilds of P42's, though.  Most bang for the buck and not icky Tier 4 involvement.

conrailman
and more new car orders with Superliners and more Viewliners too.

Process might start.  My hunch is that we'll see new NEC cars before we see new or more Superliners.  Those things will last forever and Amtrak doesn't need more.  A good refitting is in order, though.  Perhaps Viewliner coaches?

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 4:38 PM

blue streak 1

You either want to be informed, or you don't.  If you have subscribed, in some way, to get all alerts - you will find out there are a lot of happenings around the country that will affect Amtrak On Time operations, each and every day.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 4:20 PM
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 6:43 AM

I'm with Fred Frailey on this one.  The changes will be less visible to us but are just as important. 

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by conrailman on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 11:15 PM

I hope we get Big Change for a better Amtrak with Wick. With Routes, New Engines, and more new car orders with Superliners and more Viewliners too.My 2 Cents

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Posted by oltmannd on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 9:13 PM

Read Fred Frailey's latest. 

Apparently Wick is trying to get Amtrak's house in order first.  It's a bit of a mess, but has good bones.  

Getting organized and keeping people accountable.  Without this, new equipment, fixing routes and pulling excursion trains with 611 are just a waste of time.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 8:42 PM

blue streak 1

They COULD put a date and time on their alerts.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 5:51 PM
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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, December 10, 2016 7:43 PM

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Friday, December 9, 2016 11:57 PM

blue streak 1

IMHO Wick's first priority will be improving maintenance and eliminating or at least drastically reducing over the road failures of cars and locos.  That may not be as easy as we think.  If Amtrak has skimped on purchasing spare parts it will be some time to refill the parts pipeline. 

If you study the Mechanical report  of the monthly performance reports it will become apparent.  Each month there are always a few cars waiting for parts.  But more important is the loco section.  Replacement trucks for locos are listed as always holding up loco rebuilds.

Better reliability of trains will pass down to T&E + OBS and with re education their attitude will get the proper adjustment.

 

 Great  point.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, December 9, 2016 10:32 PM

IMHO Wick's first priority will be improving maintenance and eliminating or at least drastically reducing over the road failures of cars and locos.  That may not be as easy as we think.  If Amtrak has skimped on purchasing spare parts it will be some time to refill the parts pipeline. 

If you study the Mechanical report  of the monthly performance reports it will become apparent.  Each month there are always a few cars waiting for parts.  But more important is the loco section.  Replacement trucks for locos are listed as always holding up loco rebuilds.

Better reliability of trains will pass down to T&E + OBS and with re education their attitude will get the proper adjustment.

 

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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Friday, December 9, 2016 10:21 PM

conrailman

 

 
ROBERT WILLISON

If you read the article trains posted on their wire November 21, you will see he says Amtrak is in decent shape now.

His time will be short.

 

 

 

 

What has Wick done Yet??  Amtrak LD Cars are falling part, Eastern LD Cars  and Superliner cars needs, new fresh order. The P42 Engines are falling Part. Amtrak needs New LD Power. NEC needs 50 to 100 Billion Dollars of work needed to done. Wick clean up the Offices in D.C.My 2 Cents

 The problem is wick doesn't want too. He wants to retire again. I don't  blame him. He not going solve Amtrak long term issues. Not going to have any  big capital improvements outside the corridor..

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, December 9, 2016 7:51 PM

conrailman
What has Wick done Yet?? Amtrak LD Cars are falling part, Eastern LD Cars and Superliner cars needs, new fresh order. The P42 Engines are falling Part. Amtrak needs New LD Power. NEC needs 50 to 100 Billion Dollars of work needed to done. Wick clean up the Offices in D.C.My 2 Cents

And after that, he can cure AIDS, stop global hunger and build a colony on Mars.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by conrailman on Friday, December 9, 2016 6:55 PM

ROBERT WILLISON

If you read the article trains posted on their wire November 21, you will see he says Amtrak is in decent shape now.

His time will be short.

 

 

What has Wick done Yet??  Amtrak LD Cars are falling part, Eastern LD Cars  and Superliner cars needs, new fresh order. The P42 Engines are falling Part. Amtrak needs New LD Power. NEC needs 50 to 100 Billion Dollars of work needed to done. Wick clean up the Offices in D.C.My 2 Cents

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Posted by Firelock76 on Friday, December 9, 2016 5:50 PM

I haven't heard anything yet about N&W 611 pulling an Amtrak excursion, but I'm patient, I can wait. :)

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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Friday, December 9, 2016 5:35 PM

I'm not burning him at any ends. I am merely citing what he said in an a train's wire posting on  November 21. I think he would have done a great job. Guess he reconsidered. 

Just search trains wire back, and you can read his statement.

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Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, December 9, 2016 4:55 PM

ROBERT WILLISON

If you read the article trains posted on their wire November 21, you will see he says Amtrak is in decent shape now.

His time will be short.

C'mon now, lets not burn the Wick at both ends, give the guy some time in office.

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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Friday, December 9, 2016 4:20 PM

If you read the article trains posted on their wire November 21, you will see he says Amtrak is in decent shape now.

His time will be short.

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Posted by conrailman on Friday, December 9, 2016 1:47 PM

I hope Wick stay least 2 to 3 years clean up Amtrak.Big Smile

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Posted by schlimm on Friday, December 9, 2016 12:39 PM

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

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Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, December 9, 2016 11:10 AM

You guys need to search the internet, I came across an article he recently penned for an editorial page on Amtrak and infrastructure spending.    I didn't read it but it is out there......somewhere.   Try the Washington or NY papers.

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