What's ahead for Åmtrak?

It's hard to know if Amtrak is on the right track or has been put off on a siding. There are new engineers handling the locomotive and I'm not sure if he knows the rules of the road or he's just going to feel his way along the track. Some news reports show improved ridership on some lines but there are still some crazies who think privatization is the way to go. What's the point of selling off your assets to create another bureaucratic nightmare? Adequate funding is what is desperately needed. Maybe if gasoline continues to be expensive the traveling public will wake up and take to public transportation.

A new leader (?) for Amtrak

Too long an absence from this post but the appointment noted today (8/30/06) of Alexander Kummant as president and CEO of Amtrak deserved some comment. Mr. Kummant comes to Amtrak with a railroad background, except that maybe it's the wrong background. He previously served as a Regional VP of Union Pacific! He also served as UP's VP and General Manager of Industrial Products. It is reported that as a leader for both units, he "was rsponsible for substantially improved customer service, on-time delivery of client products, and significant gains in financial and operational performance". So he's supposed to work the same magic for Amtrak? I guess that means treat people (passengers) as products to be delivered on time and "gains in financial performance" translates to cutting dining car and sleeping car service because that will improve financial performance, right? His other, more recent position, was with Komatsu America, a supplier of construction equipment. Well, that might mean an ability to get some construction equipment for improving rail infrastructure (track, bridges).

Anyway he is supposed to build on the growing national desire for more and improved passenger rail service. I wish I could believe that someone who comes from UP would really do that. UP has not got a good record on handling their freight lines, how can Mr. K deal with improving Amtrak? Maybe his wife (a former senior executive with Santa Fe and BNSF) will exert a good influence over him.

It all remains to be seen. Given the state of travel nowadays rail in the US should be given priority. Improved service, like passenger trains given priority over freight, would be nice. Maybe people would be ready to trade in less speed (flying) for taking a train--none of the prolonged delays on security lines and you can still take something to drink (or get it on board) and your scissors, knitting needles, etc.

A partially new Amtrak

Home again after another, relatively short trip, on Amtrak. The ride from home to Indianapolis and Chicago and back again was pretty much on time. Our departure was about 40 minutes late but it didn't make any difference in our arrival in Alexandria; we had plenty of time before our departure for Indianapolis. Meals on all routes were served on the new plastic plates which weren't as bad as I expected. The plastic wasn't the soft picnic plate kind of thing, even had a decorative border on it. Coffee served in plastic with lids, not a bad idea as it prevented spilling hot stuff when you tried drinking while the train was going over rough track. Choosing roomettes for all sleeping space was a good idea as no one had a problem with climbing into an upper.

We had a good time in both cities, especially when it came to dining out: The Oceanaire, McCormick & Schmick in Indianapolis and Shaw's Crab House and Vong's Thai Kitchen in Chicago.

Since returning home I've been catching up on news items relative to Amtrak and its future. Lots of voices singing from different choirs though not as much from Mr. Mineta with his anti-Amtrak tirades.

What'll it be this time?

Without a doubt the fate of long distance American rail service is in trouble. The powers that be, those now in charge of Amtrak, have already made changes in the food service. No longer meals to be served on china with suitable implements with which to eat a meal; it's down to plastic. Certain foods will be prepared ahead of time and it looks as though we've seen the end of what was one of the lines best meals--the strip steak. This is supposed to save Amtrak "tens of millions of dollars" annually.

I suppose the next step will be an attempt to eliminate sleeping car service. Let them eat cake--let them ride in coaches.

What short-sightedness. How can we attract tourists, home-grown or from abroad, if we cut back on the very things which appeal to those who prefer to see our country at ground level? It has not penetrated the thick heads of those advocating saving money that the very things they're proposing will do nothing to save but will act to cause the system to lose money as travelers will opt for some other means of travel. Airlines? Good luck. As more and more of them go into bankruptcy their services are faltering, too. How about paying for your pillow, your blanket, your water? And traveling by car won't be any picnic, either, with the way gasoline prices are heading.

Go ahead, Mr. Laney. You and your fellow mis-handlers of Amtrak, cut off your noses to spite your faces. In the meantime, there are plenty of us calling curses on your deeds.

I'm about to sample some of the above as I take off on a trip to Indianapolis-Chicago-Washington and home. I'll sample the new meal service, find out how the sleepers are doing and try to talk to some of the railroad employees.