I just finished sending some testimony into the Surface Transportation Board. That agency is undertaking a review of regulations regarding Amtrak’s on-time performance … or “OTP” as the insiders say. Most people just shrug when it comes to Amtrak trains running late, as though there’s nothing that can be done about it. Besides, so the…
Chicago has always been a railroad town with, as far as I know, more rail activity than any other U.S. city. For decades, passenger trains left Chicago and headed off in every direction. And, of course, the same trains arrived in Chicago arriving from every direction. Passenger rail ain’t what it used to be,…
When it comes to Amtrak’s absolutely awful on-time problems, you hear a lot of theories as to what or who is the reason. 1 – It’s the freight railroads deciding to hell with Amtrak the minute a federal court ruled that Amtrak couldn’t team with the FRA to set on-time standards. 2 – It’s the…
Everyone is aware of Amtrak’s on-time problem. It’s been going on for many months and has affected pretty much all of the long-distance trains. Significant increase in freight traffic has been given as the reason. But two trains, the Empire Builder and the Capitol Limited, have been hurt more than the others. Of course in…