Amtrak president derides funding proposal

Associated Press via www.boston.com via Drudge ^ | February 10, 2004 | Leslie Miller

[snopercod]

WASHINGTON -- Amtrak President David Gunn said Tuesday that President Bush's proposal to give the railroad just over half what it sought in federal subsidies would shut it down just as more passengers than ever are taking the train.

For Fiscal 2005 starting in October, Amtrak formally asked for $1.798 billion, or about $300 million more than it received for 2004. That includes a $570 million operating subsidy, repayment of a $100 million government loan and $791 million for replacing rails and ties, repairing bridges and overhauling major equipment.

[snopercod]

I travelled across the country via train when I was just a kid in the 50s. I'll never forget those great memories of a bygone era.

[PackerBoy]

These words have never been spoken to me by anyone I know:

"I recently traveled on Amtrak ..."

It might have been a nice idea, but it's well past time to shut it down. For the cost of operating it, we could probably fly all Amtrak passengers first class to wherever they want to go.

[philetus]

Shut it down.

[Blood of Tyrants]

"The president's number is a shutdown number,"

Good. Shut it down. It will save us about $1 billion a year. Why taxpayers have been forced to subsidize this money losing company for over 25 years is beyound me.

[raloxk]

"Amtrak President David Gunn said Tuesday that President Bush's proposal to give the railroad just over half what it sought in federal subsidies would shut it down just as more passengers than ever are taking the train."

if they charge a realistic fare, that would be a problem. Wha tkind of industry is about to go out of business just when ridership is increasing? Sounds like major mismanagement.


Tell me what you think of this Amtrack Schedule

Chicago-San Francisco

Stops in Ottumwa, Iowa not Des Moines
Stops in Bellevue, NE not Omaha
Stops in Winterpark, Co not Denver. That's right the largest city between SFO and Chicago is by-passed by Amtrack

[grania]

These words have never been spoken to me by anyone I know: "I recently traveled on Amtrak ..."

Every year, I take a relatively long trip on AMTRAK (24 hours or more). Besides being great for people who medically can't fly, it provides a travel option if planes can't fly, it is a great way to see the country, not be a slave to the clock, and just unwind.

When you investigate all of the federal subsidies being given to other forms of travel, it makes no sense to not support train travel. Compared to the expense of rebuilding Iraq, the amount of money to turn AMTRAK into a first class system is trivial.

[edwords]

Doesn't stop in Phoenix, either. You have to take a bus up from Tucson.

[philetus]

The scedule doesn't look like a winning combination.
They keep it unprofitable and get money from the gov.

Then the brass split up half of it.

[grania]

Stops in Winterpark, Co not Denver. That's right the largest city between SFO and Chicago is by-passed by Amtrack

Uhhhhh...I've taken AMTRAK from Chicago to Denver. It's the train that goes to LA, not the one that goes to SF.

[raloxk]

ok?

[snopercod]

The last time I traveled on Amtrak routinely was about 20 years ago, from San Luis Obispo to Flagstaff, AZ.

It was very pleasant, inexpensive, and I could sleep in a huge, comfortable, recliner chair all night and go to work the next morning refreshed. (Yeah, it was a long commute back then.)

Since I have an averstion to being treated like a Jew in Nazi Germany, I won't be flying commercial unless somebody in the family dies.

I may just ride the Super Chief again one more time.

[snopercod]

Shut it down.

How will heavy cargo be transported?

[pax_et_bonum]

Amtrak president derides funding proposal

more lucrative than de-railing it

[ninonitti]

All those union featherbeds gone forever.....not to mention the thousands of middle management reclining desk chairs.

The Horror!

[atlaw]

"Shut it down."

"How will heavy cargo be transported?"

The same way it is now. Amtrak has nothing to do with freight (except very limited overnight mail delivery). Freight rail has been a profitable enterprise since the turn of the century, and passenger rail has been an unprofitable enterprise since 1950.

I am, however, in favor of retaining Amtrak. Passenger rail cannot operate without subsidy, but the same is true of trucking and air transportation (and if you believe trucking and air are subsidy free, guess again).

I also think something is way out of whack when this administration is willing to spend 1.5 billion on what is in effect a program of federal marriage counselers, but only 900 million to retain in operation a major (and yes, necessary) passenger rail system.

[ampat]

Why fund Amtrak at all?

[philetus]

How will heavy cargo be transported?

You mean like Michael Moore or Rosie?

By freight railroads not Ammtrak.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Tell me what you think of this Amtrack Schedule Chicago-San Francisco Stops in Ottumwa, Iowa not Des Moines Stops in Bellevue, NE not Omaha Stops in Winterpark, Co not Denver. That's right the largest city between SFO and Chicago is by-passed by Amtrack

Ya know, if you want Amtrak shut down, just say so, that's fine, but don't act like a Democrat and flat out lie to people who you think won't know enough about the subject to spot your lies.

The train stops in Denver, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Omaha, and Reno, 5 of the 6 largest cities between SF/Oakland and Chicago. Here's a timetable confirming such:

http://www.amtrak.com/trains/timetable/p5.pdf

[Sam Cree]

I love travelling Amtrak, even though it's run on a "prayer and a shoestring." They still manage a fair job.

Funding is a relatively small amount of that spent by government on transportation.

But I guess we have more important places to spend, social engineering, socialized medicine, etc.

[Atlas Sneezed]

These words have never been spoken to me by anyone I know:

"I recently traveled on Amtrak ..."

It might have been a nice idea, but it's well past time to shut it down. For the cost of operating it, we could probably fly all Amtrak passengers first class to wherever they want to go.

---

Agreed. You will hear those words in the Eastern corrridor, and maybe Seattle-Portland and a few other such runs, and those are the ones that will remain open when it is privatized.

The idea of traveling cross country in a (subsidized) train is silly, when there are affordable flights.