Passenger Trains > When Joe Boardman leaves...

will the Amtrak board / President Obama appoint a new Amtrak president, or will they wait until a new administration is seated?  As a government enterprise, the directors serve for terms, but may be asked to resign.  Will a new President leave Anthony Coscia in place, or appoint a new chairman of the board?

Depending on how energized the new POTUS is, the AtkP job may be open for a while.  The company likely has a succession plan (if this guy is incapacitated, here's the replacement program) naming the succession for top jobs.  So, it's possible that a temporary leader could have six months on the job before a permanent boss is suggested.  Depending on the person and the Senate, that could be a bruising conversation, too.

I wonder if Joe Biden would be interested in the job of Amtrak President?  He knows trains and railroading pretty well. Likes trains.  He's a favorite of the crews.  Comes from a union family, although I don't think he's been a union member.

Joe Biden knows Washington and actually likes trains--some of the same qualities of Graham Claytor. Could do a lot worse.

Since Amtrak is hardly a priority government agency and a bit of a backwater, it seems that it would rank a relatively low priority for appointments.

Strictly speaking Amtrak is not a US Government Agency.

It has been a common misconception on Trainorders how the president of Amtrak is selected, and who makes the selection.

While it has been known in the past for the White House to have a favorite (and, eventually that favorite becomes president), the president of Amtrak is solely selected by the sitting Amtrak Board of Directors. Because this is not a federal appointment, no Senate confirmation is required.

It is unlikely the board will wait for the election in November to see how things go. Amtrak board members have never been asked to resign by a new administration (and, they have no compelling reason to do so), and board members at times continue to serve until their replacements are named. The board of directors is confirmed by the Senate, and that is at times a slow process.

What very well may happen this late in the term at the White House is the Senate will not confirm any appointee to the Amtrak board until new appointments are made by the next POTUS.

Regrettably, often in the past, as is true with the outgoing president of Amtrak, an interim appointee ends up being the permanent selection. There have been some awful choices as a result of this process.
 

Jishnu Wrote:
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> Strictly speaking Amtrak is not a US Government
> Agency.

Just de facto...

Speaking only to what I'd "Like" to see happen, for the moment, and not to all of the tangibles to be considered in the selection process, or the inevitable arguments that will emerge against any name proffered, I believe Biden, and then his recruitment of Brian Rosenwald for a very senior management position, or Rosenwald, then recruiting Biden for a very senior lobbying/advocacy position - either order would be a great investment in Amtrak's future.

Trump would probably ask Rep John Mica to head Amtrak in order to facilitate an orderly transition to busses.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/16 09:44 by ATSF3751.

ATSF3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Trump would probably ask Rep John Mica to head
> Amtrak in order to facilitate an orderly
> transition to busses.

However, it will be the most wonderful bus service. As I was saying the very best bus service in the world! There will be no bus service to beat this bus service and it will be Huuuuge! LOL!

billio Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jishnu Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Strictly speaking Amtrak is not a US Government
> > Agency.
>
> Just de facto...

"Quasi"

Jishnu Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ATSF3751 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Trump would probably ask Rep John Mica to head
> > Amtrak in order to facilitate an orderly
> > transition to busses.
>
> However, it will be the most wonderful bus
> service. As I was saying the very best bus service
> in the world! There will be no bus service to beat
> this bus service and it will be Huuuuge! LOL!

Trump ran luxury helicopters to his Atlantic City casinos. Bringing the high rollers down in style.  he also ran buses for the lower rollers, but they weren't bad. More comfortable than the other buses.

With regard to Amtrak, he made sure his helicopters were well used. Trump Tours ran trips around Manhattan in off hours, and turned a decent cash flow for him.  That's something Amtrak could learn from. The more you can turn expensive equipment in revenue service, the more cash you'll generate. Letting motors sit for 6-20 hours isn't turning much of a profit.

 

johnpage Wrote:
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Of course, that is exactly how Boardman ended up with the permanent job.

But it doesn't explain Kummant and Downs--who were actively (enthusiastically?) courted by the Board. Warrington was "promoted from within."

David Gunn was probably the best of the bunch post-Claytor, but that's a little like winning a "tallest dwarf" competition.

>
> Regrettably, often in the past, as is true with
> the outgoing president of Amtrak, an interim
> appointee ends up being the permanent selection.
> There have been some awful choices as a result of
> this process.
>  

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jishnu Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ATSF3751 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Trump would probably ask Rep John Mica to
> head
> > > Amtrak in order to facilitate an orderly
> > > transition to busses.
> >
> > However, it will be the most wonderful bus
> > service. As I was saying the very best bus
> service
> > in the world! There will be no bus service to
> beat
> > this bus service and it will be Huuuuge! LOL!
>
> Trump ran luxury helicopters to his Atlantic City
> casinos. Bringing the high rollers down in
> style.  he also ran buses for the lower rollers,
> but they weren't bad. More comfortable than the
> other buses.
>
> With regard to Amtrak, he made sure his
> helicopters were well used. Trump Tours ran trips
> around Manhattan in off hours, and turned a decent
> cash flow for him.  That's something Amtrak could
> learn from. The more you can turn expensive
> equipment in revenue service, the more cash you'll
> generate. Letting motors sit for 6-20 hours isn't
> turning much of a profit.
>
>  

all the while he beat the hell out of his contractors and vendors filing bankruptcy and paying AT THE MOST .10 ON THE DOLLAR ... most got .05 ON THE DOLLAR... IF THEY WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET PAID AT ALL ... a lot of companies had to file backruptcy themselves or just liquidate their businesses because of the SELF PROCLAIMED AC CASINO KING 

a737flyer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> billio Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Jishnu Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Strictly speaking Amtrak is not a US
> Government
> > > Agency.
> >
> > Just de facto...
>
> "Quasi"

Federal government license plates on its highway vehicles
Doesn't need to pay state motor fuel taxes on highway vehicles
Subject to the federal government rules on OIG and Hatch Act contributions
Board appointed by the feds, and subject to the senate
Is the charter a public benefit corporation owned by the federal government? I thought I read that somewhere.

Just for starters, that certainly seems like a government "something".

 

Out_Of_Service Wrote:
(snip)
> all the while he beat the hell out of his
> contractors and vendors filing bankruptcy and
> paying AT THE MOST .10 ON THE DOLLAR ... most got
> .05 ON THE DOLLAR... IF THEY WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO
> GET PAID AT ALL ... a lot of companies had to file
> backruptcy themselves or just liquidate their
> businesses because of the SELF PROCLAIMED AC
> CASINO KING 


Absolutely, I mentioned that the other day.

In Florida, the papers / TV have been interviewing American people laid off from low level jobs in his resorts, so he can bring in Haitians to work for even less on temporary work visae.  It's had a lot of visibility in the Miami, FLL, WPB media in recent months.

>
> But it doesn't explain Kummant and Downs--who were
> actively (enthusiastically?) courted by the Board.
> Warrington was "promoted from within."


Warrington was "promoted from within" after he stabbed Downs in the back and instituted a coup.

Not that that was a bad thing, but it didn't make things any better.

Amtrak has always taken a "fish or fowl" stance, whichever suits management at the moment. When it comes to having the government fleet of vehicles available, which is an advantage, Amtrak says it's public. When it comes to other issues which it wants to keep out of the spotlight, such as contracts, it says it's private.

Public or private, it's totally maddening in just about every respect.

Just like the way it operates trains for the convenience of the operating department instead of passengers, Amtrak does whatever it wants for its own convenience, public statutes be damned. Amtrak takes laws passed by Congress and signed by the president as suggestions, not mandates.

 

Don't forget Trump went bankrupt 4 times with his Casinos. Why would he do any better with Amtrak?

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jishnu Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ATSF3751 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Trump would probably ask Rep John Mica to
> head
> > > Amtrak in order to facilitate an orderly
> > > transition to busses.
> >
> > However, it will be the most wonderful bus
> > service. As I was saying the very best bus
> service
> > in the world! There will be no bus service to
> beat
> > this bus service and it will be Huuuuge! LOL!
>
> Trump ran luxury helicopters to his Atlantic City
> casinos. Bringing the high rollers down in
> style.  he also ran buses for the lower rollers,
> but they weren't bad. More comfortable than the
> other buses.
>
> With regard to Amtrak, he made sure his
> helicopters were well used. Trump Tours ran trips
> around Manhattan in off hours, and turned a decent
> cash flow for him.  That's something Amtrak could
> learn from. The more you can turn expensive
> equipment in revenue service, the more cash you'll
> generate. Letting motors sit for 6-20 hours isn't
> turning much of a profit.
>
>  

John Webb
Trinidad, CA

ATSF3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Trump would probably ask Rep John Mica to head
> Amtrak in order to facilitate an orderly
> transition to busses.

Trump will appoint someone with a little business sense that will get Amtrak back in shape and functioning like it should.

Winnemucca Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't forget Trump went bankrupt 4 times with his
> Casinos. Why would he do any better with Amtrak?
>
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Jishnu Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > ATSF3751 Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Trump would probably ask Rep John Mica to
> > head
> > > > Amtrak in order to facilitate an orderly
> > > > transition to busses.
> > >
> > > However, it will be the most wonderful bus
> > > service. As I was saying the very best bus
> > service
> > > in the world! There will be no bus service to
> > beat
> > > this bus service and it will be Huuuuge! LOL!
> >
> > Trump ran luxury helicopters to his Atlantic
> City
> > casinos. Bringing the high rollers down in
> > style.  he also ran buses for the lower
> rollers,
> > but they weren't bad. More comfortable than the
> > other buses.
> >
> > With regard to Amtrak, he made sure his
> > helicopters were well used. Trump Tours ran
> trips
> > around Manhattan in off hours, and turned a
> decent
> > cash flow for him.  That's something Amtrak
> could
> > learn from. The more you can turn expensive
> > equipment in revenue service, the more cash
> you'll
> > generate. Letting motors sit for 6-20 hours
> isn't
> > turning much of a profit.
> >
> >  

4 times bankrupt out of 515 companies is a 98% success rate.