I personally feel that if the whole of Amtrak was to be restructured, you would see a vast increase in income. Amtrak, like so many other businesses past, has become bloated beyond their own control. It leads one to wonder just how many useless positions there are and how many "personal" projects are being worked on. Much like the newest Bombardiers, they too need to be streamlined, perhaps looking to such entities as NASA who not only smoothed out their operation but found alternate ways of generating monies, including finding ways of sharing operating costs. Perhaps we can all come up with some ideas and have them submitted. Ultimately, Amtrak's future is in our hands! What is everybody elses thoughts on this? Russ [ 15 November 2001: Message edited by: rush2ny ]</p>
I think Amtrak has been a falwaed organization atleast for about the last 10 years. They are running two or three different types of services, with the same people and the same 'train of thought'. This is giving them a less then pleasing result. I can't help but notice in all the services run by states (Cascades, AMTK. California ect..) The trains run over all in a better fashion and seem to have a better ridership base. I believe Amtrak should be split into at least three distinct parts 1) Long Distnace Transportation Trains.. maybe leave this as Amtrak, with the current people, just alot less of them. 2) Short Hual transportation trains run in part with the state. This would be an orgainization like Amtrak already has, but completely seprate. They would operate the NEC**, Cascades, Amtk. California, the Las Vegas trains (if it ever happens) and any other operations that would fit into that group 2**) Should the NEC be its own group? 3) Private railtours like the Starlate. Happy Railroading! Dane
BC has the right idea, Amtrak needs to be restructured. Long haul, Short Haul. tHE RAILTOURS SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO SOME ONE ELSE aMTRAK HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE TOUR BUSINESS AS SUCH SO TO HAVE A SEGMENT WITH THAT WELL THAT'S JUST MORE BURDEN. The shorthauls should be around Chicago (Detroit Toronto St. Louis, Milwaukee) NEC, Cascades, and California, like previously mentioned. They need to upgrade their long haul operations and add a few more like Chicago-Miami Through Atlanta being one. and a Denver-Galvaston like the old Texas Zephyr. Other than that the scene looks alright. Well just my 2 cents worth
If you want to read some "hot button" commentary, ideas and opinions on AMTRAK, go to the AMTRAK message board under Scale models in AOL. There are some strong personalities there and I have rubbed their fur the wrong way.
I know what you mean Charlie. I frequent the AOL boards and some of the regulars get offended quite easily and do not want to hear anything but their own commentary. That's not to say that there aren't good people on the boards as I've made many friends, but I like an open discussion where you can hear both points of view and arrive in the middle without all the flame wars. (Much like here on "the" board Russ Hoffman Valley RR
