> I wonder if this is a result of losing the CalTrain contract ???


That! -- and the loss of other contracts elsewhere.

And the general reality that in the Trains Magazine's Iconoclast, John Kneiling's indomitable words, we have finally "run out of taxpayers". Both willing and unwilling! We are already beyond the point of "diminishing returns". As California has so painfully discovered, tax rate increases designed to offset shrinking revenue, have only shrunk revenues even further. States the didn't do that, are not now suffering as much - some are even in recovery already.

The Feds have already printed more funny money than the they dare. And still - there ain't no more to be had - not even from "willing" taxpayers. They ain't got any more to give. So now the President and the Congress are making a big show; seeming to be looking for oxes to gore. Rest assured; oxes that those politicians think will buy the most votes, will not get gored. And that will probably mean that Amtrak gets gored.

Amtrak management is smart to take action now - proactively. Besides, if Amtrak makes a big show of it too, congress might be more inclined to have mercy on them, more so than other agencies that show no effort. It probably won't work, though it is the best chance for survival they've got!