Amtrak has had a rough time keeping trains running through New York City, its most important hub, but it is preparing for a smooth transition to a new chief executive.
The national railroad’s board of directors is expected to announce this week that William J. Flynn, the chairman and former chief executive of Atlas Air Worldwide, will succeed Richard Anderson as chief executive of Amtrak, according to people familiar with the decision.
Mr. Flynn would be the third veteran executive from the transportation industry to run Amtrak in the last three years. He would step in as Amtrak’s finances have been improving but its political fortunes remain turbulent.
Amtrak has struggled to maintain Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan and the tracks, tunnels and bridges that connect it to other cities along the Northeast Corridor. Its officials have failed to persuade federal officials to approve a plan to build a second set of tunnels to carry trains under the Hudson River, known as Gateway.
You know something? I don't blame Mr. Anderson one bit. He doesn't need the misery dumped on him by "the Critters" when he wanted to "scalp the Chief" in that he (Amtrak) was confronted with solely maintaining a 350 mile stretch of road that the Class I owner would otherwise abandon. Nor did he need the advocacy/experiential community chomping at him to provide service amenities that had outlived their usefulnes, I'll say, sixty years ago.
While I'm not much of a rider anymore - especially after my "institutional" Auto-Train experience, it appeared Mr. Anderson was making progress in the areas of on-time performance, safety - passenger and employee, and was "getting the ball rolling" with equipment replacement. That he was unable to successfully address the biggest infrastructure concern - the Gateway Tunnels - must rank as the biggest disappointment of his tenure.
Finally, hope no one is pinning their hopes on a return of the."Century" or "Super", or even the Pacific Parlours, from an incoming management drawn from an air freight carrier.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I knew Bill at CSX. He was a sales director in one of the regional offices. He subsequently was promoted to head sales and marketing. Left in the early 2000’s. Not sure if he was forced out. He was a good guy but wouldn’t have picked him to be president of anything. At least he understand railroads.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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We should note that Mr. Flynn has "railroad" within his "CV":
He also held senior leadership roles with CSX Transportation, Sea-Land Services, Inc., and GeoLogistics Corp.
As well, Flynn comes from a railroading family. His father was a Conrail engineer; his uncle, an Amtrak engineer; and his brother, an Amtrak conductor and local union chair.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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It IS remarkable that this administration would put somebody in a post who knows SOMETHING about the agency they are running!
Posts: 510 | From: Richmond VA USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Jerome Nicholson: It IS remarkable that this administration would put somebody in a post who knows SOMETHING about the agency they are running!
I don't intend to be drawn into a political fight, so I suggest you not try to start one.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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