Passenger Trains > Amtrak New President

Is AAPRCO, the PVT car owner association gearing up to re-start negotiations with the new incoming Amtrak president, after he gets settled? 

In light of the current crisis in this country, and within Amtrak, the worst of which we haven't even seen yet, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that private car moves are far from the top of his list of priorities. 

aarprco allready has their convention scheduled back east, western pv's have evaporated, so it will be awhile you would think

Yes, there are serious health issues that take precedent in considering current operational priorities.  However, PV movement rates and policies and support for charter and special trains are a part of Amtrak marketing and revenue generation.  Such marketing topics and relevant programs must be discussed at some point.  What harm is there in brainstorming ideas and bubbling up information for when the time to act is right?

The stifling of, shaming the discussions of topics* and lack of open-minded leadership is what got Amtrak into the mess it's been in since the company's inception.  A solid discussion on this board including a healthy scepticism should be taking place for all Amtrak issues especially right now when a new, experienced leader is setting up shop.

* a prime example of discussion shaming and the resulting destructive action is when the Sunset Limited's popular and customer service oriented 24-hour dining was trashed because a new management group didn't like the concept.

If you care about passenger rail, attracting, retaining and benefitting customers and Amtrak's success, please keep the discussions moving, people.

trainjunkie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In light of the current crisis in this country,
> and within Amtrak, the worst of which we haven't
> even seen yet, I'm going to go out on a limb and
> assume that private car moves are far from the top
> of his list of priorities. 

PV's are probably one source of traffic that's immune from social distancing. If Amtrak were smart they would go hat in hand to AAPRCO and offer to haul PVs any time to any location. Private car owners could then in turn make a bit of scratch offering a virus resistant travel option to the well heeled.

Given the residual executive suite, even without Anderson, and the NEC-centric Board of Political Hacks, the Greyhound-ization of Amtrak services is the order of the day. De-staff stations, cut off express shipments, junk food, dirty trains. While ridership declined 80 - 90% with Covid-19, beloved Acela lead the way with 99% cancellations. Increased pace of virtual business meetings will happen after this crisis is over.  

How is Greyhound doing ? Greyhound has been slowly shutting down all over the country for 20 years and has ceased to exist altogether west of Sudbury, Ontario. "Great" business model.

mbrotzman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> trainjunkie Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In light of the current crisis in this country,
> > and within Amtrak, the worst of which we
> haven't
> > even seen yet, I'm going to go out on a limb
> and
> > assume that private car moves are far from the
> top
> > of his list of priorities. 
>
> PV's are probably one source of traffic that's
> immune from social distancing. If Amtrak were
> smart they would go hat in hand to AAPRCO and
> offer to haul PVs any time to any location.
> Private car owners could then in turn make a bit
> of scratch offering a virus resistant travel
> option to the well heeled.

Subsidized travel for the well to do while the rest of the county is told to avoid travel as much as possible?  That will go over well.....

>
> Subsidized travel for the well to do while the
> rest of the county is told to avoid travel as much
> as possible?  That will go over well.....

Nobody has to publicize it and there's not enough attention span left for any real outcry.  If the wealthy want to become less so in a way that keeps other working and Amtrak trains running, I'm all for it.

mbrotzman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Subsidized travel for the well to do while the
> > rest of the county is told to avoid travel as
> much
> > as possible?  That will go over well.....
>
> Nobody has to publicize it and there's not enough
> attention span left for any real outcry.  

Really?  You don't think there is going to be a break down of where the 2 trillion went and how it was used in a couple of months?  You don't think that sites like this will not have people going crazy over a change in how PV's are handled by Amtrak, there by publicizing the subsidized travel?  

Typhoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mbrotzman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > >
> > > Subsidized travel for the well to do while
> the
> > > rest of the county is told to avoid travel as
> > much
> > > as possible?  That will go over well.....
> >
> > Nobody has to publicize it and there's not
> enough
> > attention span left for any real outcry.  
>
> Really?  You don't think there is going to be a
> break down of where the 2 trillion went and how it
> was used in a couple of months?  You don't think
> that sites like this will not have people going
> crazy over a change in how PV's are handled by
> Amtrak, there by publicizing the subsidized
> travel?  

I'd be happy to inform my Congressman on social media that privately owned rail car operators are profiting getting pulled by Amtrak trains that are kept running by stimulus funding, while his constituents don't even have a regular passenger train running through his district!   
Once again the law of unintended consequences rears its ugly head.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/20 19:42 by Molino.

 profiting

what a Joke 

almost as funny as

Amtrak is making money

I really don’t care what anyone thinks anymore of my posts, Private Car Moves do not and never did create a profit for Amtrak. They were politically motivated and at their very best of times never fully broke even. Charter moves when priced properly and operated efficiently generate a modest profit at best.

Revenue and Profit and distinctly different definitions.