What is best for Amtrak in 2022

There is many things Amtrak could do to improve in 2022, what are your ideas that Amtrak can do to Improve?

Understand the constraints for which Amtrak operates as an entity, determine where and how it can provide the best possible service and attract the greatest ridership, to generate the most revenue and require the least amount of subsidy, and then deliver that exceptional customer experience consistently and without fail, so that your customers are cheerleaders and attract more ridership.

In other words, something that is impossible for Amtrak to do. Right now the flavor of the day at Amtrak is "how many different shades of blue can we paint our new locomotives?"

wigwagfan wrote: ↑Mon Apr 18, 2022 11:44 pm In other words, something that is impossible for Amtrak to do. Right now the flavor of the day at Amtrak is "how many different shades of blue can we paint our new locomotives?"

Don't ask. You'll get a "Do YoU hAvE iT aNy BlAcKeR?" situation.

Couldn't resist.
But seriously, better communication with customers, and efforts to retain them.
If a train is cancelled, notification ASAP, and an effort to help alternate means found.
When brightline has to cancel due to Floridaman going around the gates,
How do they handle it, with customers?

One sore point with Amtrak is not when I am riding Amtrak, but when I am riding other services using Amtrak tracks. There is a lot of complaining about how the freight railroads treat Amtrak, but it does the same things to SEPTA, NJ Transit, MARC, etc... Things have improved in the last two years (less trains means less interference). I hope we see the pattern continue where Amtrak isn't getting in the way of SEPTA.

rcthompson04 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:46 am One sore point with Amtrak is not when I am riding Amtrak, but when I am riding other services using Amtrak tracks. There is a lot of complaining about how the freight railroads treat Amtrak, but it does the same things to SEPTA, NJ Transit, MARC, etc... Things have improved in the last two years (less trains means less interference). I hope we see the pattern continue where Amtrak isn't getting in the way of SEPTA.

Soon enough the only SEPTA lines reliant on Amtrak will be the Wilmington/Newark Line, the Cynwyd Line, the Paoli/Thorndale Line, the Chestnut Hill West Line, and the Trenton Line. The Media/Wawa Line is already separated, and the Airport will be officially separated from Amtrak this summer.

The Chestnut Hill West Line could also be separated, pending a connection at Swampoodle.

Most SEPTA delays aren't necessarily caused by Amtrak dispatch favoring Amtrak (though they certainly do). There are four tracks everywhere where SEPTA and Amtrak run concurrently, except past Paoli. Congestion is rare.
What actually causes delays is physical plant issues. Too often a signal or switch breaks, and SEPTA is beholden to Amtrak and the speed of their MOW staff. Then you start seeing congestion issues. This most often happens on the Paoli/Thorndale Line.

I would suggest more progress for intercity routes listed on the ConnectsUs map (and beyond), that is finding ways to start those services within the next five years, or have more private companies like Brightline operate either existing intercity services, or new routes which don't directly compete with Amtrak, and negotiating with Amtrak to find ways to increase competitiveness and travel options.

mcgrath618 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:53 am

rcthompson04 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:46 am One sore point with Amtrak is not when I am riding Amtrak, but when I am riding other services using Amtrak tracks. There is a lot of complaining about how the freight railroads treat Amtrak, but it does the same things to SEPTA, NJ Transit, MARC, etc... Things have improved in the last two years (less trains means less interference). I hope we see the pattern continue where Amtrak isn't getting in the way of SEPTA.

Soon enough the only SEPTA lines reliant on Amtrak will be the Wilmington/Newark Line, the Cynwyd Line, the Paoli/Thorndale Line, the Chestnut Hill West Line, and the Trenton Line. The Media/Wawa Line is already separated, and the Airport will be officially separated from Amtrak this summer.

The Chestnut Hill West Line could also be separated, pending a connection at Swampoodle.

Most SEPTA delays aren't necessarily caused by Amtrak dispatch favoring Amtrak (though they certainly do). There are four tracks everywhere where SEPTA and Amtrak run concurrently, except past Paoli. Congestion is rare.
What actually causes delays is physical plant issues. Too often a signal or switch breaks, and SEPTA is beholden to Amtrak and the speed of their MOW staff. Then you start seeing congestion issues. This most often happens on the Paoli/Thorndale Line.

Replacing components that were middle age by the time little Richard had their first hit is always a good idea.

scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:32 pm

mcgrath618 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:53 am

rcthompson04 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:46 am One sore point with Amtrak is not when I am riding Amtrak, but when I am riding other services using Amtrak tracks. There is a lot of complaining about how the freight railroads treat Amtrak, but it does the same things to SEPTA, NJ Transit, MARC, etc... Things have improved in the last two years (less trains means less interference). I hope we see the pattern continue where Amtrak isn't getting in the way of SEPTA.

Soon enough the only SEPTA lines reliant on Amtrak will be the Wilmington/Newark Line, the Cynwyd Line, the Paoli/Thorndale Line, the Chestnut Hill West Line, and the Trenton Line. The Media/Wawa Line is already separated, and the Airport will be officially separated from Amtrak this summer.

The Chestnut Hill West Line could also be separated, pending a connection at Swampoodle.

Most SEPTA delays aren't necessarily caused by Amtrak dispatch favoring Amtrak (though they certainly do). There are four tracks everywhere where SEPTA and Amtrak run concurrently, except past Paoli. Congestion is rare.
What actually causes delays is physical plant issues. Too often a signal or switch breaks, and SEPTA is beholden to Amtrak and the speed of their MOW staff. Then you start seeing congestion issues. This most often happens on the Paoli/Thorndale Line.

Replacing components that were middle age by the time little Richard had their first hit is always a good idea.

In the last 10 months, the few issues I have seen involved seriously delayed Amtrak trains requiring a SEPTA train to be held for them to pass. Those occurrences have almost all been at the Zoo.

How about this? From Amtrak------- We cannot wait for ALCs to get in service. After laying off all our loco specialists we cannot maintain P-42s any more. Let Siemens maintain out ALCs. OOPS did not work too well on first EB trip.

Wasn't there a plan to reconfigure zoo interlocking but I think that was mostly for the harrisburg mainline not the NEC.
Wonder if Septa and Amtrak should have a separate tracks to access 30th street station instead of the current configuration today.

rcthompson04 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:46 am One sore point with Amtrak is not when I am riding Amtrak, but when I am riding other services using Amtrak tracks. There is a lot of complaining about how the freight railroads treat Amtrak, but it does the same things to SEPTA, NJ Transit, MARC, etc... Things have improved in the last two years (less trains means less interference). I hope we see the pattern continue where Amtrak isn't getting in the way of SEPTA.

Agreed with MARC, but I cannot see that with how the NEC is between WAS and BAL. To put it simply, it needs to be four-tracked between the stations, no exceptions, with BWI Airport and Odenton MARC having three platforms.

From today's Rail Passenger Association, formerly NARP: As of today, the terms of all the Amtrak board members have expired. There are NO board members left. From the time Amtrak Biden took office, there have been NO appointments for new members. Plenty appointments for judges, administration officials, ZERO for Amtrak. This leaves nobody in charge. This is no way to run a railroad.

GWoodle wrote: ↑Wed Apr 20, 2022 10:07 am From today's Rail Passenger Association, formerly NARP: As of today, the terms of all the Amtrak board members have expired. There are NO board members left. From the time Amtrak Biden took office, there have been NO appointments for new members. Plenty appointments for judges, administration officials, ZERO for Amtrak. This leaves nobody in charge. This is no way to run a railroad.

Where was this stated? It's not posted on their Twitter or official website as far as I know of. Was this said at an RPA member exclusive meeting? If not, then could you please provide the link to the article or post where this was said?

Huh. Amtrak Joe hasn't been in charge like everyone thought...

The existing board members can continue to serve deserve even though their terms have expired.

But yes, every board member's term has expired.