Passenger Trains > Trump Admin seeks a cut in funding for 2021

Trump Admin seeks a cut in funding for 2021
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/02/10/us/10reuters-usa-trump-budget-transportation.html

A surprising point: included is a proposed reduction in funding support for the NEC.

 

Ditto from last year. "Robust bus service" phased in to replace LD trains. It was DOA. 

A few months ago a freight Conductor who was working the local in our town  while walking from a switch to the Coke machine at a store near the plant, I was curious to get his thoughts on what he thought about passenger trains in the country since he looked like and older gentleman.
We talked a brief minute, he told me he only had 2 more years to go be fore fully retiring after 33 years of work.  When I asked him what he thought would happen to his pension if Amtrak disappeared completely, he told me he was all for Trump. He went back to his loco.    
 I stood there scratching my head. The beat goes on...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/20 14:55 by Molino.

Molino Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A few months ago I asked a freight Conductor who
> was working the local in our town ( while he was
> walking from a switch to the Coke machine at the
> store near the plant) what he thought would happen
> if Amtrak disappeard from the country.
> He shrugged his shoulders. I asked him how much
> longer before he could fully retire  "2 more
> years"  said he was all for Tump when I asked
> about funding for passenger service and the hit to
> his pension. He went back toward his loco. I stood
> there scratching my head.  The beat goes on...

I would say the fright conductor was also scratching his head wondering why some guy was asking him about Amtrak when he works for a freight railroad.

Posted from iPhone

howeld Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I would say the fright conductor was also
> scratching his head wondering why some guy was
> asking him about Amtrak when he works for a
> freight railroad.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Lol You're probably right. It's just I'd like to see our town get passeneger trains again for the first time in about 60 years (highly unlikely) also from what I've read is that they all share a pooled retirement pension and that losing that much contribution could hurt the long term sustainabiity of it.
At least from what I've read. I dunno. 

I'm not worried about Trump's budget (or any President's budget).  They're only guidelines for the Congress.

All that counts is  an Amtrak budget originating in the House (friendly) and agreed to by the Senate (friendly for last 3 years).

Trump zeroed out Amtrak last year - but both houses of Congress passed a very nice Amtrak budget (it even saved the Chief from Anderson)

However, not as sure of the Senate as I was last year.  If they play the "Lock Step Game" with the President, then Gridlock and Continuing Resolution are in our future.

All funding originates in the House...

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

Hopefully all is rectified in November but who knows.

The sky is falling. 

Flyer92122 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hopefully all is rectified in November but who
> knows.

Don't count on it.

The only money bills that count are the Authorization Bills where the money is actually alotted.
The President's Budget is just a planning document. It's always DOA when it arrives on Capitol Hill, no matter who the president is.

The presedents budget is a political document, to enable him to say..."Look..I tried to reduce spending"   

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The presedents budget is a political document, to
> enable him to say..."Look..I tried to reduce
> spending"   

He still gets his chance to have his say when it comes time to sign the bills.

Molino Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A few months ago a freight Conductor who was
> working the local in our town  while walking from
> a switch to the Coke machine at a store near the
> plant, I was curious to get his thoughts on what
> he thought about passenger trains the the country
> since he looked like and older gentleman.
> We talked a brief minute, he told me he only had 2
> more years to go be fore fully retiring after 33
> years of work.  When I asked him what he thought
> would happen to his pension if Amtrak disappeared
> completely, he told me he was all for Trump. He
> went back to his loco.    
>  I stood there scratching my head. The beat goes
> on...



What does he know, just a conductor. You're a railfan!

Did you set him straight?

restricted_speed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Flyer92122 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hopefully all is rectified in November but who
> > knows.
>
> Don't count on it.

Odds are the dems lose the house due to their latest shenanigans.

Posted from Android

seriously, both parties cater to what they think will get them votes.  

adequately OR increasing FUNDING for amtrak is not something i have ever heard a politician run on.............

66



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/20 15:51 by goneon66.

JohnM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The sky is falling. 


When it comes to crap like this it's always like that!

Posted from Android

Possibly we could get back to discussing passenger trains?

Gordon

I'm a supporter of Amtrak, but I have to say attention to detail when traveling on the LD trains has alot to desired.... Earlier this year I was on the California Zephyr and some how we managed to leave Chicago with no ice for the Dining Car.... WTF then they were wanting to limit are ice in the lounge and sleepers....

Posted from Android

Molino Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> howeld Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > I would say the fright conductor was also
> > scratching his head wondering why some guy was
> > asking him about Amtrak when he works for a
> > freight railroad.
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Lol You're probably right. It's just I'd like to
> see our town get passeneger trains again for the
> first time in about 60 years (highly unlikely)
> also from what I've read is that they all share a
> pooled retirement pension and that losing that
> much contribution could hurt the long term
> sustainabiity of it.
> At least from what I've read. I dunno. 

Railroad retirement is an industry-wide system.  When Amtrak closed the reservation center in Riverside, CA., it caused great concern at the retirement board.  Over 500 fewer people contributing to the fund!