Passenger Trains > Say a Little Prayer

Number 3 (28) now six plus hours behind schedule is crawling toward Hector at 26 mph after taking a thirty minute break at Pisgah. One can only imagine the frustration of the passengers stuck on this westbound nightmare.
Update: Arrived Barstow 10:06am.
Be of good cheer,
—Mac
www.lowellamrine.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/25 10:07 by MacBeau.

Amd  those  at  stations!!

cutboy1958 Wrote:
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> Amd  those  at  stations!!

There are no stations and no stops between Needles and Barstow.

Reason given is:  Heavy freight train interference, and speed restrictions.

Nothing Amtrak can do about it.  Likewise, the unfortunate passengers on board
this train can do nothing,  but suffer through a miserable experience.

Amtrak tried to address delays like this -- by bringing the "On-Time case" against the freight
railroads before the Surface Transportation Board.  But they did not hear the Case.

In my view, the STB played their cowardly political game--by refusing to step on the toes
of the freight railroads--who are campaign contributors.

 

ronald321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> In my view, the STB played their cowardly
> political game--by refusing to step on the toes
> of the freight railroads--who are campaign
> contributors.
>
>  
Money talks in the swamp. Stuff gets done in the dark.

Posted from Android

Lakawanna484

Agreed, money talks in the Swamp -- in fact, it talks everywhere.

But, it is not supposed to talk in regulatory agencies (like the STB), or in the Courts.

Apparently,  money did talk at the STB, and Amtrak, and it's riders, were denied justice
regarding on-time performance.

The STB may NOT be afraid to rule against the BNSF--but, are very much afraid of offending
Berkshire Hathaway, and it's $Billions$

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/25 13:31 by ronald321.

Current members of the Surface Transportation Board and which President appointed them:

Patrick J. Fuchs (Chairman)
Appointed by: President Donald J. Trump
Nominated in 2018, sworn in on January 17, 2019, and re-confirmed by the Senate on May 14, 2024, for a second term expiring January 14, 2029. Designated as Chairman by President Trump on January 20, 2025.

Karen J. Hedlund (Vice Chairman)
Appointed by: President Joe Biden
Details: Appointed on January 9, 2023, for a term expiring December 31, 2027. Currently serves as Vice Chairman.

Robert E. Primus
Appointed by: President Donald J. Trump
Details: Nominated in 2020, sworn in January 2021, for a term expiring December 31, 2025. Served as Chairman from May 2024 to January 2025, designated by President Joe Biden.

Michelle A. Schultz
Appointed by: President Joe Biden
Details: Appointed in 2021, with her term ongoing. Designated as Vice Chairman alongside Fuchs’ chairmanship in January 2025.

Note:
The STB is authorized to have five members, each appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for five-year terms. Currently, one seat is vacant, and a fifth member has yet to be nominated.

ronald321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In my view, the STB played their cowardly
> political game--by refusing to step on the toes
> of the freight railroads--who are campaign
> contributors.
 

ronald321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Reason given is:  Heavy freight train
> interference, and speed restrictions.
>
> Nothing Amtrak can do about it.  Likewise, the
> unfortunate passengers on board
> this train can do nothing,  but suffer through a
> miserable experience.
>

How is it miserable Ronald?  They have HEP, Air Conditioning and food and drink. And now a daylight view of the Mojave Desert and Cajon Pass.

At least the passengers can enjoy another fine dining meal .... oh, wait ...

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ronald321 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Reason given is:  Heavy freight train
> > interference, and speed restrictions.
> >
> > Nothing Amtrak can do about it.  Likewise, the
> > unfortunate passengers on board
> > this train can do nothing,  but suffer through
> a
> > miserable experience.
> >
>
> How is it miserable Ronald?  They have HEP, Air
> Conditioning and food and drink. And now a
> daylight view of the Mojave Desert and Cajon Pass.

It's still miserable - passengers don't sign up for this type of delay. Period. Yes, "the needs of the passengers" are hopefully taken care of during the delay, but a delay is still miserable. We've all been there and done that. Come on. 

That train is a favorite for me, as it is for many of us. And it would be neat to see Cajon and the Mohave Desert in daylight. But it would still be miserable, too. On one trip I had, we were almost two hours late westbound into Flagstaff. That was hard enough, even as enjoyable as the trip was overall.

I feel for those passengers. It stops being extra fun at some point, and really not that long into a serious delay. I hope things improve for them, and the trip can be as good as possible. But I sure also hope that BNSF can find some way to un-congeal their railroad. And hope it is a passing concern, like perhaps having many heat orders out in the desert in high summer, that can go away as things cool towards fall. Whatever it is, it is a serious concern for the future, and not just for Amtrak.

MC

every day been restricted speed LSV RAT, not today perhaps, 3 is 1 hour down

WrongWayMurphy Wrote:
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> At least the passengers can enjoy another fine
> dining meal .... oh, wait ...

No flex dining here, try again.

ronald321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lakawanna484
>
> Agreed, money talks in the Swamp -- in fact, it
> talks everywhere.
>
> But, it is not supposed to talk in regulatory
> agencies (like the STB), or in the Courts.
>
> Apparently,  money did talk at the STB, and
> Amtrak, and it's riders, were denied justice
> regarding on-time performance.
>
> The STB may NOT be afraid to rule against the
> BNSF--but, are very much afraid of offending
> Berkshire Hathaway, and it's $Billions$
>
>  
I never heard of heat restrictions on The Needles Sub, rode a few late 3s where they're still haulin' up to 90 where it's allowed, in fact the one a few days ago made up 40 some odd minutes between Barstow and Needles because he ran that fast!

Posted from Android

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ronald321 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Reason given is:  Heavy freight train
> > > interference, and speed restrictions.
> > >
> > > Nothing Amtrak can do about it.  Likewise,
> the
> > > unfortunate passengers on board
> > > this train can do nothing,  but suffer
> through
> > a
> > > miserable experience.
> > >
> >
> > How is it miserable Ronald?  They have HEP,
> Air
> > Conditioning and food and drink. And now a
> > daylight view of the Mojave Desert and Cajon
> Pass.
>
> It's still miserable - passengers don't sign up
> for this type of delay. Period. Yes, "the needs of
> the passengers" are hopefully taken care of during
> the delay, but a delay is still miserable. We've
> all been there and done that. Come on. 

But the problem which Ronald seems to not accept, is delays like that are explained and you still hear complains all over the place!

Posted from Android

ProAmtrak

Yes, knowing the reason for a 6 hour delay is better than not knowing the reason, 

but, it doesn't help one damn bit for a passenger living through such a miserable experience.

Now, if you tell me a 6 hour delay doesn's matter, or is not miserable to endure -- then I  would

say you are a person who doesn't value his time -- or, who doesn't care when, or if,  he gets there.

 

ronald321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak
>
> Yes, knowing the reason for a 6 hour delay is
> better than not knowing the reason, 
>
> but, it doesn't help one damn bit for a passenger
> living through such a miserable experience.
>
> Now, if you tell me a 6 hour delay doesn's matter,
> or is not miserable to endure -- then I  would
>
> say you are a person who doesn't value his time --
> or, who doesn't care when, or if,  he gets
> there.
>
>  

The problem with you is you're not understandable and live with it, I've ridden 3 and 4 over the years to ask why and live with it because it's nothing I can control, biggest example was an old lady telling me Amtrak should get sued and I told her straight up 'Can you control the weather?' She couldn't answer me after I said that!

Posted from Android

MacBeau Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Number 3 (28) now six plus hours behind schedule
> is crawling toward Hector at 26 mph after taking a
> thirty minute break at Pisgah. One can only
> imagine the frustration of the passengers stuck on
> this westbound nightmare.
> Update: Arrived Barstow 10:06am.
> Be of good cheer,
> —Mac
> www.lowellamrine.com

What amazes me about this all too often shit show is the Chief was about 85 to 90% on time in the early years of Amtrak. It was consistently the best performing long distance train. BNSF should be as ashamed of this miserable performance.

Posted from iPhone

Cans of dinty Moore Beef Stew, yum, yum, yuk.

WrongWayMurphy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> At least the passengers can enjoy another fine
> dining meal .... oh, wait ...

ProAmtrak

I fully understand that you have accepted completely that 
delays of 6-15 hours are normal --and that no one can do
anything about it --so, why "complain" about the misery passengers face.

This is the view of someone who has "Given Up"

Asking a "little old lady" what she can do about it, is such a cheap trick, because we all
know the answer -- in advance is--nothing.

That's why we have Regulatory Agencies, Congress, Courts, even the Supreme Court--
to "do something about it" on our behalf.