OK -- so if AMTRAK does not get its $200 million loan by June 30, Gunn will shut down the system. How will that work? Will they suddenly annull all trains at 11:59 PM June 30 and tell passengers they have to get off and get to their destinations on their own? Or will they give a 2-week train-off notice (which apparently they are not actually required to do)? -- my trip begins June 28, and I have visions of the train I will be on at midnight on June 30 (the Texas Eagle somewhere around St. Louis) stopping, and the crew ordering all passengers off the train NOW.
Anyone have any ideas on how this might work? I hate to be pessimistic, but, from what I have read on this forum, it looks like AMTRAK most likely will not get their loan by June 30, and WILL be shutting down, at least for a day or two (probably longer). I don't want to sound like "Ms. Scaredrider," but I am bit concerned.....
[This message has been edited by RRRICH (edited 06-15-2002).]
[This message has been edited by RRRICH (edited 06-15-2002).]
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
How do I change "AMTRA" in this topic title to "AMTRAK"? Sorry about that---
Posted by trainman1 (Member # 1392) on :
I don't think there's a way for you to change a topic's title after you've already posted a message, short of clicking "edit" on your first message and deleting it, which will delete the whole topic, and then reposting the message under a corrected title. Editing the titles is something only the board moderators/administrators have the power to do.
My educated guess is that, in the event of a shutdown, trains already running will proceed to their final destinations as normal, but no "new" trains will depart their originating stations on or after July 1st. I definitely don't think you have to be worried about being thrown off a train in the middle of nowhere.
I also expect that Greyhound, and probably most airlines, will accept Amtrak tickets in the event of an Amtrak shutdown, similar to the way Amtrak accepted airline tickets in the days after September 11th, or the way other airlines will accept tickets for an airline that shuts down due to a strike or something like that.
[This message has been edited by trainman1 (edited 06-15-2002).]
Posted by CNJ (Member # 1465) on :
A shutdown???
I don't think it will happen...
NOTE: If you post somethig and you need to make a change, just click on the "edit" icon where you post is at make the necessary corrections and just hit save.....and with that your post will be updated....
Hope this is of help.
Regards....
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
I don't know how likely it is that Amtrak will get the loan, but if it doesn't come in Gunn said, in the recent Lehrer interview, that the shutdown would be "orderly." I take that to mean nobody will be stranded in the middle of nowhere, and that trains will continue until they reach their final terminals.
One thing I've wondered, though is if the state funded regional trains will keep running or not. My guess is they will, because their funding is independent of Amtrak itself. However, I may be wrong.
But this makes an interesting scenario. If the regional trains in the west keep running, while the NEC is shut down, maybe the Northeast states might start finding it in their best interest to start funding their regional Amtrak trains, as the rest of the country is doing, rather than counting on Uncle Sam. That could change the entire structure of the funding issue.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
Mr. Toy wrote: "One thing I've wondered, though is if the state funded regional trains will keep running or not. My guess is they will, because their funding is independent of Amtrak itself. However, I may be wrong."
I don't think that the NEC or AmtrakWest, or even the intercity trains will be allowed to shut down for more than a few days if the $200M doesn't come through by 07-01-02. Public and political uproar will get the money to Amtrak.
[This message has been edited by Eric (edited 06-15-2002).]
Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :
Even if Amtrak were to shut down for only a day or two, I suspect it would take at least as long to "undo" the chaos once the trains began running again.
At least some equipment and crews would be in the wrong place, despite careful planning. A service stoppage would also cause havoc with cleaning and repairs -- not to mention employee vacation and downtime schedules, which the unions would be carefully monitoring.
Plus many stranded passengers (who were unable or unwilling to switch to other modes of transportation) would swamp Amtrak ticket windows and the 800 number, trying to squeeze onto the now-running trains -- which are already heavily booked. Any cars that weren't sold out before would now be jammed to capacity -- which means longer loading times and even more unchecked baggage stacked in the passageways and storage areas.
There's also bound to be a backlog of sidelined roadrailers and other non-passenger equipment that will need to be sorted out, since customers will be waiting for shipments. That means further delays for the passenger trains responsible for hauling them.
So the mess would extend beyond the period the trains would be out of service. That alone makes it less likely -- I hope -- that the worst will be allowed to happen.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 06-17-2002).]
Posted by Eric (Member # 674) on :
I hope that Mr. Gunn has considered all of the factors that "Dilly" mentioned. Maybe he'll even use them to get the $200M?
Posted by Eric (Member # 674) on :
I just talked with Amtrak and they were told that all trains will stop on July 31 if they do not get the funding. Now, my train trip starts on July 31 so I was offered a refund. It was also suggested that I wait a week to see what happens.
It seems like time is running out on Amtrak.
[This message has been edited by mrjeepit (edited 06-19-2002).]
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
July 31st? Or do you mean June 30? If it really is July 31, then my June 28-July 10 trip will still be a go. That will be good for me, but not good for the other thousands of passengers who are planning on August-Sept. trips.
Who did you talk to at AMTRAK? One of the reservations people? If so, they may or may not know the real plan.......
Thanks for the update --Rich K
Posted by mrjeepit (Member # 1692) on :
I talked to a person at 1-800-USA-RAIL. I called later in the day and was told that the shutdown would occur June 30.
Either way, my trip is bust since it starts on July 31 and ends August 9th
Posted by Ken V (Member # 1466) on :
mrjeepit, I would hope you don't give up on your trip quite yet. Of course, you should make alternate arrangements but if Amtrak is offering refunds later, keep your options open. Posted by Eric (Member # 674) on :
I have reservations for July 13th. Round trip FLG to ABQ just for the heck of it. I really hope that nothing has to shut down, not just for my sake, but for the sake of the nation.
Posted by mrpanitz (Member # 1603) on :
two concersm if amtrak shut downs -what happen to all the commuter trains service that contract out to Amtrak to operate their trains (ie Metrolink, Cal-train -Coaster etc
will they sudden stop running?
Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :
I suppose that some sort of deal could be worked out (and probably already has) to have Amtrak personnel continue to run at least some commuter trains, even if Amtrak's own trains are sidelined.
That's great if you're a commuter. But it's not so great if, like me, you have an extensive trip booked on Amtrak.
It would also water down the impact of the train stoppage. Since far fewer people would be affected, it would seem less catastrophic -- which would bolster some politicians' argument that Amtrak is expendable.
In both the world of Washington politics and the world of banking, however, $200 million is pocket change. Call me an optimist, but I've got a feeling that something will be worked out either during, or shortly after, the Senate meeting tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
If not, I've got a lot of trains and hotels to unbook.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 06-20-2002).]
Posted by mechtech (Member # 1459) on :
There is a difference between personal running the trains, personal operating the signaling posts, stations and personal doing the maintenance of the infrastructure. The later two groups have to be kept in function to let the commuter lines be able to operate safely. I doubt that this last option will happen (also partly personals staying at work), I expect a complete shut-down.
Posted by trainrider (Member # 1619) on :
From what I read in the Times this weekend, EVERYTHING will shut down if Amtrak goes bust.....Metrolink, Coaster, Cal Train.....I'm traveling to SB and SD in the next few weeks and I'm pondering should I go ahead and make reservations on Amtrak or take Greyhound....egads!!! I hope something comes through in the next few days. I enjoy train travel immensely and hate to see it stopped.
