Bye Bye Express Shipping and Amtrak Freight

[Amfleet]

Amtrak President David L. Gunn says he has developed a fiscal 2003 budget that calls for more personnel cuts, an end to freight service and an eventual end to state-subsidized trains unless the states agree to cover all of their operating losses.

For full article, click here.

 

[Viewliner]

I guess that might help delays a little, it still may take some time to add the mail cars. I hear of many travelers who are delayed in the yard picking up cars in the yard (particularly chicago), so I guess we can expect fewer and shorter delays.

 

[Amfleet]

Basicaly all the Road Railers and Express Box cars will be gone. The MHC's will stay and carry the mail up front. I don't think mail is added to the back of the train.

 

[JongSuk]

I'm going to miss it if it goes. I kinda like seeing those roadrailers and express box cars on the train(they made it longer).

 

[Amfleet]

You liked those clunky, time consuming, delay habiting, dirty, box cars and roadrailers. <_< A short 8 car passenger consist is just fine with me.

 

[JongSuk]

It just that I like seeing long passenger trains. If there were passenger cars put in the place on the express boxcars and roadrailers that be all right too, but I guess I grown to like the express and roadrailers. They make trains like 3 and 4 quite a sight to see.

 

[Amfleet]

The Auto Train is also quite a sight with 16 Superliners and 24 Auto Carriers.

 

[Steve4031]

I wont miss them. The best part of having a sleeper on 3 or 4 was stanindg in the last car and watching the track. As far as im concerned, this is almost better than sex! lol.

I know that at times the sleepers are in the front on 3 and 4, but if the roadrailers are gone, I bet you that they will go to the back where they belong.

 

[chefrhodes81]

hello

Maybe this will help amtrak be on better terms with the railroads. since Amtrak wont be in competition with them. Also would the road railer fleet be used for Mail now?

john

 

[Amfleet]

I wont miss them. The best part of having a sleeper on 3 or 4 was stanindg in the last car and watching the track. As far as im concerned, this is almost better than sex! lol.

Steve, it's a toss up, but a ride on train lasts longer. :lol:

 

[Steve4031]

Well, the the chief was never annulled because the engine had a headache, so maybe you got a point, lol.

 

[GWR]

Well If this service was not cost effective why was it not dropped earlier and instead introduced new passenger routes instead

Guy

 

[Amfleet]

Ahem Ahem, Warington, Ahem, Amtrak president.

 

[Guest]

With Amtrak dropping their express service the question is will NJT buy it use it on their NEC service, since Warrington is now in charge over there and all

 

[tp49]

last one was me...someone erased the cookies off this machine and I had actually had to login :angry:

 

[Viewliner]

What would NJT do with it, currently its New York to Trenton, with plans to take over clocker service in 2006 (extending it to philadelphia).

 

[tp49]

It was a veiled attempt at a joke

 

[Miami Joe]

Due to Amtrak's financial situation, very little equipment has been "bought".

Most of Amtrak's equipment was purchased as "leased buy-backs."

Amtrak orginally wanted EMD locos but no one would provide financing to a failing company. GE came up with the idea of leasing the locos, with a small part of the payment applied to the principal. That's why we still have an active warranty program on the P-42's.

The Talgos have a 10 yr maintenance contract with company techs. The Acela has a 10 yr contract with Alstom and Bombardier, but I think this will be renegotiated with the pending lawsuit.

B)