What if Amtrak was Disbanded in the next few years? Would the Railroads assume control over the Long Distance passenger runs, or would they become seperate Corperations, like “Sunset Limeted Corp” or “The Texas Eagle Company”? Would the roster of Amtrak locomotives be split amongst the railroads? Could anyone see an NS or CN P42, or would the Government sell them to Via or a European road? Would the Northeast Corridor be completly shut down? What if Amtrak actually makes it into the Black? Can Amtrak Survive?
…From my perspective I see nothing to rejoice about but I sure wish somehow a passenger rail system that would be more serviceable to the public and a suitable financing system could be developed.
What is running now seems to be way sub standard to what could be in place to serve the public.
I would guess the States would have to come forward. The NEC would be split up.
California would save their in-state trains. It would be up to Washington and Oregon to join them and keep the Coast Starlight. Nevada would be asked to join to extend the Capitols to Reno, and perhaps a Las Vegas - Los Angeles route would start. Perhaps even Arizona might be receptive to a LA-Phoenix day train replacing the Sunset.
Illinois would also keep their trains running. Would Wisconsin, Missouri and Indiana work with them ? Or TN, MS and LA with the City of New Orleans ?
The NE corridor would stay basically intact whether run by a governmental authority body made up of the various states served or by a private company that was contracted to operate. It would be up to the various states to operate other intrastate service or again join an authority that crossed state lines (like Chicago to St. Louis or Chicago to Detroit). Remaining long distance trains (if any) would probably be operated on a luxury basis by something similar to a cruise ship line. If everything was done right, which is always a big “if” whenever any level of government gets involved (although private industry isn’t always the greatest either, it usually runs more efficient than government), what came out of Amtrack disappearing might actually be better for the majority of people. It could be a big blow to the unions if the services were contracted out since government unions nowadays tend to be far more powerful than unions in private companies. Of course, if the railroad unions had shown flexibility when it came to passenger service from the early-1950’s on to the end of private rail passenger service, Amtrak might never have been needed.
Summary: Most very populated states would still see some passenger rail service. The very rural states wouldn’t. The states in the middle may or may not depending on the individual circumstances.
Amtrak must become a partnership of not just the government and railroads, but all the states that Amtrak serves.
Right now, New York State and Amtrak have a very chilly relationship. The new governor will have no motivation to change that situation, since the Metropolitan New York interests control him and they do not care one wit about any part of the state beyond the Hudson Valley from Albany to the Metro NY area! That sort of mess must be cleaned up and soon. But do not hold your collective breaths.
Commuter-type runs would continue (which kind of includes the NEC). Locales/states that saw potential in a specific line would likely support its continued existance.
If Amtrak were disbanded, I’m sure that all the long-haul routes would die along with it, leaving only commuter runs and the NEC…I’m sure that VIA would snap up some of the P42s, and maybe the dash 8s would go to a freight railroad, but other than that…
Why can’t some of the AMTRAK trains carry freight and passengers? How about some of the Major Class 1’s also put on a few passenger cars with their freight. I think some of the major ocean going freightliners also do the same on a space available bases too right?
…On Amtrak hauling freight…We’ll they have done some of that in the past several years but now, to set up a system of going after freight and hauling it on the host RR’s would not set too well.
As to hauling passenger cars on freight trains…That sounds like trouble too…considering the slack conditions up front on the freight cars transmitting that massive slamming back and forth back into the passenger cars…Don’t believe that would be at all acceptable.
They used to back during the times of the “Mixed” trains. I guess it is not worth the trouble. If you were to do something like that you would have to put them on the back of an Intermodel train to have any kind of a Time Table. How many times have you seen a freight get priority over a “pig” train?