Gee, I thought “howling at the moon with righteous indignation” to be rather poetic - and benign. I thought my “intervention” one might be a hair edgy. [;)]
What I find offensive is the notion that it is apparently “sinful” to hold Amtrak accountable for anything. I think we can, and should, expect better from them!
Since the dawn of Amtrak, the advocate logic has worked like this:
All passenger trains are inherently good.
Amtrak runs the passenger trains, therefore, Amtrak is good.
More money for Amtrak = more lines on the map = more goodness.
Critics of Amtrak operations, Amtrak funding, Amtrak priorities, Amtrak’s productivity need only to refer to point #1 and if they are really insistent, point #2.
Has this approach worked? I say, “mostly no.”
Has Amtrak gotten more money for more lines on the map? No. They have just barely been able to retain what they have.
Was Amtrak targeted for any stimulus money? Yes, but only to fix up the NEC. Not a dime for any new service. The so-called HSR money was specifically targeted AWAY from Amtrak. Gee, I wonder why?
Has Amtrak demonstrated a “can-do” attitude? No, Amtrak has been completely unsuccessful at maintaining their commuter rail operating contracts - even after their boss made it a priority.
So, clearly, the traditional approach to advocacy is pretty much a failure. Instead, I believe we should applaud them when they do right, call them on the carpet for what the do wrong, demand they do more with what they have, defend what is demonstrably defendable and stop living and dying by “point #1.”
Oltmannd,
I agree with your points.
If I remember correctly, approximately $1.3 billion of stimulus money was appropriated for Amtrak. Not all of it was spent on the NEC.
As of the end of FY11 Amtrak had used approximately $460.7 million of its stimulus money for security and life safety projects. Amongst other things Amtrak used stimulus monies to make all of its Texas stations ADA compliant.
Amtrak also used stimulus money to upgrade more than 80 cars and locomotives if I remember correctly. Two of the cars (a sleeper and a coach) are sitting in San Antonio as protect cars for the Texas Eagle through cars. And one locomotive and coach sit in Fort Worth for reasons that are not clear. Unfortunately, the operative word is sitting.
If Amtrak had an aggressive management team, they would have made the Texas Eagle a thrice weekly through train from San Antonio to LA, which would have required no more hoist capacity than the Sunset Limited, and implemented a coach connecting train from NO to SA, thereby eliminating the need for protect cars and switching in SA. Unfortunately, because of the political climate Amtrak is forced to operate under, agressive management is not likely to be found amongst the rank’s of Amtrak’s executives and managers.