My Last Four Trips on Amtrak

[badcompany]

From oldest to most recent:

4. New York City to Albany - Engine trouble outside of Hudson: 2 hr delay until tow-train arrived.

3. New York City to Albany - 1/2 hr late (not bad for Amtrak)

2. New York City to Albany - Trees on tracks outside of Rhinecliff: Two hour delay.

1. Saratoga Springs to New York City - Rockslide near Rhinecliff: Two and 1/2 hour delay.

I am done with Amtrak. Under no circumstances will I allow them to hold me hostage on one of their trains.

[HUSKER55]

outside of Milwaukee the railroad allowed one train to collided with another train. it was on the news.

In this day and age how does that happen? And those same idiots want high speed rail.

You should be grateful. Next accident and you won't be there.

[Overlay]

My family worked for four generations on the railroad (New York Central, Penn Central, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie, and Grand Trunk Western), and I have a lot of good memories of passenger train travel when I was younger, as well as of a summer job working for the Penn Central myself out of Toledo, Ohio, forty years ago when I was in college. It's a shame that the situation has deteriorated so.

[badcompany]

Originally Posted by Overlay

My family worked for four generations on the railroad (New York Central, Penn Central, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie, and Grand Trunk Western), and I have a lot of good memories of passenger train travel when I was younger, as well as of a summer job working for the Penn Central myself out of Toledo, Ohio, forty years ago when I was in college. It's a shame that the situation has deteriorated so.

Yes, train travel can be very enjoyable. That's why I've given them so many chances, but, as the saying goes, "They've failed me for the last time."

[JustRalph]

Tax payers subsidized Amtrak to the tune of 443 million dollars in 2013

It's a giant boondoggle.

[Tall One]

Originally Posted by Overlay

My family worked for four generations on the railroad (New York Central, Penn Central, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie, and Grand Trunk Western), and I have a lot of good memories of passenger train travel when I was younger, as well as of a summer job working for the Penn Central myself out of Toledo, Ohio, forty years ago when I was in college. It's a shame that the situation has deteriorated so.

My dad retired 40 years on the L&N/CSX (hauling coal and freight), and imo, once the rail companies themselves stopped their own passenger service, that's when it all went to shit.

Overlay, that's an impressive line-up..passenger train royalty.

[mostpost]

I have had two sets of experiences with train travel. From 1962 to 1965 I traveled between Chicago and SIU Carbondale, Il. on various Illinois Central trains. During the nineties and early oughts I took several trips on various Amtrak routes in the western states. The facilities, service and on time ishness were far superior on Amtrak.

Amtrak can not always be blamed for its trains being late. Amtrak shares tracks with the freight line and the freight trains have priority.

[mostpost]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

Tax payers subsidized Amtrak to the tune of 443 million dollars in 2013

It's a giant boondoggle.

We subsidized the airlines $234 million for a program called Essential Air Service. $801 per passenger for service to small rural airports. Plus whatever it costs to build, maintain and staff major and midsized airports around the country. I know airlines pay landing fees but I also know they don't cover the costs.

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by mostpost

We subsidized the airlines $234 million for a program called Essential Air Service. $801 per passenger for service to small rural airports. Plus whatever it costs to build, maintain and staff major and midsized airports around the country. I know airlines pay landing fees but I also know they don't cover the costs.

Ok, so let's compare the efficiency of the two? So which one do you think is more worthy?

[Ocala Mike]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

It's a giant boondoggle.

Here's an opinion piece from a NH newpaper that contradicts your opinion:

http://www.vnews.com/opinion/1259614...ailing-bargain

Rather long, but worth the time to read it.

[cj's dad]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

Tax payers subsidized Amtrak to the tune of 443 million dollars in 2013

It's a giant boondoggle.

Michelle could drop that over a long weekend.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by mostpost
We subsidized the airlines $234 million for a program called Essential Air Service. $801 per passenger for service to small rural airports. Plus whatever it costs to build, maintain and staff major and midsized airports around the country. I know airlines pay landing fees but I also know they don't cover the costs.

A stupid waste of money.

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by Ocala Mike

Here's an opinion piece from a NH newpaper that contradicts your opinion:

http://www.vnews.com/opinion/1259614...ailing-bargain

Rather long, but worth the time to read it.

I see nothing in that piece to change my mind. It's a glorious ode to governmental intervention, and failure

[badcompany]

Government run businesses can be classified as "Cheap Speed." They tend to start off well because they adopt many of the private sector practices in that industry, but, eventually, bureaucracy and politics seep in and things go down hill, a good example being NYC OTB, which started off very profitable but ended up a train wreck (pun intended).

That said, Mosty is right that things can happen that aren't Amtrak's fault, but, their batting average is so low that "poorly run" is the most likely explanation.

[Tom]

Our ancestors walked from the east coast to California, pulling thier belongings in a wagon, through deserts and Indian country.

Today, we have to subsidize airplanes and trains?

American woosies.

Besides, I resent my tax dollars going towards maintaining a large carbon footprint and killing off the planet.

Givernment subsidies cause Global Warming!