Passenger Trains > Nice Business Trip

Stephen Gardner has reported that he is in Poland today meeting his counter-part with the Polish RR

Hopefully whatever learnings are going on it will benefit Amtrak

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/24 19:45 by amtrakbill.

The Polish RR windows are always clean, no doubt. 
So, Gardenhose is now seeking advice from Poland
on railroad operations? Or will this be a new partnership?
What's next? Will he also consult with Ukranian Railways?

Ukrainian Railways has been running a lot of on time trains. With considerably more difficult circumstances than Amtrak.

Posted from Android

Exactly, but we (US) are not under attack from Russia,
well, not yet.

Gardner is learning how to do a "Wolsztyn Experience"  with a PRR T1 for power, with a K4 on alternate days.  

This seems completely random, and unnecessary.  Good grief.

Effective use of taxpayer $$$.

Gardner should stay there and apply for a job as a coach cleaner.

-John

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This seems completely random, and unnecessary. 
> Good grief.

Truth is often a fleeting concept on some social websites but here is an unassailable truth.  Well said.

Actually, as I recall, a lot of prime movers from scrapped Amtrak F40s ended up in Poland.  Maybe Mr. Gardner's gone to check on them.

Mr. Gardner's visit could be about any number of things. Including simply responding to a high-level, professional "stop by and see us - we'd love to show you our railroad" invitation from the Poles, such as can happen in professional circles. And that could have some practicality beyond just professional courtesy and sightseeing. Like other European nations, Poland operates its extensive rail passenger network both with services operated by national operator PKP, and a number of coordinated regional and local network entities, somewhat analogous to the Amtrak Midwest and Amtrak California regional service networks. There are plenty of nuts-and-bolts management details in such arrangements that could be discussed, and operations and equipment could be reviewed.

Or there could be some entirely different reason for his visit. But perhaps it might also concern equipment and suppliers, particularly carbuilders.

A little more seriousness and a bit of research would also reveal that there are several major railway rolling stock builders in Poland, a major industrial country with excellent railways and a long history of producing railway equipment.

One, H. Cegielski – Fabryka Pojazdów Szynowych (FPS) in Poznan has roots dating back to 1846, and has built both locomotives, freight and passenger railcars since the 1920s. Website: https://fpspoznan.pl/en/ The are one the largest builders in Europe.

Another, PESA Bydgoszcz S.A. (PESA) is a major supplier of railcars and motive power to central and eastern European rail passenger operators. Website: https://pesa.pl/en/

A third major producer is NEWAG S.A, which has mainly produced recently for Poland, but has some other market penetration in Europe. They are a partner with GE for diesel locomotives for the European market. Website: https://www.newag.pl/en/

And there are others, including non-Polish international firms such as Bombardier and well-regarded Swiss builder Stadler. Amtrak is in a major procurement cycle, and so far has had some disappointing results from Siemens for the Venture cars and Charger locomotives, and Alstom for the Avelia Liberty new Acelas. And long development and delivery times, although good results when finally delivered, with Viewliner II sleepers from the Spanish firm CAF. The great American builders, Pullman-Standard, Budd, ACF and St. Louis Car are all gone, victims of our automotive obsession and our abject and utterly irresponsible lack of a comprehensive multi-modal surface passenger transportation policy with a key place for intercity passenger rail.

So, in many ways it's only rational for Amtrak to look overseas. And farther overseas to the east in Europe than France, Spain and Germany. Particularly if Siemens ain't doin' so great, as appears to be the case. If Siemens, Alstom and CAF all didn't do so well, and the planned Nippon Sharyo bi-level design originally intended for Amtrak Midwest and perhaps other services failed its FRA-mandated car-shell compression test (throwing the whole planned new equipment procurement process into chaos, and sending Amtrak into Siemens' arms), then what is Amtrak supposed to do?

The alternatives are few. The Poles have a long and distinguished rail rolling stock-building tradition, and placements throughout Europe. In other businesses today, they are smart, sharp internationally-focused businesspeople who know how to serve a customer well. They have a deep pool of quality engineering talent, strong production experience over generations, good production facilities, and relatively lower labor costs.  Their main product use is with Polish national operator PKP, which after the fall of the Iron Curtain has become well regarded in international railway circles as a sharp and competent operator with good equipment.

If others haven't delivered well, it's only responsible that Gardner and Amtrak would start to look elsewhere. Including in Poland. And if he takes a day to ride a regular operating passenger service behind steam out of Wolzstyn, so much the better. An additional sense of responsibility to the quality of past railroad operations, memorialized daily there in regular service, could even help his perspective a bit. We all need a little grounding in history now and then to better appreciate the decisions for the future.

Particularly when so much is not going well, and existing suppliers aren't doing a very good job.

MC

[Note: The first two paragraphs added later on 8/29 to clarify that possible contacts with equipment suppliers is only one of many possible reasons for Mr. Gardner's visit in Poland. This should have been stated in the post as originally presented. My apologies for failing to have done so. - MC]



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/24 04:45 by ironmtn.

Nice overview ironmountain!

Posted from iPhone

Thanks, Ironmtn.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Very nice summary. Thank-you.

ironmtn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> If others haven't delivered well, it's only
> responsible that Gardner and Amtrak would start to
> look elsewhere. Including in Poland. And if he
> takes a day to ride a regular operating passenger
> service behind steam out of Wolzstyn, so much the
> better. An additional sense of responsibility to
> the quality of past railroad operations,
> memorialized daily there in regular service, could
> even help his perspective a bit. We all need a
> little grounding in history now and then to better
> appreciate the decisions for the future.
>
> Particularly when so much is not going well, and
> existing suppliers aren't doing a very good job.
>
> MC

Well said!