"Secretary Mineta's pledge to avert a shutdown of Amtrak in the next several days is greatly appreciated. However, there has been no reconciliation of the simple fact that Amtrak is running out of cash and no agreement of how to provide a loan guarantee or appropriation that will continue train service to the end of the fiscal year. In short, the pledge delays a shutdown, but it does not yet stop it from occurring."
So does this mean that nothing happened today? How long will the shutdown be "delayed?" 2 days? 3 days? 1 week? Until October 1? Any ideas on this?
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
I further noticed that under "Important information about AMTRAK train services," on the AMTRAK web site, they removed the part which said (until this evening) "please be assured that there will be no service cuts in the foreseeable future" or something to that effect. To me, that means that the shutdown of the system has not been "delayed" very long...... probably only a matter of days, or a couple weeks at the most. So I doubt if my trip planned for this Friday will be a go..........
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: From the press release of this evening:
"Secretary Mineta's pledge to avert a shutdown of Amtrak in the next several days is greatly appreciated. However, there has been no reconciliation of the simple fact that Amtrak is running out of cash and no agreement of how to provide a loan guarantee or appropriation that will continue train service to the end of the fiscal year. In short, the pledge delays a shutdown, but it does not yet stop it from occurring."
RRRICH, I don't know where this quote came from but the language is very much like David Gunn's. Do you have any more information?
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Ken - I got that quote from right here at Train Web! Click on the "What's new at Train Web" icon at the top of the home page under "Tentative outcome of today's meeting"
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Mr. Toy - so if "nothing was decided today" (yesterday), that means that AMTRAK has NOT gotten a loan guarantee or a supplemental appropriation, therefore they are still broke and could still shut down in the very near future..????????
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: Mr. Toy - so if "nothing was decided today" (yesterday), that means that AMTRAK has NOT gotten a loan guarantee or a supplemental appropriation, therefore they are still broke and could still shut down in the very near future..????????
Yes. The powers in Washington are working very hard to make sure that doesn't happen, and there is a good chance that they will be successful. However, there are enough disagreements between the Executive Branch and Amtrak's postion that it could gum up the process and prevent a solution from being implemented before a shutdown. But if there is a shutdown I think it will be brief.
The problem as I see it today, the Bush Administration is trying to force Amtrak to accept its reform plan (if you can call it that) before any bailout money will be approved. Given that the Bush/Mineta plan is pure hokum, and Amtrak knows it, Bush/Mineta will have to blink first.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
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