Posted on 01/09/2010 4:04:41 AM PST by steve8714
Link only, I'm unsure of their excerpt policy...
I’m against government subsidized companies as much as anyone here but in fairness, this probably doesn’t have much to do with the fact that Amtrak is a government controlled entity. And I remember back during the snow storms of the mid-90s when every form of transportation was shut down, including some highways, Amtrak was running. There is a place for Amtrak/passenger rail travel in this country. It can be profitable and efficient. The problem is extremely—extremely—powerful rail unions that sap money out of the company for workers who aren’t worth their pay, and by Congress micro-managing routes to make sure every district has a couple stops (and more than that if the Congressman is powerful). Its a shame.
Medicare is broke and you get denied coverage, Social Security is broke and you can’t get assistance, The U.S. Postal System is completely inept, the IRS only is shooting for 71 percent accuracy this year at their answer center.
Does anyone else see a pattern here? and now they want to run our health care?
If you think flying is a pain in the rear, try the train or even worse , go go go go Grayhound.
Gosh! Isn’t AMTRAK a Government Run Boondoogle just like what the DEMORATS are proposing and trying to Cram down America’s Throat to Destroy America’s Healthcare System as well????? If You think being stuck on an AMTRAK Train for 24 Hours is Bad, just wait till You stand in Line for 36 Hours to get admitted to an Emergency Room where You wait another 20 hours until a Non Enlish Speaking, Non Certified Doctor from Bangladesh tells You You are TOO OLD to get treated because it would cost too much and You will probably die in another 10 Years anyway according to the OBOZOHUSSEINCARE Medical Treatment Requirements, and OH, By the Way, You are NOT on the DEMORAT Certified VOTER ROLES so You aren’t worth Saving Anyway!! If You think this is Sarquasm, You are certainly very Naive!......:-(
I could almost see Dagny Taggart hiking several miles to find a working telephone, with a legion of followers in tow.
First off, people shouldn’t complain since the view traveling by train is great! And how many people get to say they were in a train when it hit a truck? That’s cool man!
Sadly, the average person does not. Sure, they're upset now because unemployment is high, but fundamentally they think government should be doing all those things and none of what you listed bothers them.
Now, if we can use the high employment to get through to them on a permanent basis so they finally get it that government doing everything is not the answer, great. Maybe that's what was needed to wake them up. I hope so, but I remain skeptical until we see how the 2010 elections go: the fewer statists get elected, the more encouraged I'll be.
The one thing that does bother me is how few trains we have. If you go to most countries, train travel is far more common and less expensive than flying. The train systems seem to be thriving. And these trains are largely government run operations. Meanwhile Amtrak is losing money and cutting service. With all the problems with airlines, Amtrak should be able to capitalize on the situation and attract passengers who are disgruntled by air travel. Why can't it?
I rode from Florida to Tenn. For a truck driving job never again. the low life's and rude people abound. was waiting for the goats to come walking up the aisle, not to mention the smell of some of the slobs,gag.
40 years ago I rode a Grayhound from Jacksonville to Tampa.
Until I got a ride I always hitch hiked after that one ride.
There use to be (actually still is) a line called Sunset Limited...but the service from Orlando to New Orleans has been discontinued because of politics!
Some of the line was disrupted during Hurricane Katrina, but has since been repaired...
..but this very popular route isn't being used and hasn't been used ...since the repairs, because of politics, plain and simple.
..I think it's been serviceable for 2 or 3 years now....but no one will sign off using it, and it's all politics.
That said, I travel from Boston to Washington D.C. often by Amtrak’s Acela Express and I absolutely love it. It's fast, comfortable, and the beer is reasonable. And the quiet car is awesome, no screaming babies or people yaking on cell phones.
Note: The story takes place in Chicago, the city that gave us Obama, is anyone surprised?!
You’d think Mussolini would have the trains running on time by now.
Because of the weather, the rail carrier is suspending service past Minneapolis today.
You can always fly. Besides it’s cheaper.
Americans are such saps... whine whine whine.... its never good enough. why don't the dopes on the train check the weather? It use to take months to travel across this nation with little or no comfort at all. The original settlers of this country were real men and women not lack the pathetic excuses that Americans have become. Whaaaaaaaa I sat on a train for extra day. I couldn't watch Oprah or Fox news for a whole day! Amtrak should have made the snow melt. I am a big fat slob who couldn't suck down a wendy's burger for two days. Sorry weak fat people. The New Americans.
LOL.
Don’t take long distance trains if you’re in a hurry. Train travel is to relax and enjoy. Amtrak can’t control the weather and most crews do all they can to mitigate unpleasant circumstances.
I’ve been stuck many times on Amtrak. Once in the west Texas high desert for about a day in 95 degree temps, limited restroom service and food.
The crew hiked to a subway in a nearby town to bring us all subway sandwiches and drinks. The camaradarie was great among most passengers — except for the whiners.
Love trains and wish they would put the Sunset Lmt. back in service from Jacksonville to New Orleans and on west.
I feel the same about the Acela. I commuted between Boston and NYC on the Acela in the Quiet Car. It was rarely more than late and frequently early arriving back at RT 128. I hear that the Auto Train to Florida is a great way to go also.
It was rarely more than 5 minutes late
Our local news has been reporting Amtrak has been canceled between Denver and Chicago due to the snow in Nebraska.
Our relatives in Nebraska sent us pictures. The snow is 2 stories deep in some places. Amazing!
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