chrsjrcj
OBS Chief
https://www.congress.gov/crec/2018/07/26/CREC-2018-07-26-pt1-PgS5429.pdf
I can't figure out if the amendment to staff stations was ever voted on.
Southwest Chief News & Future Operations
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I can't figure out if the amendment to staff stations was ever voted on.
acelafan
Conductor
It's a positive step, for sure. Guess we'll see what happens in the House and then the final reconciliation.
If I'm reading this right, is that 50 million for work on the route? If so, that's a big win for Amtrak
chrsjrcj
OBS Chief
And it also sounds like Amtrak cannot use lack of PTC as a reasoning to discontinue service.
crescent-zephyr
Engineer
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I agree the City of New Orleans food is terrible. The boxed meals looks like a huge improvement.. hopefully the City gets them ASAP.
greatcats
Engineer
I will be riding the CONO in December coach from New Orleans to Chicago. I intend to have a good meal before departing New Orleans and other than maybe a snack and drink, don’t intend to bother with their lousy food service.
fredmcain
Service Attendant
And another thing - does this have to pass the House yet? If so, it's far from a "done deal".
-FMC
Yes, now dickering needs to be done between the House and the Senate.
So there's (minimum) 50 million in this bill for the Raton line. Plus the existing Build grant (which Amtrak is required to spend the 3 million matching funds). So that means 75ish million for the Raton line. That's not bad. I would say Anderson's negotiating worked, though I do suspect this won't be the last word. Hopefully this will give impetus to the states, Amtrak, and BNSF to work out a business plan for this line
What about The Prez signing off on it? Any problems possible, there? Hope not...he did claim to be "for restoring infrastructure"....
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The Prez is irrelevant at this point. Literally all hot air at this point.
cpotisch
Engineer
21/22 is the normal CHI-SAS Texas Eagle. 421/422 are the CHI-LAX through cars. 321/322 is the extra CHI-STL coach. It’s been this way for years.
cpotisch
Engineer
Book and keep your fingers crossed. Then raise hell with customer relations if they cancel it.
jis
Permanent Way Inspector
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Now we are talking!
Here is the exact language of the amendment:
This is the sort of language I was looking for.
However, they need to go further and protect the other segments of the LD network threatened by the unreasonable PTC stance taken by the Anderson regime in this case. There are such segments affecting the CZ, the CS, the Cardinal and possibly others. Of course there is the case of the Vermonter, and indeed the Lake Shore Limited Boston Section, since Amtrak's very own Post Road Connector is apparently lacking.
It is quite clear that whatever his motivation, Anderson and his regime cannot be trusted, since he has tried to use tired old arguments regarding cost per rider and absurd unexplained cost allocations. It makes sense to challenge every attempt to use arguments based on known jiggery-pokery with numbers.
This is not to say that many aspects of Amtrak need not be rethought. But the methods being used so far appear to be quite suspect.
In any case, if this was all a posturing to jiggle lose some directed funding for the Raton route, that appears to be succeeding. Although there is still the reconciliation with the House THUD Bill to go.
Here is the exact language of the amendment:
It basically bans discontinuing the SWC on the Colorado - New Mexico section that is threatened by the Anderson regime, and directs spending of at least $50 million to fix it up. Also disallows using lack of PTC as an excuse for that segment.
This is the sort of language I was looking for.
However, they need to go further and protect the other segments of the LD network threatened by the unreasonable PTC stance taken by the Anderson regime in this case. There are such segments affecting the CZ, the CS, the Cardinal and possibly others. Of course there is the case of the Vermonter, and indeed the Lake Shore Limited Boston Section, since Amtrak's very own Post Road Connector is apparently lacking.
It is quite clear that whatever his motivation, Anderson and his regime cannot be trusted, since he has tried to use tired old arguments regarding cost per rider and absurd unexplained cost allocations. It makes sense to challenge every attempt to use arguments based on known jiggery-pokery with numbers.
This is not to say that many aspects of Amtrak need not be rethought. But the methods being used so far appear to be quite suspect.
In any case, if this was all a posturing to jiggle lose some directed funding for the Raton route, that appears to be succeeding. Although there is still the reconciliation with the House THUD Bill to go.
Just rode both and I’ll take the CONO over the CL. The sausage biscuit wasn’t bad and a big improvement over the offering on the CL. The short rib wasn’t bad except for being way to salty. My wife didn’t like the so-called Caesar Salad on the CL but did say the chicken was ok.
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tonijustine
Train Attendant
So playing Devil’s Advocate...what if Anderson isn’t incompetent but a genius and knew that threats of this nature would get the populace riled up and force Congress to act?
Congress grilled him earlier this year about safety standards. He can’t be the one to ignore that kind of public pressure but I’d be like “be careful what you wish for” and take a hardline stance and then point back to Congress and make them fix it.
Same with F&B. I can tell you what you are demanding happen is bad for business or I can do exactly as you say and then when it proves I was right, I get the chance to actually fix it.
I don’t know, but isn’t it an intriguing thought? If Congress thinks they know how to run a railroad, then give them enough rope to hang themselves.
The CZ may be in more trouble than just no PTC. Take a look at Fred Fraileys piece, I can verify UP is eyeing a downgrade of the Moffat route, though the timeline is not established. It could be many years in the future, it could be tomorrow. There's a reason there's discussions about a Wyoming reroute.
keelhauled
OBS Chief
This the Frailey piece? Interesting, hadn't seen it before. Didn't realize traffic was so slim over the Rockies.
frequentflyer
Conductor
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Its been rumored for years that UP would down grade the line. Why send trains though Colorado when the easier and faster way is north to Wyoming then west.
The line's only hope is that the state of Colorado buys the line for travel to Winter Park and Glenwood Springs.
Its on my bucket list to ride this line from Denver to Salt Lake City.
The line's only hope is that the state of Colorado buys the line for travel to Winter Park and Glenwood Springs.
Its on my bucket list to ride this line from Denver to Salt Lake City.
ParanoidAndroid
OBS Chief
I wonder which line is in more immediate peril -- the California Zephyr or the Canadian. Both seem to be in a precarious situation now.
jis
Permanent Way Inspector
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California Zephyr at most faces a reversion to the route of the original Amtrak San Francisco Zephyr, but with a visit the Salt Lake City instead of running via Ogden. It is not facing discontinuance, just a bit of ridership hit perhaps.
My guess is BNSF would get first option on any sale of the line, since they have trackage rights on the Moffat line. No idea if they'd be interested. Back on topic, I wonder what 75 million would go to for the Raton line? Does Amtrak have a list of improvements ready to invest in? I wonder if BNSF would sell it to Amtrak? Would Amtrak be interested even?
BNSF would be glad to sell it. They already sold it to New Mexico, but NM reneged on the contract.
No way Amtrak will buy it. My understanding is BNSF will agree to continuing to maintain it for 20 years if Amtrak/New Mexico pay to do improvements on the line (new rail, etc) that will reduce maintenance costs, since right now the condition of that line is pretty much end-of-life (well beyond really). Those improvements were part of what the TIGER Grant's were for.
No way Amtrak will buy it. My understanding is BNSF will agree to continuing to maintain it for 20 years if Amtrak/New Mexico pay to do improvements on the line (new rail, etc) that will reduce maintenance costs, since right now the condition of that line is pretty much end-of-life (well beyond really). Those improvements were part of what the TIGER Grant's were for.
