Passenger Trains > New operator for Southern California's Metrolink

Amtrak Los Angeles operating employees and managers were reportedly told recently that the Amtrak operating contract with Metrolink will end 12/31/20.
A little bird told me.

Did the little bird mention who might be the replacement?

-John

As I understand it the current Amtrak contract ends on that date. RFP for new contract was issued in early 2019. Respondents included Herzog, Bombardier, Keolis, First Transit, Renfe, Italian Railways and a SoCal consortium. The contract is to cover both operations and maintenance (currently by two separate vendors, Amtrak and Bombardier) and is to be Metrolink's largest ever.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/20 22:38 by GenePoon.

Still rumor at this time.

It is NOT a rumor that the current contracts for both operations and maintenance are expiring. But new contracts have not been awarded.

The anticipated term of the new contract will be for a base period of seven years with two optional renewal periods of four years each.

Those parties who intended to bid have already had their preliminary meetings with Metrolink staff prior to the issuance of the RFP in early 2019...and they were named in the prior post. I do not know who the participants in the "SoCal consortium" might be.



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/20 16:33 by GenePoon.

Re: thread title, still just a rumor at this time.

My understanding is that a new operator has not been chosen.  However several potential operators were eliminated from contention, including Amtrak.

That's pretty much what I have learned too, and that Amtrak self-eliminated itself by nonparticipation in initial conferences.  If true, the topic title is more than just a rumor and a new operator would be inevitable.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/20 22:21 by GenePoon.

It probably won't mean any improvements in Metrolink operations.  It seems like any new operators of these systems just end up hiring the exact same
people away from the previous operator so the net result is that the same problems continue.

Topfuel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It probably won't mean any improvements in
> Metrolink operations.  It seems like any new
> operators of these systems just end up hiring the
> exact same
> people away from the previous operator so the net
> result is that the same problems continue.

but will a new operator's pay be equal to what metrolink is paying now?

66

And will the new operator continue to pay into RR Retirement?  A loophole allows passenger rail operations that don't cross state lines to possibly avoid that.  Hence no RR Retirement for T&E at Brightline, Trinity Railway Express, Frontrunner, etc.

i am curious.  does anybody KNOW who/what was responsible for allowing SOME railroads to employ railroaders and not pay into r.r. retirement?

66 

Topfuel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It probably won't mean any improvements in
> Metrolink operations.  It seems like any new
> operators of these systems just end up hiring the
> exact same
> people away from the previous operator so the net
> result is that the same problems continue.

So you’re saying all of Metrolink’s “problems” are the fault of the operator, in this case Amtrak? I’m not sure if you understand the setup, but the contractor does pretty much everything that the agency wants. Metrolink says “jump”, the contractor (whoever it is) says “how high” and comedy ensues.

Posted from iPhone

https://youtu.be/K8bFxZn3lrs

Cut and paste is from recent House Committee Meeting... Fast forward to the 57:20 mark and listen closely. It tells it all!

Download of the pertinent testimony is all attached for the paying crowd.

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Pig-Mauler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Re: thread title, still just a rumor at this time.

Apparently not.

As far as the rank and file are concerned, hiring opportunities for those currently working and who do not want to exercise seniority elsewhere had been the norm. Last time Amtrak lost the Metrolink contract, many Amtrak employees who did not want to leave SoCal were picked up by the new operator (Connex/Veolia), including the infamous Robert Sanchez, who killed Metrolink passengers whose lives were entrusted to him.



Topfuel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It probably won't mean any improvements in
> Metrolink operations.  It seems like any new
> operators of these systems just end up hiring the
> exact same
> people away from the previous operator so the net
> result is that the same problems continue.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/20 11:07 by GenePoon.

PC1974 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> https://youtu.be/K8bFxZn3lrs
>
> Cut and paste is from recent House Committee
> Meeting... Fast forward to the 57:20 mark and
> listen closely. It tells it all!

1. Ms. Mortensen should be running Amtrak
2. I see that Amtrak philosophy has not changed since my time there: Anything west
of where the wire runs out is "Indian Territory" and the inhabitants there of need not
be listened to or treated with any respect. The real railroad is all "under the wire" and used to
be PRR.

Since Metrolink has an existing Union operating agreement the new operator is required to honor the agreement.  The only way Metrolink would become a non-union operation would be by vote of all the members of the Unions involved to give up their Union benefits and RRB status.  I don't see that as a very likely situation.

Steeleg8 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since Metrolink has an existing Union operating
> agreement the new operator is required to honor
> the agreement.  The only way Metrolink would
> become a non-union operation would be by vote of
> all the members of the Unions involved to give up
> their Union benefits and RRB status.  I don't see
> that as a very likely situation.

Um, unless there is some really wacky contract language somewhere, there is no such thing as a Metrolink Union Contract with contractor employees.

That is union contract 101. A union contract is between a union reprenting employees of a company, and the company.

Since the operators that are operating Metrolink trains are contracted employees of Amtrak, there is no union contact between Metrolink and the employees of Amtrak.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amtrak self-eliminated itself by
> nonparticipation in initial conferences. 

Why does Amtrak not want to compete to continue operation?  Were they losing money on the contract or is it that they want out of the contracting business?

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com