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I was reading about how Amtrak use to carry express mail and reefer products. These are frieghts the big railroads doesn't like carrying or refuse to carry. The article said Amtrak had a limit on the number of freight cars added to it's passenger trains. This restricted the amount of freight and profit Amtrak could earn. Plus the process delayed the passenger trains. Solution: Amtrak run a cross country reefer/express mail trains to help pay for passenger service. The service will not carry regular freight carried by the other freight companys. Only mail/foods. Trucking companys would join Amtrak Freight because trucks currently doing the cross country trips could go regional. Deliver cost would fall. Win/Win for everyone.
The 1 negative would be more trains on the already congested lines. However a profitable Amtrak could then help invest in new rail projects.
jgart56 Member # 3968
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GP35,
I'm sure that the freight railroads would object quite loudly. Even though they no longer transport the items you mention, they would still feel it an infringement upon their franchise. I seem to remember that UP screamed loudest when Amtrak first announced and then started the express mail and reefer products transport program. I believe they even talked about taking it to court.
An interesting idea but I don't think it will happen without bloodshed with the freight railroads. Why anatgonize them?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Of interest, when Amtrak withdrew from the freight business, no Class One chose to establish an expedited service such as Amtrak offered. The Class Ones could have attracted more business to their service than Amtrak simply because 1) for every position Amtrak had on their Freight Sales force, a Class One must have ten 2) Class Ones could operate trains in lucrative markets that Amtrak does not serve, and 3) Class Ones have on going business relationships with trucking concerns to provide transfer that Amtrak could not have reasonably expected to cultivate.
But yet, no Class One chose to touch the business.
Food for thought, Mr. GP-35 (OK, I won't call you Schickelgruber this time around).
gp35 Member # 3971
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It's about money. If Amtrak isn't taking money away from the freight companys AND as a result the freight company makes more money. They would incourage Amtrak into the freight business. Amtrak was making around $90 million on the very limited service in mail/fruit. That freight was a few cars on the on a passenger train. If Amtrak ran 110 car long freight trains across country, Amtrak could fund it self and do deals that would benefit the class 1 railroads. Such deals like; 1. Carry 20 UP cars across country for UP. 2. Amtrak use state support to help upgrade/maintain lines used by Amtrak and a class 1. 3. UP don't have Washington DC connection, Amtrak does. Amtrak could be UP commuter to the east. NS doesn't have Seattle service, Amtrak does. ] Deals can be made.
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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quote:Originally posted by gp35: 1. Carry 20 UP cars across country for UP.
That sounds interesting. I don't know how practical it would be, but if it worked, it would create a more cooperative relationship. Might encourage better on time performance and/or help reduce Amtrak's access costs.
Before anyone dismisses this, remember that in business and politics everything is negotiable provided that it is presented in a way that will benefit both parties. In this case it would offer UP a small expansion of capacity.
gp35 Member # 3971
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Exactly, UP has a price. The question is would that price be so high it defeats the purpose for Amtrak.
B.T.Rider Member # 3975
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Gosh, if that happened, then 20 UP cars just might make their destinations on time.
I wish that Amtrak carried express freight from a philosophical viewpoint because it should contribute to their bottom line.
But as a rider, I hated what switching express in and out did to on time performance. Add that to frieght railroad incompetence and indifference (not to mention outright hostility), you'd be lucky to arrive on the same day as scheduled.
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