Passenger Trains > No food/lounge service on today's NB Crescent

From an observer in the South:

AMTK 20, the northbound Crescent, has no food or lounge service today. It has two engines,
three coaches, a sleeper, and crew baggage. Of course there may not be any passengers on board.

Sad to hear!

Posted from Android

shelter in place could be the reason, or at least I hope so.
Stay safe
Robert in Lagrande Oregon

I am sure it is. I am surprised they didn't just run a cafe of some sort though! There could be no one aboard!!!

Why are any passengers trains running at all? If you're out of state in South Carolina you can't get a hotel room and you're not welcome in any near by state either.

steamloco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why are any passengers trains running at all? If
> you're out of state in South Carolina you can't
> get a hotel room and you're not welcome in any
> near by state either.

This still remains my question as well. It's crazy in my opinion. I am not even sure if it makes sense to run the once a day trains even. Just pause th whole system.........If they can furlough the folk that staff the trains (e.g. onboard crews, then they should furlough the Executives on Mass Ave. too!). Save the taxpayers money and furough those at the top!!!! The Operations Department might be running, but are ALL the other departments essential at this time. Look at what small businesses and non-profits have had to do. 

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> steamloco Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why are any passengers trains running at all?
> If
> > you're out of state in South Carolina you can't
> > get a hotel room and you're not welcome in any
> > near by state either.
>
> This still remains my question as well. It's crazy
> in my opinion. I am not even sure if it makes
> sense to run the once a day trains even. Just
> pause th whole system.........If they can furlough
> the folk that staff the trains (e.g. onboard
> crews, then they should furlough the Executives on
> Mass Ave. too!). Save the taxpayers money and
> furough those at the top!!!! The Operations
> Department might be running, but are ALL the other
> departments essential at this time. Look at what
> small businesses and non-profits have had to do. 

How did People Eat on this train then?? Bad time too travel these day.Hopeful Las Vegas is open by August for my Trip .

Amtrak is ridiculous.  Just shut down.  Shelter in place.  Nobody riding these trains now.  They are just risking workers to the disease for no reason.

One of the conditions of the bailout was that they NOT shut down and furlough the workers. The more people get put on a furlough the harder it is going to be for the economy to recover when this is over. States obviously can do what they want with their corridor service, but only congress can tell them to stop northeast corridor or national network service. Both services are considered essential and are expected to operate during times of emergency per Amtraks mission. Everyone can have the argument over whether the long distance trains are essential transit but the law says they are. Also my understanding is NONE of the agreement employees have been put on furlough even those that work for corridor services that aren’t running. Management HAS had to take a pay cut and everyone that can work remotely is supposed to.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/20 03:46 by lordsigma.

lordsigma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One of the conditions of the bailout was that they
> NOT shut down and furlough the workers. The more
> people get put on a furlough the harder it is
> going to be for the economy to recover when this
> is over. States obviously can do what they want
> with their corridor service, but only congress can
> tell them to stop northeast corridor or national
> network service. Both services are considered
> essential and are expected to operate during times
> of emergency per Amtraks mission. Everyone can
> have the argument over whether the long distance
> trains are essential transit but the law says they
> are. Also my understanding is NONE of the
> agreement employees have been put on furlough even
> those that work for corridor services that
> aren’t running. Management HAS had to take a pay
> cut and everyone that can work remotely is
> supposed to.

I guess you're saying Congress told Amtrak to quit running Amtrak 79/80, The Carolinian unti May?
(That's an Amtrak route & train, not a train sponsored by NC.)

nsrlink Wrote:
>
> I guess you're saying Congress told Amtrak to quit
> running Amtrak 79/80, The Carolinian unti May?
> (That's an Amtrak route & train, not a train
> sponsored by NC.)

It's partially a NC-funded train. NC picks up the tab for the train's operation within the state.

The consist has been substantially cut back in recent weeks. Here's #80 at Long Bridge Park in Arlington last Saturday (3/28).

Down to two coaches and a cafe car.





 

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

---

The Carolinian IS a state supported train - funded by the state of North Carolina for its operations between Washington DC and Charlotte. Intra-NEC trips on the Carolinian between NYP-WAS are considered Northeast Regional trips, but south of WAS it's a state funded operation. The suspension would have been a North Carolina state decision. Obviously within the NEC Amtrak can make decisions about service frequency, but would need congressional approval to terminate service altogether (as with the long distance routes.)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/20 13:28 by lordsigma.

20(5), observed:

Coach, coach, lounge, sleeper, crew baggage. No observed passengers. 

lordsigma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One of the conditions of the bailout was that they
> NOT shut down and furlough the workers. The more
> people get put on a furlough the harder it is
> going to be for the economy to recover when this
> is over. States obviously can do what they want
> with their corridor service, but only congress can
> tell them to stop northeast corridor or national
> network service. Both services are considered
> essential and are expected to operate during times
> of emergency per Amtraks mission. Everyone can
> have the argument over whether the long distance
> trains are essential transit but the law says they
> are. Also my understanding is NONE of the
> agreement employees have been put on furlough even
> those that work for corridor services that
> aren’t running. Management HAS had to take a pay
> cut and everyone that can work remotely is
> supposed to.
>
> Posted from iPhone

"One of the conditions of the bailout was that they NOT shut down and furlough the workers." - I think the condition was more about not to furlough the workers, not sure about a specific condition to not "shut down." In the next two weeks (week of 4/5 and 4/12) people were told more than ever to stay at home and only go to the grocery store and pharmacy if necessary. Even to just send one person from the family. Even local and county parks have closed to limit people from moving around and practice social distancing. 

someone said the fed want the trains to be ready if supplies and or personnel are needed in smaller towns

Trainset from Sunday's 79 is deadheading Charlotte-Raleigh-DC today, running about an hour earlier than 80's schedule.