Breaking News:
Jon 
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Good riddance Anderson !
VistaDomeScott posted:Good riddance Anderson !
Best to hold off on any partying yet, as the "new guy" is another one from the air line industry, although air freight.
At least he understands freight! 
gunrunnerjohn posted:At least he understands freight!
Maybe. Then again, what sort of meal service is there in air freight?
Hot Water posted:VistaDomeScott posted:Good riddance Anderson !
Best to hold off on any partying yet, as the "new guy" is another one from the air line industry, although air freight.
So true!
I don't think we will ever see another W. Graham Claytor, Jr. as President of Amtrak.
Kirk Lindvig
WOW, Am I glad to see Anderson go. I can't get any worse with the new president. It's at the bottom now.
I met Graham Claytor twice. I rode the first Viewliner car, & he was on it. Also I met him at York. He was a TCA member.
VistaDomeScott posted:Hot Water posted:VistaDomeScott posted:Good riddance Anderson !
Best to hold off on any partying yet, as the "new guy" is another one from the air line industry, although air freight.
So true!
Well, not completely true. If you read the complete article, it says he also spent time with CSX.
"He also held senior roles with CSX Transportation, Sea-Land Services, Inc., and GeoLogistics Corp."
breezinup posted:VistaDomeScott posted:Hot Water posted:VistaDomeScott posted:Good riddance Anderson !
Best to hold off on any partying yet, as the "new guy" is another one from the air line industry, although air freight.
So true!
Well, not completely true. If you read the complete article, it says he also spent time with CSX.
"He also held senior roles with CSX Transportation, Sea-Land Services, Inc., and GeoLogistics Corp."
And THAT is supposed to be a positive??????
Well, I doubt that he will be worse than Richard Anderson. I have a hard time believing that any CEO can really make a big difference at Amtrak in three short years. It takes longer than that to see real results. He can begin some changes, but, if Mr. Flynn checks the box and moves on, in three years, with another pension in his portfolio, the next CEO in the future could scrap it all and steer Amtrak into yet another new direction.
Richard Anderson started picking fights the minute he arrived on the property. Hopefully, Mr. Flynn will be a better listener and give more consideration to the passengers who will be his consumers. He is taking the helm of a company with almost no remaining institutional knowledge, which has been wandering without consistent direction for years. Let us hope that he develops a real interest in making something of Amtrak and that he wants to stay long enough to get it done.
I am not going to waste time complaining about Amtrak's shortcomings. Instead I am going to pray for Richard Anderson, daily. Seriously. I have his name written down.
Hot Water posted:breezinup posted:VistaDomeScott posted:Hot Water posted:VistaDomeScott posted:Good riddance Anderson !
Best to hold off on any partying yet, as the "new guy" is another one from the air line industry, although air freight.
So true!
Well, not completely true. If you read the complete article, it says he also spent time with CSX.
"He also held senior roles with CSX Transportation, Sea-Land Services, Inc., and GeoLogistics Corp."
And THAT is supposed to be a positive??????
Not sure where you came up with that, because noone said it was positive. The obvious point was to correct the idea that he's only come from the airline industry, when in fact he's also had some experience with railroads and intermodel.
He comes in at an interesting time, when Amtrak actually is making an operating profit (probably thanks to the kinds of cuts people have been complaining about I would guess), but he also faces a lot of challenges. With the Gateway project likely on hold for who knows how long (I am deliberately not saying "until X gets elected or Y leaves office", since the Gateway project has been stuck a really long time, seems like pro or anti doesn't matter, few think it is a priority and thus to me is apolitical in a sense), they are faced with some big challenges.Apparently the DOT wants Amtrak to repair the existing tunnels, which are quite literally falling apart, which is likely to cause havoc for commuters for probably a long, long time. Plus from what I read I don't think they are doing anything with the tracks leading in, especially the one bulky drawbridge over the Hackensack River that tends to get stuck and has to be hammered back into place. Not to mention, of course, that the existing tunnels are already too heavily trafficked to start with, it is one of the busiest rail links out there, and it looks like a lot of pain.
The bad news is that Anderson will remain with AMTRAK as an advisor to the new guy. . . . .
Tom is right, it’ll take time to make a positive difference. Look how long it took Wick Moorman to make improvements at NS. Didn’t take long for Squires and company to undo it all, though.
Maybe the new person may want to become UNDETCOVET BOSS:THE CUSTOMER, and actually RIDE some trains before going to his office suite.
All things considered, I'm happy with today's trains. I've traveled many miles on the NE Corridor, The Silver Meteor, The Crescent, The Sunset Limited, and I'm leaving on the Silver Star tomorrow. My major gripe is non-NE Corridor trains running late due to freight traffic. If you are willing to fly coach/economy, flying is usually cheaper than "overnight" rail. My wife and I have flown first class for the past 5 years.
Your happy with today,s trains, I can't believe you said that.
Joe Hohmann posted:All things considered, I'm happy with today's trains.
My wife is also quite happy with Amtrak and takes it fairly frequently when she goes to visit her favorite destination: New York City. Takes the train from Pittsburgh to New York and has always had good things to say about each trip, even though there sometimes are a few delays along the route. She's going again this coming weekend, and I have to drive her to the train station on Sunday. Unfortunately, I have to stay home, again, in large part due to an upcoming magazine deadline.
eddie g posted:Your happy with today,s trains, I can't believe you said that.
Then why do you take the train from Maine to Florida each year? I'm happy with the accommodations, equipment, red caps, room attendants, stations, and scenery. Not having a splendid dining experience is not a major consideration for me.
I have been happy with Amtrak, but it has all been on the Northeast corridor. I used to take the train a lot between NYC and Philadelphia after work, meeting my wife and son to go to events at Curtis Institute, and it worked out great for me, same with Washington DC and Boston. The real issue seems to be longer distance trains, and it really depends on your expectations. One thing I take into account when taking the train is the hassle of flying, having to get to the airport really early, TSA lines, then getting from the airport to my destination, sure you can fly from NY to DC or Boston in under an hour, but if you add it all up, it is almost the same as with the train, same with driving, so there it makes sense. For me (and this is just my view) longer distance train travel is really more of a luxury thing, it isn't something I would use if time is a factor (unless, for example, weather makes it so a train can get through where air flights might be socked in). In this view, it makes sense when people complain about things like food service being skimped on,or the plan to use tour buses and the like.
Think about this, Eddie takes a trip on Amtrak. Has problems with service. Week later, the CEO leaves???
Allan, i don't believe that you can take the train from Pittsburgh directly to NYC. Don't you have to change trains in Philadelphia?
eddie g posted:Allan, i don't believe that you can take the train from Pittsburgh directly to NYC. Don't you have to change trains in Philadelphia?
The Pennsylvanian, trains 42 and 43, runs between Pittsburgh and New York City. Passengers don't change trains in Philadelphia; the train just changes direction there (goes into 30th St. Station heading south, departs heading north).
This new guy is from air freight. I think Amtrak could do some "REA" stuff, but in a way that does not upset passenger ops.
In France, some of the older Bullet train sets wete converted to Mail and Express service, I think. Some Pure M&E trains could be possible on the NEC. No old fashined RPO's. Mostly sealed expess boxcars or COFC's with a single baggage car with a baggage person. There should be enough USPS, UPS, FEDEX, and Amazon for this. At least in the NEC.
eddie g posted:Allan, i don't believe that you can take the train from Pittsburgh directly to NYC. Don't you have to change trains in Philadelphia?
Nope. No change in trains (although there is a change in motive power). One seat all the way, to and from. Leaves Pittsburgh early in the morning, and the return trip gets into Pittsburgh at about 8 p.m.
An article raising concerns about his safety and employee training record at the air freight company.
New Amttrak CEO Saftey Record Called Into Question
Mr. Anderson is staying on through the end of this year as a "senior advisor" to Mr. Flynn. I'm not sure if that is good or bad for AMTRAK and its customers.
