Passenger Trains > Chicago

Last evening there was no Cardinal, there was no Chief.  And yet, Amtrak could not get either the Lake Shore or the Floridian out of Chicago within an hour of the scheduled departure for each train.  It was not snowing in Chicago, and while it was cold, it was not brutal cold.  Both delays were "weather related equiipment issues."

Ridiculous, even pathetic.  And yet, no one cares.



 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/25 06:13 by Chessie1963.

Don't worry! We are building a new maintenance facility in Chicago! Oh, that's already been finished for years? Well we just need more money then.

Posted from Android

The 'no one cares' comment begins with the sadness of the association that shed their responsibility to represent the passengers with regard to service and operational performance.  The RPA, NARP, gave up this aspect of their responsibility 8 or so years ago and have become an enabler of the failure.  While the situation if not their sole fault, they are a co-conspirator in Amtrak's pathetic state.  Instead, they offer meaningless surveys, pleas for money, and unrealiistic and idealistic visions of the future. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/25 07:59 by regalstream1516.

New York

Hard to change the work culture in Chicago. Don’t think it will change in our lifetime

Posted from iPhone

 RPA lacks a magic wand to wave at Amtrak and cure it's problems. The ones who can effect Amtrak's poor performance are you and me. When was the last time you called or sent an email to your Congressional representatives complaining about Amanagement?

For OnTime:  Yes, RPA does not have a magic wand.  But they have used a strong wand in years past, when Amtrak respected their insights, views, and criticism.  I have made my voice know to elected officials, even been interviewed on television for the cause.  But the lack of any support or interest from RPA dampens the effectiveness of the effort.  We need to be working in partnership and RPA is not interested in such.

OnTime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>  RPA lacks a magic wand to wave at Amtrak and
> cure it's problems. The ones who can effect
> Amtrak's poor performance are you and me. When was
> the last time you called or sent an email to your
> Congressional representatives complaining about
> Amanagement?

I have, but that does not change the reality that RPA could have more of an impact than any constituent letter as organization that resides near the Capitol (though their original incorporation was in Chicago), but instead chooses to be an extension of Amtrak PR's department. From my 2 US Senators and my House Rep, I seldom get a reponse, and in the rarity I do, it is the Amtrak/public transit  form letter only vaguely related. AI would do a better job. 

There was no Hotline this past Friday. We'll see if the WUS Gate Dragon incident last week grabs their attention and publicizes what they have done about it. I am not holding my breath. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/25 10:02 by joemvcnj.

was chicago anything like KC yesterday night?  which went from bumper cars to  a ghost town, the chiefs bareley were able to fly out enroute to their loss today against the broncos    -  i should say it like i mean it

It's not a Chicago culture problem.

It is an Amtrak culture problem, and a modern societal work ethic problem. Which can be summed in three words by the arms-length detached mindset that pervades everything now:
"Not my problem."

You are not wrong, but the issue seems particularly acute in Chicago.

PumpkinHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's not a Chicago culture problem.
>
> It is an Amtrak culture problem, and a modern
> societal work ethic problem. Which can be summed
> in three words by the arms-length detached mindset
> that pervades everything now:
> "Not my problem."

PumpkinHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's not a Chicago culture problem.
>
> It is an Amtrak culture problem, and a modern
> societal work ethic problem. Which can be summed
> in three words by the arms-length detached mindset
> that pervades everything now:
> "Not my problem."

We learned in the last few days from posters that there is a heck of difference between Amtrak Seattle and Amtrak Chicago. 

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> was chicago anything like KC yesterday night? 
> which went from bumper cars to  a ghost town, the
> chiefs bareley were able to fly out enroute to
> their loss today against the broncos    -  i
> should say it like i mean it

The storm went way south of us in Chicago. Basically tracked straight east through St Louis, Louisville etc. It wasn’t even that cold this morning when I walked a half mile for a cappuccino. About 18F but little wind. Which makes all the difference.

Posted from iPhone

regalstream1516 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For OnTime:  Yes, RPA does not have a magic
> wand.  But they have used a strong wand in years
> past, when Amtrak respected their insights, views,
> and criticism.  I have made my voice know to
> elected officials, even been interviewed on
> television for the cause.  But the lack of any
> support or interest from RPA dampens the
> effectiveness of the effort.  We need to be
> working in partnership and RPA is not interested
> in such.

Thing is they like Gardner and Co. running things and that's what's the problem, they're li,ing how Amtrak is instead of trying to force better leadership for Amtrak, ever since Airline Boy it's just been a joke!

CZ got out 2 hours late despite having quite a few trains not operating

perhaps amtrak cannot compete with the Bears game?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/25 03:27 by dan.

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CZ got out 2 hours late despite having quite a few
> trains not operating
>
> perhaps amtrak cannot compete with the Bears game?

Now that’s a conundrum! Bears vs Amtrak? I’m guessing after 4 quarters then game would be tied.
0-0!

Posted from iPhone

Of course since Amtrak does not own the tracks the Cardinal and the Chief run on do ya think it may have been the railroad's that decided to not run?

Nahhh, makes too much sense!

No, I do not.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Of course since Amtrak does not own the tracks the
> Cardinal and the Chief run on do ya think it may
> have been the railroad's that decided to not run?
>
> Nahhh, makes too much sense!