Passenger Trains > Another train three screwed up

Train three left Chicago yesterday and was doing fine until they got to Dodge city this morning. After a three hour delay, they apparently move forward to Garden City. I guess the crew’s time ran out and now they expect to get to LaJunta about seven hours late unless something else happens

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It appears the delays to both #3 and #4 (#3 blocked the single track stopping #4) has caused crew cannibalization from the next day's approaching #3. I expect that the result is that at least one train will be canceled, likely from LA, for lack or equipment and/or crew.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It appears the delays to both #3 and #4 (#3
> blocked the single track stopping #4) has caused
> crew cannibalization from the next day's
> approaching #3. I expect that the result is that
> at least one train will be canceled, likely from
> LA, for lack or equipment and/or crew.

You can not cancel just one train. Think. 

The board can cancel the current Amtrak management. But they all sleep together so it will never happen.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The board can cancel the current Amtrak
> management. But they all sleep together so it
> will never happen.

The CEO's and Chairman's Guardian Angel will soon no longer be the Senate Majority Leader. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/24 10:42 by joemvcnj.

            Still see no reason why anyone who is aware of the ignoramous problems created by Amtrak still waste their money on the currently a$$inine transportation system's failures.

Comment from a former member and retired Amtrak engineer (can't rejoin currently, changing his Internet access):

I guess some just don't understand this simple premise...  Amtrak only staffs extra-bd's for vacations these days.  Staffing DOES NOT SUPPORT anomalies in service...

This delay is the fallout from yesterday's delay to 3(22).  It's still out running, just left ABQ 16 hrs late...

When the LD cuts come, I expect the Chief to be the first casualty.  It's what Amtrak wants..  And they are making sure they get it!

 

I agree with this observation.  Amtrak has, for the sake of cost cutting, pruned its self beyond reasonable levels of service and staffing protection.  Yes, I see how vulnerable the Southwest Chief is - particularly between Albuquerque and La Junta.

> I guess some just don't understand this simple premise...  Amtrak only staffs extra-bd's for vacations these days.  Staffing DOES NOT SUPPORT anomalies in service...
 

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Comment from a former member and retired Amtrak
> engineer (can't rejoin currently, changing his
> Internet access):
>
> I guess some just don't understand this simple
> premise...  Amtrak only staffs extra-bd's for
> vacations these days.  Staffing DOES NOT SUPPORT
> anomalies in service...
>
> This delay is the fallout from yesterday's delay
> to 3(22).  It's still out running, just left ABQ
> 16 hrs late...
>
> When the LD cuts come, I expect the Chief to be
> the first casualty.  It's what Amtrak wants.. 
> And they are making sure they get it!

The Chief I want to be the first casualty to go resides in DC.

An amazing contemplation when one considers the proud premium passenger service Santa Fe once provided - The envy of the world ! === === = === JLH

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cumbresfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It appears the delays to both #3 and #4 (#3
> > blocked the single track stopping #4) has
> caused
> > crew cannibalization from the next day's
> > approaching #3. I expect that the result is
> that
> > at least one train will be canceled, likely
> from
> > LA, for lack or equipment and/or crew.
>
> You can not cancel just one train. Think. 

#4 (24) is underway from Los Angeles. Looks like Amtrak came up with a set of equipment, likely the Sunset's as some on here said.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Comment from a former member and retired Amtrak
> engineer (can't rejoin currently, changing his
> Internet access):
>
> I guess some just don't understand this simple
> premise...  Amtrak only staffs extra-bd's for
> vacations these days.  Staffing DOES NOT SUPPORT
> anomalies in service...
>
> This delay is the fallout from yesterday's delay
> to 3(22).  It's still out running, just left ABQ
> 16 hrs late...
>
> When the LD cuts come, I expect the Chief to be
> the first casualty.  It's what Amtrak wants.. 
> And they are making sure they get it!
>
>  

And all of the money in bonuses that are in the pocket of Gardner and whoever else is at top could have been to support sufficient staffing. I think Amtraks management needs its own MAGA Movement....."MAKE AMTRAK GREAT ALWAYS!"

Drew Mitchem
Centralia, WA

3(24) out of Chicago 2 hours and 41 mins down due to equipment/mechanical issues.
383(24) out of Chicago 2 hours and 29 mins late due to equipment/mechanical issues. 

highgreengraphics Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> An amazing contemplation when one considers the
> proud premium passenger service Santa Fe once
> provided - The envy of the world ! === === = ===
> JLH

That was 60 years ago and the world has changed a lot since then.

sethamtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 3(24) out of Chicago 2 hours and 41 mins down due
> to equipment/mechanical issues.
> 383(24) out of Chicago 2 hours and 29 mins late
> due to equipment/mechanical issues. 

And the mighty Floridian broke down just a short distance out of Chicago.  Got it fixed, took over an hour.

amtrak34east Wrote:

> And all of the money in bonuses that are in the
> pocket of Gardner and whoever else is at top could
> have been to support sufficient staffing. I think
> Amtraks management needs its own MAGA
> Movement....."MAKE AMTRAK GREAT ALWAYS!"

Congress needs to do either of two things:

• ban all Amtrak e-suite bonuses. If they don't like it, they can polish up their profiels on Indeed.com and Linked-In.
• require debiting all bonus payouts against the NEC capital budget.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/24 04:11 by joemvcnj.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> That was 60 years ago and the world has changed a
> lot since then.

But amtrak's operating model is the PennCentral of 55 years ago so comparisons are legit.

Hou74-76 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree with this observation.  Amtrak has, for
> the sake of cost cutting, pruned its self beyond
> reasonable levels of service and staffing
> protection.  Yes, I see how vulnerable the
> Southwest Chief is - particularly between
> Albuquerque and La Junta.
>
> > I guess some just don't understand this
> simple premise...  Amtrak only staffs extra-bd's
> for vacations these days.  Staffing DOES NOT
> SUPPORT anomalies in service...
>  

Has nothing to do with Amtrak per se.

That is the mentality of governments everywhere as well as corporate America. Staffing levels across the board are just enough for the projected workload. No more. 

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Has nothing to do with Amtrak per se.
>
> That is the mentality of governments everywhere as
> well as corporate America. Staffing levels across
> the board are just enough for the projected
> workload. No more. 

Agree. I run into issues with minimal staffing regularly at many different businesses. Right now I am dealing with it in relation to a mail order prescription drug benefits manager, such as many of us use with our healthcare benefits and Medicare. It's been an absolute nightmare there.

I've seen it in other transportation industries, too. It was very obvious during recent airline travel, even though overall the experience turned out to be satisfactory. But it could have been - and should have been - even better with more than bare-bones staffing levels. And I traveled enough by air on business - in regular Coach - in the past before I retired to know that.

There are small signs that it could be changing. Some services at  some businesses are getting more adequate staffing levels. But with that is also coming premium pricing - for what used to be standard and expected levels of service for us all. We ordinary folks at standard prices are getting minimal service - at best. Thanks a bunch, biz schools, and Wall Street. We're so, so grateful.....

MC

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cumbresfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It appears the delays to both #3 and #4 (#3
> > blocked the single track stopping #4) has
> caused
> > crew cannibalization from the next day's
> > approaching #3. I expect that the result is
> that
> > at least one train will be canceled, likely
> from
> > LA, for lack or equipment and/or crew.
>
> You can not cancel just one train. Think. 

They've done it before!

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