Passenger Trains > Stephen Gardner sez...

“We appreciate and support President Biden’s request for quick Congressional action to end the threat of a freight rail shutdown.  A shutdown would affect Amtrak’s service across the nation, and we implore Congress to take action well before the December 9 deadline to minimize impacts to Amtrak service.” 

-Stephen Gardner, Amtrak CEO

That has to be his position. His job title does not permit him to side with freight employees.  

Meaningless statement -- probably written by a low-level staffer.

If he is glad Congress is acting to prevent damage a rail strike can do to the Country --

I would personally be very glad if Congress would act against Mr. Gardner -- for the damage he is doing to Amtrak..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/22 05:59 by ronald321.

ronald321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> If he is glad Congress is acting to prevent damage
> a rail strike can do to the Country --
>
> I would personally be very glad if Congress would
> act against Mr. Gardner -- for the damage he is
> doing to Amtrak..

I second that ronald321!

What a tool!    Like he has actually cared about amtk service up till now. LOL.
Doesnt want anything that will hurt his manipulation to show Amtk short term better performance, and get a bigger bonus with his golden handshake.  and a downturn in the economy will hurt his stock portfolio.

Bad news is that whomever replaces him will prob be just as bad.  Running amtk is a political spoils position.

Also need to look at the Board.

Chair Coscia needs to go - he is the Anderson/Gardner enabler, a root cause, and conflicted with NEC real estate ventures as a lawyer. 

Buttigieg is a good person, but must need a lot of education on reality and clearly bamboozled by Connect US . I suspect his information is highly filtered. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/22 12:14 by joemvcnj.

This board still complaining about ConnectUS? Old news, it was clearly just a template, the real maps will be released in a few months after the FRA selects the first corridors for development.

Wolverine350 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This board still complaining about ConnectUS? Old
> news, it was clearly just a template, the real
> maps will be released in a few months after the
> FRA selects the first corridors for development.

Yeah and the LD Network not showing signs of expansion, same bull crap!

Posted from Android

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wolverine350 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This board still complaining about ConnectUS?
> Old
> > news, it was clearly just a template, the real
> > maps will be released in a few months after the
> > FRA selects the first corridors for
> development.
>
> Yeah and the LD Network not showing signs of
> expansion, same bull crap!
>
> Posted from Android

Yeah spending a billion dollars to make the Sunset Limited a daily train is totally not a terrible investment.

Wolverine350 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This board still complaining about ConnectUS? Old
> news, it was clearly just a template, the real
> maps will be released in a few months after the
> FRA selects the first corridors for development.

Then the states have to agree to pick up 100% of operating and capital costs after a 5 year stepdown. 

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wolverine350 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This board still complaining about ConnectUS?
> Old
> > news, it was clearly just a template, the real
> > maps will be released in a few months after the
> > FRA selects the first corridors for
> development.
>
> Then the states have to agree to pick up 100% of
> operating and capital costs after a 5 year
> stepdown. 

And plenty of states have expressed interest so far. Running even 10 trains a day would amount to a tiny fraction of a states road budget.

Wolverine350 Wrote:

> And plenty of states have expressed interest so
> far. Running even 10 trains a day would amount to
> a tiny fraction of a states road budget.

Name some that have said they will put their money where their mouth is after 5 years and tolerate Amtrak's mysterious Black Box billing without annual battles.  

We went through this in 2010 with Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida, and they all spit the money right back. Kasich did not want to spend less money subsidizing it than he spends mowing grass in interstate medians. Not a single Republican Legislator, save one in Ohio, supports it. Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/22 06:48 by joemvcnj.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wolverine350 Wrote:
>
> > And plenty of states have expressed interest so
> > far. Running even 10 trains a day would amount
> to
> > a tiny fraction of a states road budget.
>
> Name some that have said they will put their money
> where their mouth is after 5 years and tolerate
> Amtrak's mysterious Black Box billing without
> annual battles.  
>
> We went through this in 2010 with Ohio, Wisconsin
> and Florida, and they all spit the money right
> back. Kasich did not want to spend less money
> subsidizing it than he spends mowing grass in
> interstate medians. Not a single Republican
> Legislator, save one in Ohio, supports it. Those
> who ignore history are condemned to repeat it. 

Look up yourself, you have a computer, go to the FRA’s website and see who have expressed interest.

You’re 100% ignorant about 2010, those states sent the money back purely because those projects became culture war issues between states and socialist king Obama. There is no uproar about it this time because the money will be handed out via competitive grants, which are more popular with Republicans.

Also the IIJA changed how Amtrak bills states for service. You really don’t know anything about this, very sad.

Posted from iPhone

Wolverine350 Wrote:
>
> Look up yourself, you have a computer, go to the
> FRA’s website and see who have expressed interest.

YOU made a claim so YOU prove it. Until then, it is hot air until they get out their checkbook.

> You’re 100% ignorant about 2010, those states
> sent the money back purely because those projects
> became culture war issues between states and
> socialist king Obama. There is no uproar about it
> this time because the money will be handed out via
> competitive grants, which are more popular with
> Republicans.

Guess what - they are still opposed, and Connect US is supported by Biden, who they detest as much as Obama and they call everyone not MAGA a socialist.

Florida has their Brightline, that is all. 

> Also the IIJA changed how Amtrak bills states for
> service. You really don’t know anything about
> this, very sad.

Some states get into feuds every year over their detail-less accounting bills, and their bills go up every year. Oklahoma and Missouri trains surve on a wing on prayer evey year. Indiana train is gone without a wimper. 

Very sad you can't accept reality. 

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/22 07:40 by joemvcnj.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wolverine350 Wrote:
> >
> > Look up yourself, you have a computer, go to
> the
> > FRA’s website and see who have
> expressed interest.
>
> YOU made a claim so YOU prove it. Until then, it
> is hot air until they get out their checkbook.
>
> > You’re 100% ignorant about 2010, those states
> > sent the money back purely because those
> projects
> > became culture war issues between states and
> > socialist king Obama. There is no uproar about
> it
> > this time because the money will be handed out
> via
> > competitive grants, which are more popular with
> > Republicans.
>
> Guess what - they are still opposed, and Connect
> US is supported by Biden, who they detest as much
> as Obama and they call everyone not MAGA a
> socialist.
>
> Florida has their Brightline, that is all. 
>
> > Also the IIJA changed how Amtrak bills states
> for
> > service. You really don’t know anything about
> > this, very sad.
>
> Some states get into feuds every year over their
> detail-less accounting bills, and their bills go
> up every year. Oklahoma and Missouri trains surve
> on a wing on prayer evey year. Indiana train is
> gone without a wimper. 
>
> Very sad you can't accept reality. 
>
>  

You think I can’t accept reality? You think LD trains are actual viable transportation. You’re delusional.

Here’s a nice collection of all expressions of interest in the corridor ID program so far: https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/fras-corridor-id-program-and-new-amtrak-routes.83238/
Also why would states commit to routes that don’t even exist on paper yet.

Some states do get in feuds, which is why Amtrak has been forced to change its accounting, are you even paying attention?

States are not opposed to Connect, you’re just making stuff up, even Texas has taken some interest in new corridor routes. All in all this infrastructure bill is not controversial, plenty of Republicans who voted against it are now running to the White House to fund projects in their states/districts.

You should get your news from places other than Evan Stair or Corridor Rail Development.

Wolverine350 Wrote:

> You think I can’t accept reality? You think LD
> trains are actual viable transportation. You’re
> delusional.

Maybe you should stop your stupid pitting one against the othe and your 1960's LD trains are relics. 
LD train ridership did a heck of lot better and proved more resilient though Covid than the NEC or any other corridor despite Amtrak's best efforts to suppress it. 

Michigan Pontiac corridor is joke and a scandal with billions spent, their own railroad, and new engines. 
Ditto for Lincoln Corridor. 

> Here’s a nice collection of all expressions of
> interest in the corridor ID program so far:
> https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/fras-corridor
> -id-program-and-new-amtrak-routes.83238/
> Also why would states commit to routes that
> don’t even exist on paper yet.

"expressions of interest" are not money on the table. That is nothing more than a wishlist and warmed over 1980's "emerging corridors". For example, NJDOT has not shown one bit of interest in the Lackawanna Cutoff west of Andover or Allentown at all. 

> States are not opposed to Connect, you’re just
> making stuff up, even Texas has taken some
> interest in new corridor routes. All in all this
> infrastructure bill is not controversial, plenty
> of Republicans who voted against it are now
> running to the White House to fund projects in
> their states/districts.

That still does not mean there are any commitments. They voted against it. That says it all. 
DeSantis is not going to fund any rail projects outside of Brightline. 
 
> You should get your news from places other than
> Evan Stair or Corridor Rail Development.

Maybe they have a better grip on political reality than you do.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wolverine350 Wrote:
>
> > You think I can’t accept reality? You think
> LD
> > trains are actual viable transportation.
> You’re
> > delusional.
>
> Maybe you should stop your stupid pitting one
> against the othe and your 1960's LD trains are
> relics. 
> LD train ridership did a heck of lot better and
> proved more resilient though Covid than the NEC or
> any other corridor despite Amtrak's best efforts
> to suppress it. 
>
> Michigan Pontiac corridor is joke and a scandal
> with billions spent, their own railroad, and new
> engines. 
> Ditto for Lincoln Corridor. 
>
> > Here’s a nice collection of all expressions
> of
> > interest in the corridor ID program so far:
> >
> https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/fras-corridor
>
> > -id-program-and-new-amtrak-routes.83238/
> > Also why would states commit to routes that
> > don’t even exist on paper yet.
>
> "expressions of interest" are not money on the
> table. That is nothing more than a wishlist and
> warmed over 1980's "emerging corridors". For
> example, NJDOT has not shown one bit of interest
> in the Lackawanna Cutoff west of Andover or
> Allentown at all. 
>
> > States are not opposed to Connect, you’re
> just
> > making stuff up, even Texas has taken some
> > interest in new corridor routes. All in all
> this
> > infrastructure bill is not controversial,
> plenty
> > of Republicans who voted against it are now
> > running to the White House to fund projects in
> > their states/districts.
>
> That still does not mean there are any
> commitments. They voted against it. That says it
> all. 
> DeSantis is not going to fund any rail projects
> outside of Brightline. 
>  
> > You should get your news from places other than
> > Evan Stair or Corridor Rail Development.
>
> Maybe they have a better grip on political reality
> than you do.

So much misinformation. You people just won’t give up that for 1-2 years when travel demand plummeted that LD trains performed better. Well that time is over, it’s business as usual now and LD trains back to novelties.

Again why would states commit money to routes that don’t exist? It’s a ridiculous standard. The Lincoln and Wolverine corridors aren’t boondoggles, over the 13+ years they’ve been developed barely any money has been spent compared to nearby roads.

Again those Republicans who voted against the overall are now asking for that money for their districts, that says more. Rail isn’t a polarizing issue anymore, especially after Red and purple states like NC and Virginia have committed so much to expanding.

Posted from iPhone

Wolverine350 Wrote:

> So much misinformation. You people just won’t
> give up that for 1-2 years when travel demand
> plummeted that LD trains performed better. Well
> that time is over, it’s business as usual now
> and LD trains back to novelties.

That's right. We don't give up on facts. Now they can't even justify running half the Acelas. Those novelty trains are it for 23 states. Nobody in Minnesota, North Dakota, or Montana cares about the Hiawathas any more than Metra or CTA. Your 1960's fact-less attitide means nothing.  

> Again why would states commit money to routes that
> don’t exist? It’s a ridiculous standard. The
> Lincoln and Wolverine corridors aren’t
> boondoggles, over the 13+ years they’ve been
> developed barely any money has been spent compared
> to nearby roads.

Because they have to cough it all up after 5 year so we don't have wild good chases over fantasies.So sign a commitment on the dotted line or don't waste everyone's time. 

The Wolverines are an even bigger joke than they were 50 years ago and billions spent. 3 late trains a day, now as then. What is spent on roads in irrelevent. 

> Again those Republicans who voted against the
> overall are now asking for that money for their
> districts, that says more. Rail isn’t a
> polarizing issue anymore, especially after Red and
> purple states like NC and Virginia have committed
> so much to expanding.

NC and VA have been pro-rail for 20 years. Connect US has nothing to do with that. There is some difference between east coast Republicans and those in the deep south and intermountain west. 

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wolverine350 Wrote:
>
> > So much misinformation. You people just won’t
> > give up that for 1-2 years when travel demand
> > plummeted that LD trains performed better. Well
> > that time is over, it’s business as usual now
> > and LD trains back to novelties.
>
> That's right. We don't give up on facts. Now they
> can't even justify running half the Acelas. Those
> novelty trains are it for 23 states. Nobody in
> Minnesota, North Dakota, or Montana cares about
> the Hiawathas any more than Metra or CTA. Your
> 1960's fact-less attitide means nothing.  
>
> > Again why would states commit money to routes
> that
> > don’t exist? It’s a ridiculous standard.
> The
> > Lincoln and Wolverine corridors aren’t
> > boondoggles, over the 13+ years they’ve been
> > developed barely any money has been spent
> compared
> > to nearby roads.
>
> Because they have to cough it all up after 5 year
> so we don't have wild good chases over
> fantasies.So sign a commitment on the dotted line
> or don't waste everyone's time. 
>
> The Wolverines are an even bigger joke than they
> were 50 years ago and billions spent. 3 late
> trains a day, now as then. What is spent on roads
> in irrelevent. 
>
> > Again those Republicans who voted against the
> > overall are now asking for that money for their
> > districts, that says more. Rail isn’t a
> > polarizing issue anymore, especially after Red
> and
> > purple states like NC and Virginia have
> committed
> > so much to expanding.
>
> NC and VA have been pro-rail for 20 years. Connect
> US has nothing to do with that. There is some
> difference between east coast Republicans and
> those in the deep south and intermountain west. 

For like the millionth time you clown, there’s nothing to sign yet because the routes arent finalized or even selected yet by the FRA.

Don’t really care about Montana or North Dakota, very few people, irrelevant states. Cook country exceeds both of them in population. Minnesota though does care about the Hiawatha because they’re paying to extend it to the Twin Cities, along with more in the future.

The reason why there’s only 3 Wolverines is because of NS, which is why that route is being moved off that crowded route.

Posted from iPhone

Wolverine350 Wrote:

> For like the millionth time you clown, there’s
> nothing to sign yet because the routes arent
> finalized or even selected yet by the FRA.

There you go with the name calling because you can't deal with FACTS, only your 1960's innuendos.  
How about some state commitment so they don't waste everyone's time, spend the federal money now, then states say at end of 5 years, never mind. State DOTs decides what gets done, not the FRA.

> Don’t really care about Montana or North Dakota,
> very few people, irrelevant states. Cook country
> exceeds both of them in population. Minnesota
> though does care about the Hiawatha because
> they’re paying to extend it to the Twin Cities,
> along with more in the future.

Population and ridership on Amtrak on not correlated. Empire Builder is the most financially successful in the system. We look at things such as farebox recovery and revenue passenger miles, none of which are of interest to you. Some us do understand we are 50 UNITED states with equal representation in the Senate. Top 3 Senate Republican leadership is from Kentucky, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Tell them their states are "irrelevant". 2 Democrat Senators from West Virginia and Arizona can and do stop all legislation in its tracks, including a severe watering down of the infrastructure bill. So pay attention to these "irrelevant"states, or you get nothing. 

No, Minnesota does not care about Milwaukee service - they want ONE train extended to St Paul. The don't care about the other 6 Hiawathas.  

> The reason why there’s only 3 Wolverines is
> because of NS, which is why that route is being
> moved off that crowded route.

No, it is because that is all Michigan has ever funded even before NS became an issue, and even then all 5 trains have come under threat from legislative funding cuts. 

Richard Anderson had the same attitude as you, dumb enough to believe their APT counting system has an validity to make decisions, dissed the service and members of Congress in flyover country, which caused miserable relations with Congress, including a shouting match with a Kansas Senator over the Southwest Chief, and the Board urged him to pack up and leave the building. So be nice to who is in power, or your beloved corridors will get nothing. 



 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/22 05:07 by joemvcnj.