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Amtrak President David Gunn Is Fired
The Washington Post ^ | November 9, 2005 | Devlin Barrett, AP

Posted on 11/09/2005 1:19:12 PM PST by CedarDave

WASHINGTON -- Amtrak's board of directors on Wednesday fired President David Gunn, saying the debt-laden rail carrier needs "a leader with vision and experience."

Gunn has struggled to maintain Amtrak service amid a sinking financial picture and a push by the White House and some in Congress to recraft it as a group of regional inter-city companies.

"Amtrak's future now requires a different type of leader who will aggressively tackle the company's financial, management and operational challenges," Amtrak Chairman David Laney said in a statement.

"The board approved a strategic plan in April that provides a blueprint for a stronger and more sustainable Amtrak. Now we need a leader with vision and experience to get the job done."

Rep. John Mica said Gunn was fired because of a clash over the board's vote in September to authorize splitting off the Northeast Corridor, an idea backed by the Bush administration. The corridor accounts for the largest share of the railroad's ridership.

"David Gunn bucked that idea, so that was the straw that broke the camel's back," said Mica, R-Fla. "He's a very capable operational manager, but he wasn't willing to go along with the dramatic changes that need to be made."

Gunn, who assumed the post in 2002 after having headed transit systems in New York City, Washington and Toronto, could not be reached for comment.

<< snip >>

Other lawmakers said Gunn had become a roadblock to overhauling national rail service.

"I am hopeful that new leadership can open the door for Amtrak to work closely with Congress to achieve meaningful reforms," said Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y.

Amtrak has never made money in its 34-year history and an operating loss of more than $550 million was expected for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amtrak; davidgunn; fired; gunn; rail
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Even the Republicans who oppose Amtrak say Gunn was a very capable operational manager. But he opposed where the administration was going with the railroad and paid the price.
1 posted on 11/09/2005 1:19:13 PM PST by CedarDave
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To: CedarDave

At least he could have resigned, thereby shooting himself with his own gunn.


2 posted on 11/09/2005 1:20:50 PM PST by calrighty (C'mon troops, finish em off!!)
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To: CedarDave

What does W want to do with the railroads?

What did this guy want to do with them that was different?


3 posted on 11/09/2005 1:22:29 PM PST by caddie
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To: CedarDave
Earlier link here:

Amtrak Set to Fire President

4 posted on 11/09/2005 1:24:28 PM PST by CedarDave
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To: CedarDave

David Gunn did a good job with the NYC subway system. He is a capable operations manager. But I rode Amtrak for the last five years, and it was evident to me that he was very far from fixing anything there. He spent billions and the service just kept getting worse and worse.

Maybe he lacked the authority to really do what needed to be done.


5 posted on 11/09/2005 1:24:44 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: CedarDave

Don't you need a permint to fire a gunn in DC??


6 posted on 11/09/2005 1:25:59 PM PST by BlueMondaySkipper (The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it. - George Orwell)
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To: CedarDave; Willie Green

If Chuckie Schumer is saddened, you know that was the right move. Is Mikey Dukakis still on the board? Will Willie Green be applying for the job?


7 posted on 11/09/2005 1:26:26 PM PST by NonValueAdded ("To the terrorists, the media is a vital force multiplier" Brig. Gen. Donald Alston (USAF) 10/31/05)
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To: CedarDave

I thought it was illegal to fire a gun in DC.......


8 posted on 11/09/2005 1:26:29 PM PST by Red Badger (Whatever happened to formulas 1 through 408?.........)
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: NonValueAdded

Are the employees 'gubmint' or ordinary union guys....or neither?


10 posted on 11/09/2005 1:28:39 PM PST by litehaus
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To: CedarDave

FIRED???? Was he in Paris????


11 posted on 11/09/2005 1:31:09 PM PST by RetiredArmy (I have no faith in any politician or political party any more. They all lie for their agendas.)
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To: caddie
W does not want ANY federal money to go to Amtrak, which would make it the only transportation mode in the country which does not receive direct or indirect subsidies, including the airline industry.

See the above link and go here for an admittedly pro-passenger rail viewpoint:

www.narprail.org

12 posted on 11/09/2005 1:31:28 PM PST by CedarDave
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To: caddie

He throws our tax dollars at them.


13 posted on 11/09/2005 1:31:45 PM PST by RetiredArmy (I have no faith in any politician or political party any more. They all lie for their agendas.)
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To: caddie
IIRC, the NE Corridor is the best money maker Amtrak has.

So the govt wants to spin it off. That leaves the govt (us) stuck with the big money losers. Am I missing something?
14 posted on 11/09/2005 1:35:32 PM PST by phatoldphart (One of the 1000s on the ground during Apollo and Skylab)
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To: CedarDave; windcliff
Amtrak's board of directors on Wednesday fired President David Gunn

He was derailed, so to speak.

15 posted on 11/09/2005 1:36:18 PM PST by I Drive Too Fast
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To: CedarDave
"David Gunn Is Fired"

Should the "Bang" list be pung?

16 posted on 11/09/2005 1:38:24 PM PST by azhenfud (He who always is looking up seldom finds others' lost change.)
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To: CedarDave

Just curious, ever work for Amtrak (I did)?


17 posted on 11/09/2005 1:39:20 PM PST by benjaminjjones
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To: CedarDave
I think Gunn was inept and that this should have happened long ago.
18 posted on 11/09/2005 1:39:44 PM PST by Jaysun (Democrats: We must become more effective at fooling people.)
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To: phatoldphart

That's only part of the story, and "profit" can be defined any way that someone with an agenda to push defines it. The infrastructure requires extensive rebuilding that requires billions not covered by any fare box. Without a national system, the federal support for that effort is likely lacking.


19 posted on 11/09/2005 1:40:30 PM PST by CedarDave
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To: CedarDave

Too bad. I loved his theme song.

Oh, wait, that was Peter Gunn. Never mind.

}:-)4


20 posted on 11/09/2005 1:43:53 PM PST by Moose4 (Liberals and vampires: Both like death, both hate crosses, and both are bloodsuckers.)
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