I understand Amtrack’s dislike of delays of any sort. I understand UP’s dislike of Amtrack upsetting the flow of all the money making freights. Now that you know my feelings a question: Is there an expiration date for the original agreement between the federal government and the railroads when they (govt) took over the operation of the passenger trains. Or is there a “get out of jail” date for the RR’s?
John
For the sake of clarity and accuracy, may I assume you meant to write Amtrak?
There is no sunset on the provision of the law giving Amtrak the right to operate trains on freight railroads. However, Amtrak and the freight railroads have to renew the agreements covering the payments for use of the tracks. I do not know the frequency of the renewals, but I think there are multi-year provisions. The compensation plan also includes bonuses for on-time performance. (Adjustments are made when the delays are Amtrak’s fault.)
By the way, Amtrak does not dispute the idea that the freight railroads lose capacity because of their obligation to handle the passenger trains and as a result may not be able to handle some profitable freight. Also, Amtrak President Kumant has tried to work with the railroads to address some of the performance problems. For example, Amtrak adjusted some summer schedules on the UP to allow greater track and time to maintenance crews.
I just got off tonight’s newsletter. It reports that in 2007, Amtrak and the UP established an agreement to deal with delays caused by slow track orders. In exchange for the UP putting more effort to reduce slow orders on Amtrak routes, Amtrak would alter and add more running times to schedules to facilitate repair activity.
It is reported that Amtrak alleges that the UP has not met the goals and has asked for an arbitration on the subject.
Amtrack-Amtrak, sorry, going brain dead at a faster clip than I thought, and thanks for the replies.
John
Don’t you know what happens when you ASSUME?
Speaking of delays,Yesterday I waited 2 hrs sitting on a bridge for the Eagle # 22 to get 1 shot at a very good spot! I left to get a soft drink and use the head and guess what…Yep, it ran…
Scanners are getting to be no help at all !
Speaking of delays, last year we took the eb California Zephyr from Salt Lake City. We went into the metropolis and put up in a hotel to get a little sleep close to the station. I called Amtrak before we went to bed, and the report was that the train was on time. I woke up about two in the morning, called again–and could get no information because the computer was down. So, we dressed, went to the station, and learned that the train was about three hours late. Coming home, we went on to Glenwood Springs (passing through Salt Lake at breakfast time), spent the night, and came back the next day–almost on time. Also on this trip, we took the Silver Star from Jacksonville to New York City–and left Jacksonville after eleven at night–more than three hours late.
This year, we again went east, but we drove to Grand Junction and left the car with some friends, and spent the night in a downtown hotel. The next morning, the train was on time. We were almost on time when we returned to Grand Junction. Apparently the heavy work on renovating the SP track is doen.