Passenger Trains > "Save Amtrak" billboards in Philadelphia

These are on private property in the Fairhill neighborhood in Philadelphia, photographed from Amtrak train 159 (16).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/16/18 18:28 by chuchubob.

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The owner of this property recently had his Amtrak operated special train cancelled.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/warning.php?forum_id=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prrths.com%2Fconventions%2FCancelled_trip_letter.pdf

Regards,

TL

Posted from iPhone

I'm glad the property owner put up the signs and I hope he uses whatever clout he has to
make both signs true.

hollywood

"Word" on the street is that these Billboards have caused a huge stir at HQ?? Reported that legal dep't. is examining possible law suit to have them removed? Seems to me that if they're not on Amtrak property they'd be protected by free speech rights???

Guess lots of folks must have reported on them to Mr. Anderson's staff, thus the uproar??

If I had to place a bet I'd wager the court would say they stay??

The important question is has he alienated enough members of Congress to be in jeopardy of being invited to leave??

Time will tell.

IMHO-Ross Rowland

Amtrak should beware of the "Streisand Effect." Taking action against the billboards will only create more publicity.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

I sent links to the billboard photos to my email list. One of the recipients sent this reply:
"I was on the phone with AMTRAK today [Saturday] attempting to make a reservation when I suppose I insulted the guy when I said that I heard his new boss was an a$$hole. He put me on eternal hold after that. I hung up and am now making airplane reservations."

chuchubob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I sent links to the billboard photos to my email
> list. One of the recipients sent this reply:
> "I was on the phone with AMTRAK today attempting
> to make a reservation when I suppose I insulted
> the guy when I said that I heard his new boss was
> an a$$hole. He put me on eternal hold after that.
> I hung up and am now making airplane
> reservations."

Whatever one thinks about Richard Anderson, it is really poor form to criticize him to a reservations agent. If Amtrak is like other businesses and agencies dealing with the public, chances are calls are monitored. The agent was put in a bad position. If the agent agreed or did not sufficiently disagree with the caller, his job may have been in jeopardy.

The agent's duty is to assist callers with travel arrangements. There are many other avenues (within and outside of Amtrak) to communicate opinions of Anderson without involving employees who had nothing to do with selection of the current CEO.

Additionally, there's enough coarseness in our society without a customer cussing during a conversation with a reservations agent.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/18 07:35 by RuleG.

chuchubob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I sent links to the billboard photos to my email
> list. One of the recipients sent this reply:
> "I was on the phone with AMTRAK today attempting
> to make a reservation when I suppose I insulted
> the guy when I said that I heard his new boss was
> an a$$hole. He put me on eternal hold after that.
> I hung up and am now making airplane
> reservations."


I would have done the same. And if you had used the same language on a RECORDED phone of the airline agent,he/she probably would have done the same!

Tom

TorchLake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The owner of this property recently had his Amtrak
> operated special train cancelled.
>
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/warning.php
> ?forum_id=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prrths.com%2Fconv
> entions%2FCancelled_trip_letter.pdf
>
> Regards,
>
> TL
>
> Posted from iPhone

Hmmm.. I wonder who owns that property where the posters are.....Hmmmmmmm LOL....Glad he did it.

Personal opinion displayed on private property is definitely protected speech. I say BRAVO!

TorchLake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The owner of this property recently had his Amtrak
> operated special train cancelled.
>
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/warning.php
> ?forum_id=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prrths.com%2Fconv
> entions%2FCancelled_trip_letter.pdf
>
> Regards,
>
> TL
>
> Posted from iPhone

This was a direct "hit" to a person who has done a lot of good - including much philanthropic work - and as far as I know, has been a good citizen to the railroad community. The trip being organized was, to the best of my knowledge, a fundraiser for a non-profit group. I think a compromise of some sort could have emerged. To draw this hard line when there was a larger story and cause at stake, can't blame "the property owner." Perhaps a good candidate to run Amtrak!!!

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Word" on the street is that these Billboards have
> caused a huge stir at HQ?? Reported that legal
> dep't. is examining possible law suit to have them
> removed? Seems to me that if they're not on Amtrak
> property they'd be protected by free speech
> rights???

Interesting rumor, especially coming from you (well-connected).

This isn't just a power trip (which most people exercise one way or another), but a petty power trip worthy of honorable mention! I can't believe the "greatest airline executive ever" is so pathetically sensitive to one billboard? Or worse yet, his lieutenants are such suck ups?

I hope this isn't true!

bluesboyst Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TorchLake Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The owner of this property recently had his
> Amtrak
> > operated special train cancelled.
> >
> >
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/warning.php
>
> >
> ?forum_id=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prrths.com%2Fconv
>
> > entions%2FCancelled_trip_letter.pdf
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > TL
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Hmmm.. I wonder who owns that property where the
> posters are.....Hmmmmmmm LOL....Glad he did it.

I agree, if it was me I'd be in the same boat!

Posted from Android

cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> co614 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > "Word" on the street is that these Billboards
> have
> > caused a huge stir at HQ?? Reported that legal
> > dep't. is examining possible law suit to have
> them
> > removed? Seems to me that if they're not on
> Amtrak
> > property they'd be protected by free speech
> > rights???
>
> Interesting rumor, especially coming from you
> (well-connected).
>
> This isn't just a power trip (which most people
> exercise one way or another), but a petty power
> trip worthy of honorable mention! I can't believe
> the "greatest airline executive ever" is so
> pathetically sensitive to one billboard? Or worse
> yet, his lieutenants are such suck ups?
>
> I hope this isn't true!

Let's see, Parlor Cars retired, cancelling trains because of snow, the Private Car Fiasco, the threat on the Southwest Chief, and downgrading the food service on the Lake Shore and Capitol, uh yeah it is!

Posted from Android

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let's see, Parlor Cars retired, cancelling trains
> because of snow, the Private Car Fiasco, the
> threat on the Southwest Chief, and downgrading the
> food service on the Lake Shore and Capitol, uh
> yeah it is!

While Parlour Cars being retired hits me emotionally, that one is very arguable. Raton Pass? That issue has existed before Mr. Anderson. Food service issues? Go back to Mica and PRIIA, again, issue started before Mr. Anderson became Amtrak CEO.

PV fiasco (or special charter trips being affected) is basically the reason why the billboards are up... so, that's beyond obvious. The snow cancellation was inexperience and ignorance at its "best" so while not related to the billboards, adds justification to "FIRE ANDERSON."

I'm not disagreeing with your dislike of the current regime, but it's not a good idea to go over the top blindly, especially if Anderson opponents wants credibility to bolster their case. Worse yet, rants like yours tend to "activate" the annoying TO trolls, and some of us don't enjoy feeding them poison.

It helps to be more cerebral before posting, for the good of Trainorders.

Just heard from an officer of the PRRH&TS ( they're the outfit selling the Save Amtrak-Fire Anderson hats & t-shirts on Ebay) who reports Amtrak legal threatened to sue them if they didn't pull the ads and stop selling the stuff. He says they told Amtrak to " bring it on" and that's the last they've heard from them.

I've confirmed that the billboards are on private property and thus clearly out of the reach of Amtrak's legal beagles.

IMHO-Ross Rowland

The only issue may be the use of the word Amtrak. An argument could be made that an entity is profiting off of using their trademarked name. Similar to the Union Pacific/model train case of several years ago.

cchan006 Wrote:

>
> PV fiasco (or special charter trips being
> affected) is basically the reason why the
> billboards are up...

People can't play with their toys, so they act like spoiled brats?

altoonafn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The only issue may be the use of the word Amtrak.
> An argument could be made that an entity is
> profiting off of using their trademarked name.
> Similar to the Union Pacific/model train case of
> several years ago.

I say that's a weak argument. "Save Amtrak" by itself seems a positive message. "Fire Anderson" is not on the same billboard. I guess if there's T-shirt/poster revenue involved, they can go ahead and sue. Since Amtrak is a political organization by practice, the free speech argument in support of the billboards seems stronger.

Nothing personal, but like how Amtrak proponents try to connect weak arguments into a "strong" case, Amtrak opponents seemed to let their bias muddle their reasoning. :-)

I'm not a big Amtrak fan, but you know, Anderson should have at least honored the contracts he had in place before canceling the trains. I don't know all the details, but it would seem on surface that he opened Amtrak up for law suits. But perhaps he figured he was bigger and they wouldn't have the resources to pursue that.


Thanks Churchubob for the photos. I was looking forward to seeing that. And thanks Mr. Levin, for speaking out! It's appropriate that the signs are red, white and blue!

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/18 18:47 by wabash2800.