Amtrak's Problem.

[illinoiscentral]

Taken from the March 2009 issue of Trains Magazine [kalmbach publishing]

The Railroad Safety Enhancement Act called for a study to
bring back the North Coast Hiawatha service after 30 years since it discontinueance amid federal budget cuts. The train would run between Chicago and Seattle via Bismark and Montana Rail Link territory on a route roughly parallel to the existing Empire Builder service.
Do North Dakota and Montana really need two mainline passenger trains when Las Vegas has none, Atlanta has only one, and direct Chicago-Florida service was dropped 30 years ago? Restoring some long distance passenger trains makes sense. The loss of the Pioneer between Portland and Salt Lake City and the Desert Wind between Las Angeles and Salt Lake City [via Las Vegas] left big holes in the nationwide system.
In My Views:
So does Amtrak need to bring back those services or Possibly the City of Miami or does it need to add another Chicago-Seattle train? How about a good train from Chicago to Tampa Bay or Miami via Orlando? Alot of people vacation down there, not to mention the sizable amount of business. A train is a perfect fit for those cities. And how about long-term funding for Amtrak?

Well, I think this is a perfect time to discuss Amtrak with a realistic approach.
Cheers.

 

[gfisher]

Do you usually go around plagarizing editorials from Trains magazine?

 

[cascaderailroad]

I'm looking that big word up in the dictionary, so I don't ever do it !

 

[illinoiscentral]

Thanks GFisher, I did get it from that but forgot to mention it. I myself though do see this same problem. That was an excellent editorial by Jim Wrinn.

 

[gfisher]

but forgot to mention it.

That can get you in big trouble in school and elsewhere, illinoiscentral. Thank you for editing your post.

 

[illinoiscentral]

Yes, it can get one in trouble. My thanks to you for the reminder!

 

[K4driver]

anyway...Pittsburgh needs another Amtrak train...this one going Through the mon valley

 

[Isaacg]

What Amtrak needs to do is create more regional services down here in Florida and South East. I'm tired of flying and taking the Interstate. Typically one that could go TPA-MIA, TPA-ORL, MIA-ORL, JAX-TPA, TAL-JAX, TPA-ORL-ATL, ORL-BHAM-NO, etc. A Direct FL-CHI service would be great too! But other than stuff like that, Amtrak needs to rebuild some of their stations. TUS is eroding away again, and it was just restored. It needs a full rebuild. Not just renovation or restoration. Service to Clearwater and St. Petersburg would be awesome as well. My dad misses the Champion that comes by in town every day. 31st Street Terminal would be a good-fixer-upper down in St Petersburg. I went to find East Ave Station, and they got rid of it again! What a waste of money. They replaced it with a car dealership and gas station. Anyways, thats my rant...

Isaac

 

[Mitchey]

Gaps in the United States of America

Coming from Australia, and having little experience (none, in fact) with Amtrak, it might sound a bit funny because I'm probably wrong, but I think there are HUGE gaps in the system just from looking at the map on there website!

I have looked at coast to coast services, but most require a change in Chicago, or sometimes several changes.

And living in Australia, I have an idea of what I would like to see in the US. So what about a train that runs from say, Los Angeles to New York? It would be a profitable service for overseas travellers, as these are the cities that people usually want to see whilst in the United States.

And a service stopping at Las Vegas would be awesome too, because its another tourist destination.

Just my thoughts...
Mitch
________
Washington Medical Marijuana Dispensary

 

[Isaacg]

Mitch,

I agree, but the thing is, Amtrak is cramped when it comes to "where-to" as opposed to United, Delta, NWA, etc. To get from NYP-LAX, you'd need to take a Lake Shore Limited to CUS, and transfer to a Southwest Cheif. The Desert Wind used to run to and from LAS. They ran the black and blue talgos Amtrak purchased from Spain. I believe that in future, around 2100, high speed rail between places like TPA, MIA, ORL, NOL, NYP, WDC, POR, LAX, CHI, HOU, etc would be easy... If our future generations actually look back on the so-called "Progressive Era" and saw that rail is vital to the health of the USA's infrastructure system. Our infrastructure, from what I've seen has fallen since the decline in railways and transit. Two major contributors to economic prosperity and mobility. In recent times, major metropolis' are in a "Streetcar Renaisannce". Many streetcar systems that helped create neighbourhoods and towns are coming back to rejuvenate them. Hopefully, Amtrak, Transit, and Rail will play a large roll in the return of prosperity and economic success. Like I said, there are lessons to be learned.

 

[Mitchey]

I suppose so... But still, I reckon Amtrak could really be awesome if they had more services to more places where people wanted to go.
________
Ttr250

 

[Isaacg]

Try telling CSXT, BNSF, UP, CP, etc...

They'll only give you a funny look :haha:

Its still a shame that they only use the Viewliner Sleepers, and not the Viewliner Diners as well.

 

[illinoiscentral]

Amtrak needs to improve it's current service too. After riding the Illini a few years ago, I was ashamed to even mention Amtrak. They need to improve their single level trains. Why is it there is no high speed in California, but there is one in the Northeast, of course it does run into, Washington D.C.
How about a high speed line connecting Los Angeles with the other California cities.

 

[Gandalf0444]

Why is it there is no high speed in California, but there is one in the Northeast, of course it does run into, Washington D.C.
How about a high speed line connecting Los Angeles with the other California cities.

Simple answer really...PRR made it what it is today. And since the ROW and a lot of the track was already there,it was simple. However you can't say the same about the west... Many of the major RRs that you hear about are from the Northeast.(PRR,NH,NYC etc.) If PRR and the rest of the gang were on the west coast,the west coast would have high speed and the east coast wouldn't..

 

[illinoiscentral]

Yes, but it seems as though any more all you hear about Amtrak is the NEC.