posted
Well, I am trying to be as optomistic as I can , but I am afraid Amtrak's demise may avail itself sooner rather than later. What a travesty !
To be honest, I have written the White House and Congress until I am "blue in the face !" What bothers me is not the effort I have put forth, but the fact that I really am certain my letters get "trashed" anyhow---by some incompetent staffer who could care less about the letter's content. Honestly, I have YET to hear back directly from anyone I have contacted related to Amtrak. This "hints" to me that my many letters did not end up where they were intended in the first place----on the desks of the individuals I wrote to in the first place.
Perhaps this "turn of events" is simply what it took to bring the Amtrak issue to the fore-front. Shut the whole system down----included the precious NEC---and let the chips fall where they may.
To be honest, I give David Gunn a great deal of credit, although I understand he is by no means perfect. By far, his position is the toughest railroad has to offer. I really can not understand why any sane person would want the job in the first place.
I was somewhat encouraged by the $1.2 billion offer for fiscal 2005. I though perhaps the "corner" had been turned and that Congress was finally starting to realize that changes WERE being made at Amtrak, AND that Congress was starting to realize just how much money is required to operate the NEC by itself, let alone a national system. But I guess I was totally wrong. Thirty-some odd senators, and perhaps a hundred representatives (if that) simply is not nearly enough to get anything really accomplished----forget about the governors, I honestly do not think they have any bearing on the issue at all.
Anyhow, to my question:
I want to ride as much as I possibly can before the "melt-down ?" Just how long can we expect Amtrak to maintain the present service system until it must cease operations ? I am presuming Amtrak has enough operational funds to last at least until the end of fiscal year 2005. But when exactly IS this ?
As always I will await all of your interesting and insightful thoughts.
Posts: 187 | From: Pittsburgh , PA | Registered: Apr 2001
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