Amtrak unveils first rail car funded by stimulus

Myway News ^ | 07/13/2009 | RANDALL CHASE

[iowamark]

Amtrak has wasted little time using its $1.3 billion slice of the federal stimulus package, unveiling the first of 81 passenger cars to be restored with the help of economic recovery funds.

Passenger car no. 25103, damaged a few years ago in a yard collision but now completely refurbished - complete with that "new car" interior smell - was shown off Monday at Amtrak's maintenance facility in Bear. More than 100 hard-hatted workers joined Amtrak president and CEO Joseph Boardman in celebrating completion of its restoration.

The car, refitted at a cost of about $687,000, will rejoin the Amtrak fleet next week and will be used on long-distance routes stretching from Toronto to Miami.

With ridership increasing by about 25 percent over the past three years, Amtrak is welcoming the additional seating capacity that will be provided by cars brought out of storage for repairs. Cars like the one displayed Monday can seat 60.

[iowamark]

Sen. John McCain and other Republican leaders praised the new "Obama Express."

[stephenjohnbanker]

It will pay for itself in the year 2525

[omega4179]

Restored, so that Amtrak can lose $40 a ticket filling it.

[2banana]

The car, refitted at a cost of about $687,000

$687,000 for a box with seats and some steel wheels? Just how much OT did these union goons put into this job? I wonder if anyone did a ROI for this. 200 people a day paying $20....does it even pay the interest?

[freebilly]

It will pay for itself in the year 2525

You are the optimist, aren't you...?

[Army Air Corps]

The car, refitted at a cost of about $687,000,...

$687,000 to refurbish ONE passenger railcar?

[iowamark]

At least they are refitting old rail cars. However, a private contractor could do they job at a fraction of what Amtrak’s shops cost.

[tet68]

Whoa! That Obama Express sure doesn’t give you much
for tourist class.

[Eleutheria5]

Milton! Thou shouldst be living on this day!

[stephenjohnbanker]

LMAO!!

[babygene]

“The car, refitted at a cost of about $687,000, will rejoin the Amtrak fleet next week”

We sure don’t get much for our money do we? ore than 1/2 mil for one car?

[BigSkyFreeper]

This isn’t exactly private sector stimulus.

[Lorianne]

Maybe Chrysler and GM can make rail cars ... if they haven’t sold all their equipment to China already.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Restored, so that Amtrak can lose $40 a ticket filling it.”

That’s probably the best ROI we will ever get from Obama ;-)

[Secret Agent Man]

Amtrak is already hugely subsidized by the government. They make it sound like it’s the first federal money Amtrak’s ever received.

[dalereed]

“It will pay for itself in the year 2525”

It will require billions in subsidies every year until some administration puts an end to public transportation!

[Army Air Corps]

That was just to refurbish ONE existing railcar. Imagine the cost if it was built from scratch...

[Kickass Conservative]

Maybe they put in a Hemi.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Hmmmm........maybe we could overinsure it, and blow it up????

[Nachum]

The list, ping

Porkulus dollars, hard at work

[watusa1775]

You kidding? I not make that much in my life.

[element92]

look at it this way, at $687 thousand,
that is about $136 million less than a F-22.
and it seats 59 more people

[razorback-bert]

Republican Rep. Michael Castle acknowledged that he was no fan of the $787 billion stimulus package, but said he wants to ensure that Amtrak remains a viable mode of transportation.

[Eleutheria5]

Don’t give them any ideas. Next they’ll start using F-22s for Am-Trak cars.

[bamahead]

Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!
(View past Libertarian pings here)

[bamahead]

[Chickensoup]

Amtrack is the biggest waste of money ever. There is a ride between Portland Maine and Boston that travels empty always! The buses are full because the buses go where one wants to go, like the airport, and are more comfortable rides AND COST LESS!

But the elites wanted trains and trains we got, even though they are filled with retired Amtrack workers who are going down to spend the day in Boston.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Your tagline is priceless!

[BradyLS]

OFF TOPIC: What line or company operated those box cars that had the red “Thunderbird” on them? I don’t see those around anymore and I don’t recall that a name appeared (in any type you could read) on the cars.

A coffee shop here in Austin, TX is called “The Thunderbird” and its mark is a red “Thunderbird” that is a bit of a riff on the box cars. (The Missouri-Pacific line where I’ve seen the box cars is located about 2-3 mile away from the shop.)