I say reduce the long distance train frequency .
From what? Once per day to three times per week? I think not. Amtrak has been posting record ridership numbers and has increasing demands for MORE service.I say reduce the long distance train frequency .
Why are worried about pennies? The Defense Department budget is counted in HUNDREDS of billions. Somewhere in there is a chance to save $1.5 billion. Why don't you be the one to pinpoint that waste?I stand corrected on the LD trains thanks.. How do we cut that 1.2bilion deficit though?
If your "homework" is reading one random article on Washington Post, sorry that won't get you even passing grade.
Ha. No. Then you'd see ridership drop.well if LD trains are selling out but still losing money, maybe they need to raise fares.
All well and good, but every form of public transportation is subsidized by government, so why should Amtrak along be required to make a profit?How to cut the deficit (starter list):
Invest government money in long-term improvements that save money (any action whose payback is ten years or less e.g.)
Take the politics out of Amtrak decisions. Too many politicians have their hands in the decision making as to what is done at a low level.
Enforce the rules requiring RRs to give Amtrak priority.
Add rules requiring RRs to allow new Amtrak trains with an arbitrator deciding costs.
Holding RRs financially responsible when they fail to give Amtrak priority and make it somewhat punitive.
Require Amtrak to improve onboard service and give them more authority to terminate non-complying employees.
And what is your knowledge of headquarters staff based on? Do you have an org chart of HQs staff.....how many vice presidents & how many analysts are there? There has been a "cleaning" over the past few months of senior Amtrak execs and if you are not aware, there are vice presidents and senior staff in the field that are absolutely necessary for the day to day operation of the railroad. You sound like many critics who sound-off with no actual knowledge of your subject.I think one of the easiest ways would be to address the personnel costs. No, I'm not talking about train crews, station crews, maintenance personnel, all of which contribute to revenue production; but rather, the extensive administrative positions, including too many vice presidents of this and that...
IMHO, there are too many analysts and similar bloating the headquarters....
Get rid of silk flowers in the Diner.I stand corrected on the LD trains thanks.. How do we cut that 1.2bilion deficit though?
Just about all Amtrak growth in the short distance markets has occurred because of state support. The state-supported routes have thrived. It's the best way to launch new services. If local government isn't interested, then their states lose out. It's not fair to the states that support their local services to give free rides to those that don't want to back up their desires with money.I think Amtrak is kind of hamstrung in the market that they can really exploit-the 200-300 mile corridor runs. Any trip that takes 5 hours or less is very attractive competition to airline travel. The fact that these now have to be funded by the states eliminates Amtrak starting, and making successful, these routes, then selling that operating cost to the states after showing value for that state on those routes. In the current fiscal climate, very few state governments are going to stick their budgets out there to subsidize an untested route. If PRIA could be tweeked to allow this, it might open up new markets for corridor rail and eventually high speed rail in some corridors. The time people spend in airport lines make these shorter routes very attractive.
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