Passenger Trains > H.R bill 1319 and Amtrak

So here's what that new stimulus bill means for amtrak as i understand it

1) LD trains must have their service restore within 90 days of the bill signing
2) All empoyees furloughed on or after october 2020 must be recalled
3) Funding for state supported routes
4) Funding for debt repayment

The full bill can be read here and the things amtrak start at page 333
https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr1319/BILLS-117hr1319eh.pdf

Yeah but hopefully once everythings said and done, restore regular dining car service in the whole LD System!

Wonder if Amtrak Express business "temporarily" suspended on Sept 15th will come back on Jun 15th. 

If Amtrak is going to be run like a business, service will return as the pandemic allows, not by what folks here want.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

So, the date of June 15 for daily service sounds about right.  I am delighted to read that the bill mandates things for Amtrak.  

But now I am waiting for Amtrak's management to sabotage the restart of daily service.  

Thank goodness that this has nothing to do with dining car service, looks as though it is dead forever.

another_view Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank goodness that this has nothing to do with
> dining car service, looks as though it is dead
> forever.

To you it be nice since you think every kind of service needs to make a profit!

Posted from Android

A-V is either trolling, or just a troll.   You think there is anything he likes?  I mean other than money.   I try to be objective, but the elephant in the room is that he must have personal issues. This isnt the "I hate passenger train travel" website. Im guessing he's too old to know how to troll.

another_view Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank goodness that this has nothing to do with
> dining car service, looks as though it is dead
> forever.

That nation did not buy $4 million dining cars to be table cars for sleeping car passengers. The OBS employees let go since October must be rehired.

If that is true, then I will lobby Congress to make sure there is ZERO federal funding for Amfleet-1 replacement for the NEC money pit. Amtrak can take its grovelling to the 8 NEC state legislatures. 

Another-view is too dumb to come up with any accounting on the effects on ticket revenue or CSI scores because he has zero proficiency in any business or economic discipline, and never comes up with any sources. He is here mainly as a troll to control social media to defend the stupid, political hacks running Amtrak who can't even write a pdf timetable

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/21 05:13 by joemvcnj.

Amtrak accounting has been cited as a weakness for decades. There doesn't seem to be any consistent, reliable way to determine where costs should be allocated.

So, you can prove anything you want.

Posted from Android

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A-V is either trolling, or just a troll.

If you believe that don't feed the troll. There are other posts and threads that can be responded to without feeding a presumed troll.

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah but hopefully once everythings said and done,
> restore regular dining car service in the whole LD
> System!

The employee recall date of post October 2020 would seem to preclude requiring full diner service be restored.  Doesn't mean Amtrak can't do it, but it looks like Congress isn't mandating that.

Dave

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To you it be nice since you think every kind of
> service needs to make a profit!

I get what you're saying but that's a weak argument against another_view. You can call him naive, because if Amtrak knew how to make a profit, they wouldn't begging for federal money all the time.

I remember when the Coast Starlight revised their menu late in 2017. Roasted chicken and steak were still on the menu, but they were prepared differently, as if Los Angeles-based crew found a different source for the ingredients. I'm sure the decision was to save money, since this happened post-PRIIA. Give them credit for not insulting the passengers by going to "flexible dining." :-)
 

another_view Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank goodness that this has nothing to do with
> dining car service, looks as though it is dead
> forever.

Don't go half way. Get rid of "flexible dining" in the process and fire the losers that came up with that half-baked idea. 

We need to once again push our politicians about restoring full traditional dining car service to all LD routes, once the restrictions of the pandemic ease and even before. The increase for funding to restore this isn't that much. Ask to have the Mica rule eliminated and full service restored. If enough of us push for this, there may be a shot. Remember, the politicians control Amtrak's purse strings. With a new administration, the time is right to try again..

Why is it so hard for posters on Trainorders to understand that at least on West LD trains that "flexible dining" is because of COVID saftety measures of mask wearing and socially distancing?  Biden's Covid Rescue Bill does not do away with COVID Safety measures.  If and when CDC(Center for Desease Control) relaxes these safety measures then the fully staffed dining car service may return but ONLY THEN!

TennesseeTraveler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is it so hard for posters on Trainorders to
> understand that at least on West LD trains that
> "flexible dining" is because of COVID saftety
> measures of mask wearing and socially
> distancing?

This debate about dining has been going on even before COVID. Another-view's snarky "anti-dining" mockery, as well as mockery by other TO members of dining service has been around for a few years now.

So this discussion has more depth than you realize. FYI, I'm not dismissing the current pandemic conditions.
 

TennesseeTraveler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why is it so hard for posters on Trainorders to
> understand that at least on West LD trains that
> "flexible dining" is because of COVID safety
> measures of mask wearing and socially
> distancing?  Biden's Covid Rescue Bill does not
> do away with COVID Safety measures.  If and when
> CDC(Center for Desease Control) relaxes these
> safety measures then the fully staffed dining car
> service may return but ONLY THEN!

The issue is we do not trust them, and will take advantage of the situation to make it permanent. There is also absolutely no excuse to dumb down the snack car menu to be worse than a 7-Eleven for 10 - 40 hour trips. One should be able to buy various cold cut, tuna, or egg salad sandwiches. Even the Downeaster's own menu have been better. .   

cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > To you it be nice since you think every kind of
> > service needs to make a profit!
>
> I get what you're saying but that's a weak
> argument against another_view. You can call him
> naive, because if Amtrak knew how to make a
> profit, they wouldn't begging for federal money
> all the time.
>
> I remember when the Coast Starlight revised their
> menu late in 2017. Roasted chicken and steak were
> still on the menu, but they were prepared
> differently, as if Los Angeles-based crew found a
> different source for the ingredients. I'm sure the
> decision was to save money, since this happened
> post-PRIIA. Give them credit for not insulting the
> passengers by going to "flexible dining." :-)
>  

Hey that also was the requirement in 06 to go the SDS route, saving money is one thing, but killing your customers by going the route going on now is like a near death blow!

cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > To you it be nice since you think every kind of
> > service needs to make a profit!
>
> I get what you're saying but that's a weak
> argument against another_view. You can call him
> naive, because if Amtrak knew how to make a
> profit, they wouldn't begging for federal money
> all the time.
>
> I remember when the Coast Starlight revised their
> menu late in 2017. Roasted chicken and steak were
> still on the menu, but they were prepared
> differently, as if Los Angeles-based crew found a
> different source for the ingredients. I'm sure the
> decision was to save money, since this happened
> post-PRIIA. Give them credit for not insulting the
> passengers by going to "flexible dining." :-)
>  

He is naive, how come he can't win an argument with Joe for crying out loud, he thinks everything should make money and in reality some things just can't,. he's too blind to see that!