Passenger Trains > Can Amrak's Board be fired?

It has always been my understanding that Amtrak's Board is appointed (i.e chosen) by the President. They serve at his pleasure, and can be fired if the President so chooses at any time. They do not have contracts of any kind. And, as what normally happens to all "political appointments", a new incoming President usually cleans house and puts his own people in. (profound implications here for Amtrak).

Can anybody advise how I can find this out for sure? Any website suggestions? I'd like to find out for the benefit of all of us here on TO.

Thanks,
Joe

Come on Joe, leave it to rest, I know what you want, I want the same thing with Amtrak, but be paitent for once!

ProAmtrak:  If you know what I want, can you help me with my question?  This would help me in trying to anticipate what I might expect regarding Amtraks's future.  So sorry if just asking this question irritates you so, but I can see major changes coming for Amtrak which apparently you don't share---yet.

Joe

I think all of the board members are presidential appointees, and thus, serve at the pleasure of the president (just like the Chief of the State Troopers in Alaska serves at the pleasure of the Governor). I can't see inside the mind of a president, but I will take a guess that the Amtrak board is probably about number 58,673 on the list of "things to do". Now if the president-elect and his VP are truly "Amtrak friendly" (as the VP-elect has stated), then perhaps he will actually get in there with recommendations for his own people so that things can "change".

Now do I think anything significant will happen? Heck no.

floridajoe2001 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak:  If you know what I want, can you help
> me with my question?  This would help me in
> trying to anticipate what I might expect regarding
> Amtraks's future.  So sorry if just asking this
> question irritates you so, but I can see major
> changes coming for Amtrak which apparently you
> don't share---yet.
>
> Joe

Easy Joe. Pro wants more Superliners and more #3 and #4's. He wants more slow trains and more Superliners! Did I say Pro wants more Superliners? he wants more Superliners.

Ok, here he comes! I can hear him slamming away on his computer!

Don't think Amtrak is a priority, forming a new cabinet and getting policies changed is agenda for next 6 months.
Amtrak is just a trivial item, maybe less trivial than other administrations but trivial never the less.
I am sure there will be changes to Amtrak board, but don'tr expect wholesale firings.

There are several ATK execs and former execs here at the Lexington meeting in Sacto---I'll ask them the question tomorrow if I get a chance. Unless there are some ATK exec lurkers here on TO who could answer right away.
C.

Carol Voss
Salinas, CA

CarolVoss Wrote:
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> There are several ATK execs and former execs here
> at the Lexington meeting in Sacto

What is the Lexington meeting? I know that Kummant is in town for the annual TRAC conference tomorrow morning. Is this the same thing?

Well any easier solution could come about by the President putting pressure on the Amtrak board in "expanding its members" as was one suggestion that was floating around in a report or congressional bill.

AlwaysLate Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> floridajoe2001 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ProAmtrak:  If you know what I want, can you
> help
> > me with my question?  This would help me in
> > trying to anticipate what I might expect
> regarding
> > Amtraks's future.  So sorry if just asking
> this
> > question irritates you so, but I can see major
> > changes coming for Amtrak which apparently you
> > don't share---yet.
> >
> > Joe
>
> Easy Joe. Pro wants more Superliners and more #3
> and #4's. He wants more slow trains and more
> Superliners! Did I say Pro wants more
> Superliners? he wants more Superliners.
>
> Ok, here he comes! I can hear him slamming away
> on his computer!


Heck I like to see more superliners too. I like to see many of the LD Trains out here. Have a couple of more cars added to them. But I also want to see the speeds improve.

Obama has made it clear he plans on freezing government spending. McCain made the same promise during the campaign. With budgets frozen, the major government programs like Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, etc., will get first priority during reviews. Amtrak is not even a blip on the radar screen. With the bailout of the mortgage industry and more bailouts to come as a result of the faltering economy, you can pretty much bet that there won't be any budget increases for Amtrak.

To:CarolVoss: Thanks. Hope you can find out something. I'm going to keep trying because one thing I know for sure, the in-comming Democrats will fire Republican appointies of the out-going administration if they can. This alway happens. Obama is already looking for a new DOT head, and Amtrak is under the DOT. Changes affecting Amtrak are already happening.

Confirmed Amtrak board members are appointed for five year terms. They are not subject to removal by a change in administration, at least not directly. Members that were recess appointment serve for two years. I know there is one board member who has close ties to the incoming administration.

I'm not sure why it is a given that the present board has not done a good job and should be replaced. They asked for X dollars, got Y, and did what they could with what they got. My bet is the same happens now. Talk is cheap.

RFandPFan Wrote:
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> Obama has made it clear he plans on freezing
> government spending.

What campaign were you watching?

It's hard to believe that anyone can spend more than the current administration, but isn't that exactly what Obama has promised?

As to Amtrak, it seems as if they have turned a corner in the current administration with the realization that rail passenger service is needed in this country. It was a shaky start early in the administration with Norman Mineta squeezing himself onto trains only to tell passengers and others that 'no one rides trains anymore', however, it appears that the Bush administration has come to realize that passenger trains are vital to the mobility of our citizens. That is good to see not only for railfans but the millions of others who utilize these services.

Amtrak has a long way to go, but it seems like they are in a much better position now than a few yeas ago.

smitty195 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CarolVoss Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There are several ATK execs and former execs
> here
> > at the Lexington meeting in Sacto
>
> What is the Lexington meeting? I know that Kummant
> is in town for the annual TRAC conference tomorrow
> morning. Is this the same thing?

No, nothing to do with it. And I was sitting with a couple of former ATK execs on the bus thru the Roseville yard this morning and totally forgot to ask. Sorry. But I can do so in a few days after they get home. UNless someone comes up with the answer beforehand.
C.

Carol Voss
Salinas, CA

smitty195 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think all of the board members are presidential
> appointees, and thus, serve at the pleasure of the
> president (just like the Chief of the State
> Troopers in Alaska serves at the pleasure of the
> Governor). I can't see inside the mind of a
> president, but I will take a guess that the Amtrak
> board is probably about number 58,673 on the list
> of "things to do". Now if the president-elect and
> his VP are truly "Amtrak friendly" (as the
> VP-elect has stated), then perhaps he will
> actually get in there with recommendations for his
> own people so that things can "change".
>
> Now do I think anything significant will happen?
> Heck no.


That's exactly why I'm just gonna sit here and see what develops, because all this hoopla goin' on on this so called "victory" doesn't hit me as bein' really positive, especially what Clinton promised for Amtrak and what happened as the result of that!

AlwaysLate Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> floridajoe2001 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ProAmtrak:  If you know what I want, can you
> help
> > me with my question?  This would help me in
> > trying to anticipate what I might expect
> regarding
> > Amtraks's future.  So sorry if just asking
> this
> > question irritates you so, but I can see major
> > changes coming for Amtrak which apparently you
> > don't share---yet.
> >
> > Joe
>
> Easy Joe. Pro wants more Superliners and more #3
> and #4's. He wants more slow trains and more
> Superliners! Did I say Pro wants more
> Superliners? he wants more Superliners.
>
> Ok, here he comes! I can hear him slamming away
> on his computer!


Give me a break Always, I'm glad a lot of people don't have the same mindset as you do when it comes to passenger trains! In fact I bet a good number of people are just happy we got passenger trains in the 1ST place! Give it a rest!