 |
Re: You're missing the point
Author: OldPoleBurner
Date: 07-04-2013 - 13:29
> And it has nothing to do with performance metrics in and of themselves.
Oh really? So why did your original post focus on that?
But if you really want to understand what my rebuttal was about; you need only go back and re-read your own original post!
> That arrangement never gave Amtrak the authority to impose
> performance metrics on the freight railroads.
A preposterous notion at best!
I am glad we (seem to) agree on that.
But regardless of any agreement, dis-agreement, preposterous notions, or even blithering clownery on this forum:
It remains that Mr Hamburger of the AAR and certain of his railroad cohorts, have long been acting as immature spoiled children in almost every public venue imaginable; fussing over every conceivable minutia their small minds could conjure up. And all to the detriment of not only the public interest, but also contrary to the long term prosperity and viability of the rail industry as a whole.
We do not need any more of that! The rail industry is already a mere ghost of its former self - a faint shadow at best. And as market share continues to shrink, it is getting more and more irrelevant to the average citizen (and the average shipper) every day. The AAR touts the all-time record tonnage just before the 2008 crash. But so what! It took 63 years just to beat a wartime record! And Railroad market share in many states - like California - still shrank to less that 10% that year (2008). The railroads are leaving 10 times more business behind, than they are actually getting.
Most Certainly, the AAR has been a very poor advocate of its own members for decades. I was a member (paid by my employer) - until A.R.E.M.A. was formed to take over the maintenance and engineering functions once performed within the A.A.R. itself.
In concept, I have no problem with returning the operation of passenger trains to the private railroads, or just keeping them with Amtrak. But in either case, only under strictly enforced contractual requirements, as mandated by law. And of course, fair compensation is a given. But this will still not make the "Disappearing Railroad Blues" go away. A fundamental attitude adjustment is needed within the industry. Deeply needed!
But sadly, until that happens (if it ever happens), the days of the U.P. (and certain others) proudly operating passenger trains (Amtrak's or their own) are now long gone - At any price! Hell, the days of proudly performing freight services is all but gone on the U.P.; thanks to their chronic turning away of all but the "low hanging fruit" of the potential customers.
I am old enough to remember when it was different - It's a damn shame.
Oh really? So why did your original post focus on that?
But if you really want to understand what my rebuttal was about; you need only go back and re-read your own original post!
> That arrangement never gave Amtrak the authority to impose
> performance metrics on the freight railroads.
A preposterous notion at best!
I am glad we (seem to) agree on that.
But regardless of any agreement, dis-agreement, preposterous notions, or even blithering clownery on this forum:
It remains that Mr Hamburger of the AAR and certain of his railroad cohorts, have long been acting as immature spoiled children in almost every public venue imaginable; fussing over every conceivable minutia their small minds could conjure up. And all to the detriment of not only the public interest, but also contrary to the long term prosperity and viability of the rail industry as a whole.
We do not need any more of that! The rail industry is already a mere ghost of its former self - a faint shadow at best. And as market share continues to shrink, it is getting more and more irrelevant to the average citizen (and the average shipper) every day. The AAR touts the all-time record tonnage just before the 2008 crash. But so what! It took 63 years just to beat a wartime record! And Railroad market share in many states - like California - still shrank to less that 10% that year (2008). The railroads are leaving 10 times more business behind, than they are actually getting.
Most Certainly, the AAR has been a very poor advocate of its own members for decades. I was a member (paid by my employer) - until A.R.E.M.A. was formed to take over the maintenance and engineering functions once performed within the A.A.R. itself.
In concept, I have no problem with returning the operation of passenger trains to the private railroads, or just keeping them with Amtrak. But in either case, only under strictly enforced contractual requirements, as mandated by law. And of course, fair compensation is a given. But this will still not make the "Disappearing Railroad Blues" go away. A fundamental attitude adjustment is needed within the industry. Deeply needed!
But sadly, until that happens (if it ever happens), the days of the U.P. (and certain others) proudly operating passenger trains (Amtrak's or their own) are now long gone - At any price! Hell, the days of proudly performing freight services is all but gone on the U.P.; thanks to their chronic turning away of all but the "low hanging fruit" of the potential customers.
I am old enough to remember when it was different - It's a damn shame.
