I found out that BNSF might possibly re-enter the passenger train business (ie Super Chief El Capitai) [ 21 April 2001: Message edited by: BCAmtrak ]
I've heard this rumor a while back before the BNSF merger. What I heard was Santa Fe was thinking about taking over Passenger operations on their lines when the Amtrak Contracts were up in the early 90's. The rumor also said Santa Fe had talked to EMD, GE, and Bombabier about Building new passenger equipment. I'd like to hear more details about the new round of rumors. To me, BNSF would be the only current US Railway that would be Passenger Operation Friendly. The CB&Q-Early BN and Santa Fe both were NOT going to join Amtrak (Rail-Pax) at first, but were talked into joining by the US Government because they owned the newest and BEST passenger equipment at the time.
It said that BNSF wanted to take over passenger trains over since Amtrak was moving into the freight business-That is why Santa Fe was the leader before Amtrak took over the passenger trains operating on BNSF's lines (For Example San Joaquins Martinez-Bakersfield, Southwest Chief Los Angeles Chicago, Texas Eagle Ft Worth Area, plus Amtrak's short haul trains out of Chicago
I would love to see BNSF back into the fieght busness. I know that for the short time BN was in the busness they did it with style. They kept all the big name trains, Empier Builder, North Coast limited, and DEnver Zepher. Kevin
Why does BNSF want back into the passenger train business, even in California, Amtrak is being basically funded by the State of California(Caltrans) They also bought the equipment and locomotives, therefore if Amtrak was to go down, Caltrans could keep the Amtrak equipment and the locomotives for the state supported passenger trains
Brent, in an earlier message from you, you wanted more details, I am sorry but that is all that I heard because it was all that i heard and what I said to you was in fact what the paper quoted as far as BNSF to enter the passenger train business
BCamtrak here is the URL for the Stockton Record: http://www.recordnet.com/ Could you please point us to the article? I tried to find it but no luck.
Ok, I went to the link and searched the 7-day archive and found NOTHING about BNSF taking over passenger operations. There is a couple of stories talking about the Old Stockton SP depot being bought from UP so it can be restored. I wonder why a newspaper from a city that is served by UP would print a story about BNSF talking over passenger operations from Amtrak. I think my next stop will be the BNSF web site and see what they have to say about this RUMOR.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Maxwell Plant: I wonder why a newspaper from a city that is served by UP would print a story about BNSF talking over passenger operations from Amtrak. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Maybe because it is served by BNSF, too? Dwight
Dear all members that posted to this, I must have heard this rumor incorrectly because I even looked in the Stockton Record and found nothing, anyhow, I am writing to apologize for this "error" that was on the account of me-But I do know one thing that is certain, maybe it was the San Joaquin Regional Rail who wanted to buy the SP station and maybe that is what I found in the Stockton Record. I hope you all can forgive me, I did not expect this to happen like this Thanks For your Time Brad Chamberlain [ 21 April 2001: Message edited by: BCAmtrak ] [ 21 April 2001: Message edited by: BCAmtrak ]
