It looks to me like they really have nothing planned for 2024. Just curious where all this Infrastructure money is being spent? I see new Simens trainsets on order so I guess that is a step forwards. As for new trains? Where is the beef?
New Orleans to Mobile looks like a fiasco at this point.
Chicago to Twin Cities has been delayed twice due to Amtrak and there is no guarantee it will actually start in 2024 beyond verbal assurances from Amtrak that it will.
Sad to read through this, this was Amtraks chance to blossom and so far......not much has been achieved and likely not much will happen for 2024:
https://media.amtrak.com/2024/01/ambitious-2024-initiatives-propel-amtrak-ridership-growth/
I imagine much of the money is going to infrastructure mega-projects mentioned, like the tunnels on the NEC.
It's difficult to initiate new routes what with equipment shortages and uncertainties about operational subsidies forthcoming from a "do-nothing" Congress.
charlie hebdoIt's difficult to initiate new routes what with equipment shortages and uncertainties about operational subsidies forthcoming from a "do-nothing" Congress.
No real serious plan to address equipment shortages like fixing or rebuilding existing equipment. I think I read an article about the span of time between now and delivery of Superliner replacements at the rate they are deadlining the Superliners they will need to eliminate 1-2 Long Distance trains to keep current Superliner availability which is already reduced from what they need. Even so they will probably delay the Airo Trainset introduction with further changes to the order while it is in progress.
Do nothing Congress is an issue but C'mon they have money now to try various marketing efforts to improve operational efficiency like adding frequencies or changing train times...........not a lot happening there. Looking at their current timetable and network can't say that no improvements should be attempted.
MidlandMikeI imagine much of the money is going to infrastructure mega-projects mentioned, like the tunnels on the NEC.
I can tell you from recent past experience running an HOA. Investing in projects that nobody really sees and have an undetermined completion time has to be done to keep the infrastructure current. However, the folks paying for it or that have budgeted for it are going to ask "What have you done for me lately for all the money your spending?". Especially important when your a non-profit or dependent on a government subsidy. Inevitably what happens unless you can show tangible improvement is people tend to conclude the money being spent for the returns is not worth it or that the subsidy should be cut.
On the positive side there seems to be some prioritization of project spending and I guess we should be somewhat thankful for that.
So balancing the immediately tangible against the near term future tangible is important here when your Amtrak and I don't see that recognition much. I see a lot of "Lets fill the hole from previous lack of investment" but not a lot of new thinking or lets introduce this or that. The menu restoration is a case in point. I would not call that an achievement but rather a reversal of previous lack of funding or a past bad decision. New seat covers? Is that really an improvement or regular maintenence?
Why not use the time left with the existing Superliner fleet to experiment a little for the replacements to benefit future operational costs or to enhance onboard amenities? Little things they can do that do not cost a lot of money in my view that are not even being attempted. Not seeing any innovations here.
CMStPnP MidlandMike I imagine much of the money is going to infrastructure mega-projects mentioned, like the tunnels on the NEC. I can tell you from recent past experience running an HOA. Investing in projects that nobody really sees and have an undetermined completion time has to be done to keep the infrastructure current. However, the folks paying for it or that have budgeted for it are going to ask "What have you done for me lately for all the money your spending?". Especially important when your a non-profit or dependent on a government subsidy. Inevitably what happens unless you can show tangible improvement is people tend to conclude the money being spent for the returns is not worth it or that the subsidy should be cut. On the positive side there seems to be some prioritization of project spending and I guess we should be somewhat thankful for that. So balancing the immediately tangible against the near term future tangible is important here when your Amtrak and I don't see that recognition much. I see a lot of "Lets fill the hole from previous lack of investment" but not a lot of new thinking or lets introduce this or that. The menu restoration is a case in point. I would not call that an achievement but rather a reversal of previous lack of funding or a past bad decision. New seat covers? Is that really an improvement or regular maintenence? Why not use the time left with the existing Superliner fleet to experiment a little for the replacements to benefit future operational costs or to enhance onboard amenities? Little things they can do that do not cost a lot of money in my view that are not even being attempted. Not seeing any innovations here.
MidlandMike I imagine much of the money is going to infrastructure mega-projects mentioned, like the tunnels on the NEC.
I am sure the Champlain Towers South HOA members are wondering what the HOA was doing - at least those that survived.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDI am sure the Champlain Towers South HOA members are wondering what the HOA was doing - at least those that survived.
Long story and beyond the scope of the thread but in short I can tell you exactly what happened in that case and other residents bring that up as did I. Most HOA Board Members are on the Board to serve themselves and their own interests rather than that of the community (sad but also true). In that case you mention, not one of them left their condo or apartment to inspect work that was done or talk to vendors face to face. They stated that is what the Property management company was for. The Property Management company stated that was the HOA Boards responsibilty (oversight). Both were correct and both were negligent as well as everyone living in that complex for outsourcing responsibility and never checking up on maintenence..
So yeah studied that case and believe it or not after bringing up that case specifically only 2 of the 5 Member board beyond me ever did anything beyond showing up for quarterly meetings and none of them inspected anything, I spoke with the vendors one on one and at times was teaching the Property Manager. So there is a gap there in the laws dealing with Condo and Home Associations. Having said all that in an HOA and COA the individual owners are responsible for some oversight as well since it is organizationally more or less a CO-OP. I know it's Florida and all but after that incident, look at everyone that played victim after the collapse. Was someone elses fault depending on who you talked to. In reality, everyone living in the complex was to blame and so was the Property Management company. So I look at that incident as garbage in / garbage out.
I've dealt with the "US against THEM" environment in an HOA. There is no "THEM" everyone is "US".
I really hope no railroad runs that way and I don't think Amtrak is that bad. Different structure though of operation.
CMStPnP BaltACD I am sure the Champlain Towers South HOA members are wondering what the HOA was doing - at least those that survived. Long story and beyond the scope of the thread but in short I can tell you exactly what happened in that case and other residents bring that up as did I. Most HOA Board Members are on the Board to serve themselves and their own interests rather than that of the community (sad but also true). In that case you mention, not one of them left their condo or apartment to inspect work that was done or talk to vendors face to face. They stated that is what the Property management company was for. The Property Management company stated that was the HOA Boards responsibilty (oversight). Both were correct and both were negligent as well as everyone living in that complex for outsourcing responsibility and never checking up on maintenence.. So yeah studied that case and believe it or not after bringing up that case specifically only 2 of the 5 Member board beyond me ever did anything beyond showing up for quarterly meetings and none of them inspected anything, I spoke with the vendors one on one and at times was teaching the Property Manager. So there is a gap there in the laws dealing with Condo and Home Associations. Having said all that in an HOA and COA the individual owners are responsible for some oversight as well since it is organizationally more or less a CO-OP. I know it's Florida and all but after that incident, look at everyone that played victim after the collapse. Was someone elses fault depending on who you talked to. In reality, everyone living in the complex was to blame and so was the Property Management company. So I look at that incident as garbage in / garbage out. I've dealt with the "US against THEM" environment in an HOA. There is no "THEM" everyone is "US". I really hope no railroad runs that way and I don't think Amtrak is that bad. Different structure though of operation.
BaltACD I am sure the Champlain Towers South HOA members are wondering what the HOA was doing - at least those that survived.
^^^ Interesting but bottom line remains what I stated above. I used HOALeader as a backbone of knowledge because the PM orientation for new Board Members was well below acceptable. Secondarily I looked at Texas State Law on HOA's. I am not surprised or shocked this collapse happened........at all. Reinforces what I said above. So yes this can happen to you and it is not a one off if you live in a HOA or COA and never attend membership meetings or ask pointed questions. Boards are insured by the way for bad decisions made unless negligence can be proven. In my case I was covered by up to $6 million.
Paid $650 for a structural engineer for 60 min consultation after the Construction Estimator was fired for cause on an HOA project, as a precaution.
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
CMStPnPPaid $650 for a structural engineer for 60 min consultation after the Construction Estimator was fired for cause on an HOA project, as a precaution.
Almost totally tangential to Amtrak's equipment planning.
BaltACD They weren't doing anything. The condo owners bitched about the expenses and kept putting the repairs off. Penny wise. Pound foolish. And paid with their lives sadly. Florida now requires reserve funding for capital expenses by law as a result and HOA fees are skyrocketing. And yet some still complain. CMStPnP MidlandMike I imagine much of the money is going to infrastructure mega-projects mentioned, like the tunnels on the NEC. I can tell you from recent past experience running an HOA. Investing in projects that nobody really sees and have an undetermined completion time has to be done to keep the infrastructure current. However, the folks paying for it or that have budgeted for it are going to ask "What have you done for me lately for all the money your spending?". Especially important when your a non-profit or dependent on a government subsidy. Inevitably what happens unless you can show tangible improvement is people tend to conclude the money being spent for the returns is not worth it or that the subsidy should be cut. On the positive side there seems to be some prioritization of project spending and I guess we should be somewhat thankful for that. So balancing the immediately tangible against the near term future tangible is important here when your Amtrak and I don't see that recognition much. I see a lot of "Lets fill the hole from previous lack of investment" but not a lot of new thinking or lets introduce this or that. The menu restoration is a case in point. I would not call that an achievement but rather a reversal of previous lack of funding or a past bad decision. New seat covers? Is that really an improvement or regular maintenence? Why not use the time left with the existing Superliner fleet to experiment a little for the replacements to benefit future operational costs or to enhance onboard amenities? Little things they can do that do not cost a lot of money in my view that are not even being attempted. Not seeing any innovations here. I am sure the Champlain Towers South HOA members are wondering what the HOA was doing - at least those that survived.
They weren't doing anything. The condo owners bitched about the expenses and kept putting the repairs off. Penny wise. Pound foolish. And paid with their lives sadly. Florida now requires reserve funding for capital expenses by law as a result and HOA fees are skyrocketing. And yet some still complain.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.