No more charter trains

[4behind2]

Perhaps some source information about the Amtrak CEO could be helpful in formulating opinion: https://www.twincities.com/2008/04/19/r ... west-deal/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As stated on other blogs, axing the Wounded Warriors specials, etc. will cost Amtrak much goodwill with the general populace, many of which have no Amtrak service at all. This coming from an individual whose father worked for the Santa Fe.

Seeing that "Deltalina" still has ties to air travel promotion groups (International Air Transport association, etc.), it reminds me of the first Amtrak president, Roger Lewis, who was selected to preside over the termination of Amtrak after a few years. Maybe history is repeating itself?

[JimBoylan]

I see that the Group & Conventions page https://www.amtrak.com/deals-discounts/ ... count.html no longer mentions the availability of Amtrak assistance with customized special trains.

[hs3730]

Once again, does Delta operate "nostalgia flights" with DC-3's?

The Amtrak specials use current equipment. It would be more akin to United's final 747 flight this past November (which was technically current equipment until it landed). They flew it on the same route as its inaugural run, a route that it hadn't flown in decades (SFO to Honolulu). Complete with allowing passengers to take turns going to the upper deck, 1970s crew outfits and a "70's inspired" menu. The "air fantrip" sold out in two hours, and it was one way!

In short, I doubt this has much to do with airline practices invading Amtrak.

[dumpster.penguin]

After every Amtrak crash, we are reminded that no matter whose fault it is, Amtrak is usually on the hook to care for the parties who claim an injury. And don't forget the paperwork, the staff time, the repair complications... On those terms, a charter trip, for which Amtrak charges $x in predicted costs plus a little bit, may ultimately cost Amtrak thousands of times $x. For scheduled trips ordered by legislative appropriation, this is just a curiosity. But, for a trip that Amtrak did just for gee-whiz, the expense might be considered an unnecessary diversion of subsidies.

In short, the remedy (if you would like Amtrak to run charter trips) would be legislative.

[planespotting]

The Wall Street Journal article quotes Bob Donelley (AAPRCO president) as calling the news “devastating” as there will no longer be a special AAPRCO charter to the annual convention.
Also states that AAPRCO’s Washington DC rep, Ross Capon, expects an announcement from Amtrak shortly that they will stop letting private rail cars hook up to trains in stations where there is less than a 30-minute scheduled turnaround. Hopefully that will still allow some end-to-end moves on Cardinal and Silver Star...at least for now?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/amtrak-end ... 1522338049" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rwk]

No more Autumn Express? That means that rare mileage like the freight only lines in eastern PA such as Philly to Reading and Harrisburg and Reading to Aldene, NJ (where NJT RVL joins the ex-LV) will no longer be able to be ridden via Amtrak Autumn Expresses and thus will be off limits to the general public.

[John_Perkowski]

Admin note:

Unless we get confirmation otherwise, we will operate that the announcement is fact.

[CVRA7]

This announcement remains in the Amtrak employee "advisories and updates' section as of this morning.

[4behind2]

For those of you so inclined, here is the committee in the House of Representatives that oversees Amtrak: https://transportation.house.gov/about/membership.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can contact the Chairman, or one of the Congressman listed about the Amtrak's Chairman's decision to eliminate this service. If your local Representative is not listed, contact your US Senators. Remind them this edict results in Amtrak's non-compliance with Federal Law (Section A of 49 USC 11101), a loss of Federal and State tax revenues when these charters operate, heritage tourism revenue in the States they operate, and goodwill lost with the discontinuance of the Wounded Warrior Express.

Finally, demand that Amtrak Chairman Anderson appear before the Committee to explain his rationale for elimination of this service, why Federal Law is being violated, and to further opine on the "fully allocated costs" used to determine the cessation of this service.

Every US elected official's office keeps a record of "issues" filed with them. Perhaps you can make this a large issue for Chairman Anderson to publicly explain himself.

[rwk]

They were about the only hope for 611 to operate more excursions since NS no longer wants to directly host excursions. This means that VMT is in the same boat as 1995 and 611 will probably have to sit at the VMT now. All that Fire Up crap went to waste because now 611 has no place to run.

[jhdeasy]

Admin note:

Unless we get confirmation otherwise, we will operate that the announcement is fact.

I can confirm that the Amtrak announcement pertaining to charter special trains is FACTUAL.

Likewise for the new operating policy prohibiting switching private cars on/off regularly schedule Amtrak trains at intermediate stations that have less than 30 minutes scheduled dwell time.

The utility and economic resale value of all privately owned passenger cars, especially Amtrak certified private cars, took a big hit this week.

[John_Perkowski]

I can confirm that the Amtrak announcement pertaining to charter special trains is FACTUAL.

Likewise for the new operating policy prohibiting switching private cars on/off regularly schedule Amtrak trains at intermediate stations that have less than 30 minutes scheduled dwell time.

The utility and economic resale value of all privately owned passenger cars, especially Amtrak certified private cars, took a big hit this week.

As always, thank you, Sir.

FURTHER ADMIN NOTE:

Posts questioning the matter will be removed from the thread, without prejudice. In simple terms, they've been overtaken by events.

[rwk]

What exactly does that last statement mean, John? Questioning what? Does this mean that rare mileage trips on class 1 freight railroads in the Eastern US are a thing of the past? Such as Autumn Express? But some excursions are still running like the E8 excursion from Philly to Altoona in May with rare freight only mileage over NS through Lock Haven. Could be final run of E8’s due to PTC issue. I’m guessing Amtrak is letting that one slide. And the private car trips through VMT are supposedly still running. And the 261 Duluth trip this summer. Is this a total ban on all excursions or will exceptions be made?

[STrRedWolf]

Now that we've confirmed that it is true, the question should really turn to "why":

TRAINS Newswire report:

“Generally, Amtrak will no longer operate charter services or special trains. These operations caused significant operational distraction, failed to capture fully allocated profitable margins and sometimes delayed our paying customers on our scheduled trains,” the notice reads.

“There may be a few narrow exceptions to this policy in order to support specific strategic initiatives, for example trial service in support of growing new scheduled service. Otherwise, one-time trips and charters are immediately discontinued,” the notice adds.

This seems to be a bit short-sighted. Have Amtrak's management tried the following to address these issues:

1. Require charters to be scheduled further in advance to allow Amtrak and/or rail owners (CSX, NS, BNSF, etc) to allot the slot needed to run the charter.
2. Raise the price to run the charter with Amtrak crews.
3. Downgrade the dispatch status of charters to below that of commuter rail but above that of freight when the charter is on Amtrak territory.
4. Push special charters onto existing trains along Amtrak Territory (adding reserved cars to Acella trains for those baseball players, for instance).

I'll have to give my senators a nice note about this, and the rep involved isn't in my district and they're tightly controlling the mail.

[John_Perkowski]

What exactly does that last statement mean, John? Questioning what?

Whether this is fact or rumor. It's now settled fact. Questions of how it impacts are of course inbounds.

To me...

Chicago
LA
New Orleans
NYP
DC
Orlando
Emeryville
Seattle
MAYBE Denver
Kansas City, for runs on the KC-STL-CHI service

Are the places for PV origin and termination.