Re: (erielack) AMTRAK COMMENT

[Don Kern <doubletrack_@_comcast.net>]

Good Points Ed.... For those of you counting... Its like CSX 8, All other RRs 2
of the last 10 Amtrak Derailments,  Its not Even close......And CSX is So POOR now
they have to go back to a Simple Paint Scheme  ala C&O/B&O in the Mid 60s

ed montgomery wrote:

> I got a couple of responses regarding my reporting on the Capitol Limited
> yesterday asking what does it have to do with EL?  Well, not a whole lot on
> the surface;  I'll admit that.  But neither did Amtrak wrecks on the CSX along
> the old "Water-Level Route" did either.  As you dig deeper though, there is
> something to garner from this.  At a time when efforts are being made to
> restore passenger service on the Cut-off to Scranton or beyond, stories like
> this get the attention of politicians.  CSX does not have a good record for
> track maintenance and their relationship with MARC Rail is at best cordial.  I
> find it interesting that Amtrak has had all these mishaps lately, and they
> were all on lines they didn't own.  I'm sure things like this get the
> attention of NS when people start talking about running passenger trains on
> their tracks as well.
>
> It does create a tough situation for Amtrak as a passenger carrier.  In
> Today's WASHINGTON POST Don Phillips reported on the number of Super Liners
> that are bad-ordered because of being wrecked and not repaired over the last 5
> years.  Amtrak is getting to the point where they are almost out of Super
> Liner diners.  He said that David Gunn gave the order to start repairing
> passenger equipment now, regardless of whether there is funding or not.
>
> The wreck in Washington could have effects on proposed passenger service
> elsewhere.  The more informed the railfan community is about these things, the
> better off they will be in discussing these issues with others who are not
> informed.
>
> Sort of EL related from,
>
> Ed Montgomery

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