Passenger Trains > Amtrak BOD Meeting - July 31, 2025

Nice presentation on capital improvements and the "construction" that is going on. That is at an epic scale and huge monumental task. 

Amtrak still is betting on Acela Next Generation for NEC capacity improvements. Harris still promoting a "nice video" of NextGen Acela to whet everyone's appetite, but no launch date even mentioned, other than five units are apparently "fully delivered" - accepted as last phase.....That's still short of expectations and behind schedule. 

Disappointing to hear no specifics on how to make the "new equipment" that's been deployed more reliable so revenues and capacity could increase, specifically on ALC42s, Chargers, Ventures, etc. 

Appears Horizons are permanently sidelined and not expected to come back if I was hearing/reading between the lines. 

CSI scores - down a little bit. Lots of blame with on-time performance and working with "legacy" equipment but that doesn't explain the fact that a lot of "newer" equipment is also sidelined and not reliable in making trips to passenger expectations. And of course nothing about the car washers, which are ALSO likely affecting CSI scores majorly, but Amtrak presenters said nothing on that and deflected. Not surprised. 
 

CSI = crash, smash, & interpretations

CSI -- means Customer Satisfaction Index.  which is trending down due to late trains.
Of course, no mention was made on what can be done about it.

No mention was made of filthy trains, or wash racks, 

The only info I found useful,  was that Amtrak has received permission to start Acela-2  revenue service.

Otherwise, just the usual management dog & pony show.

ronald321 Wrote:
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> CSI -- means Customer Satisfaction Index.  which
> is trending down due to late trains.
> Of course, no mention was made on what can be done
> about it.
>
> No mention was made of filthy trains, or wash
> racks, 
>
> The only info I found useful,  was that Amtrak
> has received permission to start Acela-2  revenue
> service.
>
> Otherwise, just the usual management dog & pony
> show.

They passed the FRA requirements/regulations but that still doesn't give any timeline for "revenue service." Harris took pride in stating the "speed" of the NextGen Acela trains, but if the "test train schedules" is any foretaste of what's to be expected in speed and schedules - that'd be quite disappointing! 

I heard nothing on the high rate of Charger failures, especially the SC44s, which is particularly inexusable.  Something should have been said about that absolutely for sure.

Does NARP etc have any friends in Congress who can demand answers to these questions?

Does the BOD even know about the locomotive failures? Their lack of any active participation in trying to make Amtrak better makes one wonder.

Not to mention will they run trains when it's snowing?

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irhoghead Wrote:
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> Does the BOD even know about the locomotive
> failures? Their lack of any active participation
> in trying to make Amtrak better makes one wonder.

The Board knows what management tells them, so what do you think?   And this is not unique to Amtrak either, it's pretty much standard operating procedure everywhere.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> irhoghead Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Does the BOD even know about the locomotive
> > failures? Their lack of any active
> participation
> > in trying to make Amtrak better makes one
> wonder.
>
> The Board knows what management tells them, so
> what do you think?   And this is not unique to
> Amtrak either, it's pretty much standard operating
> procedure everywhere.

Unless the individual Board member is there as a representative of a big share owner, the member is there to keep their mouth shut, and collect their check.

This was a "feel good" press release at best.......Penn Central was able to fool board members for quite some time before it became the biggest bankruptcy in the United States up till that time!