Effect on Amtrak of Federal shutdown

[Donald]

Any idea how a long Federal shutdown might affect rail traffic particularly Amtrak? The Feds have a hand in everything.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Any idea how a long Federal shutdown might affect rail traffic particularly Amtrak? The Feds have a hand in everything.

Amtrak employees are not Federal Workers, the Class I Railroaders and the Dispatchers aren't either.

So in the Short run, the only effect will be around the Virginia to NYP Routes,(especially on Acela )where the passenger loads will no doubt decline during the Shutdown.( freight traffic will probably decline also since folks will quit spending money)

 

[fdaley]

There shouldn't be any effect on operations unless the shutdown drags on for months. Normally Amtrak has enough reserves plus revenue from day-to-day operations to keep going for quite awhile. Capital/infrastructure improvement projects would likely be affected first before any trains would stop running.

 

[PVD]

The impact would more likely be seen on the regulatory side where things awaiting approval may be delayed, including certifying new equipment, since the people that do that work (like DOT/FRA) may be furloughed.

 

[bbappel]

Another shutdown is threatening. Is the answer still the same? We are traveling North from Lorton on the AutoTrain.

 

[lordsigma]

Another shutdown is threatening. Is the answer still the same? We are traveling North from Lorton on the AutoTrain.

Yes. Auto Train is revenue positive anyway so shouldn’t have any issues there.