[IABS-Talk] Amtrak to reduce service to 3 times per week on several lines

Wed Jun 24 02:11:38 UTC 2020

I sent senator durbin and Tammy duckworth a note regarding that. So I do
believe the list that Steve sent out last night. I'm also aware of Amtrak
sometimes publishes things in there media section to hype up calls for
action. I remember about 9 years ago I put something on the listserv that
came from Amtrak's media section and got a lot of flack for it. so just be
careful because sometimes even Amtrak will hype up something or a rail
advocacy group will do that also. I know I have experienced on that.

Robert Hansen
hansen.robert70 at gmail.com

On Tue, Jun 23, 2020, 5:04 PM Bill Reif via IABS-Talk <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Hi Steve and lists,
>
>
> I want to let people know Steve's announcement is not based solely on
> the speculations of a railroad advocacy group. It is based on an Amtrak
> announcement, and reflects announced reductions on at least two trains
> to Chicago, the Texas Eagle and the Empire Builder. Please read the
> article from WGLT regarding the Eagle, and reductions to 3 daily trips
> on the Lincoln Service line between Chicago and St. Louis already in
> effect. If these services are reduced, I have no faith they will be
> restored next June as Amtrak promises. If the Eagle is reduced, it will
> take away my flexibility in going to/from my vending location.
>
>
> https://www.wglt.org/post/amtrak-cut-texas-eagle-service-3-times-week
>
>
> Cordially,
>
> Bill
>
>
> On 6/22/2020 11:49 AM, Steve Hastalis via IL-Talk wrote:
> > Hi.  All.  I have forwarded this correspondence from the Rail Users
> Network
> > (RUN) Here is our call to action to RUN members. It is based on input
> > received from members of our Legislative Committee.  Be sure to reach
> out to
> > your Reps and Senators in your state.  Thanks for all that you do.
> Richard.
> > This correspondence supports the numerous resolutions NFB has passed
> > protesting service cuts, calling for more and better Amtrak and regional
> and
> > urban public transit service.
> >
> >
> >
> > Dear RUN members.
> >
> >
> >
> > URGENT!
> >
> >
> >
> > -Amtrak has recently announced that most long-distance trains will be cut
> > back to three-day-a-week service as of Oct. 1.
> >
> >
> >
> > -After July 4 there will no longer be two daily trains to Florida. (Auto
> > Train not included)
> >
> > We need your help convincing Amtrak not to cut back services!!
> >
> > Please be aware of these points when contacting your Legislators!
> >
> > -Congress has provided $1.475 billion dollars to Amtrak through the
> passage
> > of the Cares Act to cover revenue lost resulting from decreased ridership
> > during the Covid 19 Crisis.  Lost revenue is not a legitimate reason to
> cut
> > services.
> >
> > -Amtrak President William Flynn has deep ties to the airline industry
> which
> > will benefit from the service reduction, as they serve the same customer
> > base. This represents a potential conflict-of-loyalties, which must be
> given
> > oversight and scrutiny.
> >
> > -The proposal to introduce "less-than-daily" service on all long-distance
> > routes except the Auto-Train in FY 2021 smacks of a conscious effort to
> > dismantle the national system altogether.
> >
> > -Reduction of schedules in the 1990's cost Amtrak more in lost revenue
> than
> > it was able to gain from lesser expenses, given the fixed cost nature of
> the
> > operation.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Ridership is coming back: long-distance ticket revenues climbed 71%,
> from
> > $6.8 million to $11.6 million, between April and May, operating with
> > approximately the same frequencies, Northeast Corridor billing rose about
> > 60% from $1.5 million to $2.4 million, and state-supported trains
> generated
> > less than a 50% increase, from $2.3 million in April to $3.5 million in
> May.
> > "The existing long-distance service provided almost double the May
> revenue
> > of Corridor and state-supported operations combined."
> >
> > RUN's Board of Directors is reaching out to Representative Peter Defazio,
> > the Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and
> Infrastructure,
> > as well as Senator Roger Wicker who chairs the Senate Committee on
> Commerce,
> > Science and Transportation, to express our concerns on behalf of rail
> > passengers across America.
> >
> >
> >
> > We need your help!  Please contact your congressional representatives and
> > U.S senators. Political action is key, as members of Congress and the
> Senate
> > have not only the authority, but also the responsibility to make sure
> that
> > Amtrak operates in the public interest. Please call or write to your
> elected
> > officials. Ask them to reach out to their counterparts, especially those
> who
> > represent voters who live in rural America, where daily train service is
> > vital.
> >
> >
> >
> > Here are some additional points that can be used to convey your concerns
> > regarding Amtrak's long-distance train service:
> >
> > 1.            As the pandemic eases, cutting service is absolutely the
> wrong
> > message to send to bring customers back to Amtrak.
> >
> > 2.            Amtrak has gotten a lot of federal money, so where is it
> going
> > if service is getting cut nationwide?
> >
> > 3.            All trains should be DAILY! A customer should not have to
> > consult a calendar to see if their train is running on any given day!
> >
> > 4.            States have contributed a lot of money to have their trains
> > run between important centers of commerce and education. If service cuts
> are
> > allowed to occur, will States be getting refunds?
> >
> > 5.            Trains are one of the chief links between large cities and
> > small towns all across the US.  By cutting long-distance trains back to
> > tri-weekly, isn't that a not-so-subliminal message that residents and
> > visitors to small towns don't really matter?
> >
> > 6.            Rural areas served by Amtrak have little bus or air
> service.
> >
> > 7.            Dispersed populations (small towns) are a way to minimize
> the
> > impact of the coronavirus on the population, but to encourage such
> > lifestyles, transportation choices are needed.
> >
> > 8.            Our main economic competitor, which is rapidly overtaking
> the
> > USA, China, is building thousands of miles of intercity passenger
> railroads
> > and launching hundreds of passenger trains every year.
> >
> > 9.            Daily long-distance passenger rail service is an
> alternative
> > which provides a safe, smooth all- weather ride; is popular with all
> ages,
> > classes and colors of people, and serves a as a brake on climate change.
> >
> > Please let us know when you have contacted your elected officials, either
> > through a phone call or email to their staff member(s) who deals with
> > transportation issues.
> >
> >
> >
> > This is a RUN call-to-action and gives us the opportunity to express our
> > vision and show our strength.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thank you very much.  Be well and stay safe.
> >
> >
> >
> > Richard Rudolph, Ph.D.
> >
> > Chairman, Rail Users' Network
> >
> > rrudolph1022 at gmail.com
> >
> >
> >
> > June 21, 2020
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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