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Newspaper Report on Amtrak meeting with Senators
From Paul Dyson: News is coming in thick and fast about the Southwest Chief and RailPAC is doing its best to keep you up to date. As you probably know Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson has stated that he believes that the National Network sleeper trains (we don’t like the term “long distance”) are not viable,…
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SPLIT AMTRAK – The current structure is dysfunctional – Richard Spotswood
A 21ST CENTURY MODEL FOR AMERICAN PASSENGER RAIL By: Dick Spotswood. THE DILEMMA: It’s now obvious that Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, and its new management under former Delta Airlines CEO Richard Anderson, regards its principal responsibility as making the Northeast Corridor America’s first true high-speed rail route. That’s a worthy goal and…
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Letter sent today to Mayor Garcetti, Los Angeles
This could be a template for YOUR letter to your Mayor, County Supervisor, Congressman etc. Hon. Eric Garcetti Mayor, City of Los Angeles Dear Mayor Garcetti: Thank you for your support of passenger rail, including the Amtrak National Network. We believe that this system of trains and connecting buses is a great asset,…
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Coalition Forming to save the Chief, and the rest of the National Network
Leaders of RailPAC, All Aboard Arizona, Southwest Passenger Rail Association and the Rail PAssenger Association (NARP) met in Mesa AZ Saturday in the first steps to set up a coalition to support the National Network trains, especially in the west. We’ll be working to add support groups in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas…
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Amtrak National Network Campaign – Some Helpful Tools
Here are a couple of sample letters to cut and paste in whole or in part. The first objective is to get our California Senators, Feinstein and Harris, to recognize the problem and to take action with their fellow Senators: Dear Senator ( ): Thank you for your support of passenger rail, including the Amtrak…
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Boardman Joins the Fight for the National Network
In a surprise development, Joe Boardman, former Amtrak CEO, has written a scathing article in Railway Age criticizing the policy of the current Amtrak Board and CEO. When I get permission I’ll reproduce it here. Boardman states that the national network, and especially the long distance trains, are threatened by a philosophy that seeks to…
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The Anderson Tape – LA Rail Summit April 19, 2018
The recording of Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson’s presentation, plus audience questions, is now available. The Anderson segment begins at approximately One Hour and 46 minutes. https://www.ustream.tv/recorded/114596550 It seems to be taking an awfully long time for the implications of these remarks to sink in. RailPAC is currently reviewing the options, and sounding out potential allies,…
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Why Anderson thinks he is doing the right thing – Amtrak’s mission statement
Why Anderson thinks he can, and should, destroy the National Passenger Rail Network Paul Dyson, RailPAC President Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson has interpreted PRIIA and other Amtrak legislation, and together with Amtrak’s flawed management information systems, has concluded that the national Network is a hopeless money loser. It is therefore his job to get rid…