Warning that it may lose “several hundred million dollars” because of reduced travel related to the coronavirus pandemic, Amtrak has told employees that it has “begun aggressive measures to cut costs” and to be prepared for “significant reductions” in service in response to a sharp decrease in ridership.
The Wednesday email to employees, signed by Stephen Gardner, senior executive vice president and chief operating and commercial officer, said that future bookings are down 50% compared to a year ago and that cancellations are up more than 300%. It said the company will begin a voluntary leave program for “non-mission critical employees” willing to take unpaid time off, and that the company is communicating its situation to members of Congress and others in the federal government.
Publicly, Amtrak announced Wednesday that two more Northeast Corridor trains were being suspended, bringing to three the number sidelined because of curtailed travel, and said “additional changes to our schedule are under consideration.” In addition to the previously suspended nonstop New York-Washington Acela No. 2401, other trains temporarily discontinued are No. 2103, a 6 a.m. Acela from New York to Washington, and No. 2402, the 4:30 p.m. Washington to New York nonstop Acela.
So much for paying people that get put out of work by the virus. I doubt a single management person will “have” to take time off without pay.
What has happened to the Trains Newswire video? I haven’t been able to access it recently.
Arthur Hazeldine, that is a standard lens shot. If it were a telephoto lens shot the background would be out of focus and the foreground also.The section of straight track there is about a total of 400 feet in length. Between Rahway Ave and W. Grand St.
Maybe Amtrak can focus on equipment maintenance and repair during this temporary cutback in service, but what will happen is they do little or nothing, then when there’s a sharp increase in service, Amtrak will whine and complain about not having enough equipment and blame the freight railroads.
So far Southwest Airlines hasn’t discontinued any flights. (I just booked a trip.) That’s so far. When SWA’s usual very high load factor drops then something will change very rapidly.
We love train travel!! The very best of our train riding history starts with my parents meeting on the Empire Builder (headed to Seattle) in the fall of 1950. Myself and spouse have reservations at the end of April for our 48th anniversary to ride ‘her’ to central Montana where my mom and dad met. We hope she is still running. Thank you, Susan Norman
Based on the brightness of the concrete ties, the second track with train in the photograph is the newest. Weathering darkens concrete ties and lightens creosoted wooden ties.
I hope not because I have plans to ride at last two times and maybe a 3rd one over the next few months. Already have booked trip to Chi for railway women convention in May, In June I am traveling multiple trains with 2 railfan buddies on our annual trip, going to PA this time, so will be riding to Chi again and meet up with the 2 others and head to Altoona, PA. Rental car in between and then Cardinal from DC to Chi and home. Hope to get on CONO this year too later in summer, had to cancel last year because of all the busing that went on for months due to Bonnet Carre spillway being open. New bridge will not be ready yet this year. It was the fault of airlines to not catch and quarantine the woman in Chicago who flew in from Italy and then rode Amtrak back to St L. They have pushed that cut of cars aside to be thoroughly cleaned and were doing a big job on our station and at CUS. It just takes common sense to try and protect yourself and not spread it around to others too.
I thought it was interesting there doesn’t appear to be any track superelevation on those curves, or whether it’s just because of what appears to be a telephoto shot that fails to show it.
But isn’t this what Amtrak wants? It has always seemed the less service they have to provide the happier they are.