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From: jis1@mtgzz.UUCP (j.mukerji)
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Amtrak and the next budget proposal
Message-ID: <1538@mtgzz.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 12-Jan-86 13:54:32 EST
Article-I.D.: mtgzz.1538
Posted: Sun Jan 12 13:54:32 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Jan-86 05:00:31 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Middletown NJ
Lines: 53

Here is something new to discuss on net.railroad:

What will the effect of the next budget proposal on Amtrak in particular and
passenger rail service in the USA in general? The proposal again contains
$0.00 for Amtrak which probably means that by the time it gets through the
legislative process Amtrak will take another 10 to 20 percent cut in its
subsidies. Does this mean that the Amtrak route structure will be severely
curtailed in '87? Or is it a possibility that alternative sources of
financing the subsidy gap will be found? Or will Amtrak be able to put
revolutionary new train operation methods in place to cut their expenses
sufficiently.

Here are some of my guesses about the questions posed above:

(i)   It would be unfortunate if the route structure were drastically
trimmed, but the maintenance of the current route structure would depend on
what the answers to the next two questions turn out to be.

(ii)  I think the states that get the most out of Amtrak will have to start
coughing up more money if Amtrak really means something to them. The states
that immediately come to my mind are: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Virginia, Montana, Kansas, Missouri, N. Dakota,
California, Oregon and Washington. How much?  Perhaps as much as is
required to cover 30 to 50 percent of the shortfall.

(iii) Amtrak really has a long way to go in cutting its operating costs. 

In all my train travel experiences in various countries of the world, some
of which run a much better passenger rail service than Amtrak, I have found
Amtrak trains to be the most highly staffed. Moreover, half the people who
man these trains do not ever seem to do anything constructive. Occasionally
they do destructive things like getting into needless arguments with
passengers. Amtrak should explore the possibility of paring down on the
number of people that staff the trains.

Amtrak could also try contracting out the operation of the Amcafes to
McDonalds or Burger King, who are likely to do a better job of running them
than Amtrak, at less expense to Amtrak.


Well, that is all that comes to my mind at present. I think Amtrak is a
wonderful idea, and I have enjoyed many many train trips on Amtrak. But I
also think that it is only fair to ask Amtrak to cut its operating costs as
much as possible, or look for alternative less visible subsidies, like the
ones enjoyed by the Airlines and the Trucking industry.

Comments?

Jishnu Mukerji
AT&T Information Systems Labs
Middletown NJ
mtgzz!jis1