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Re: Appeals court overturns Amtrak's priority over freight trains
Author: Dr Zarkoff
Date: 07-04-2013 - 15:04
>I hope that somehow this leads to a return of private passenger service operated by the Class 1's themselves.
Chances of this happening range between vanishing slim and non-existant.
D.J Russell has the reputation of being the prime mover behind SP's notorious anti-passenger attitude, which began in the mid 1950s. What isn't as well known is what lead to his change of heart about passenger operations. He supported buying the 1953 Budd-built train sets for the Sunset Limited ($3 million 1951/52 dollars). A few years later, there was a meeting convened to go over the numbers, and passenger service proved to be little more than a money pit. True, he had an aggressively negative about it, but the numbers just weren't there. It was a business decision.
John Reed of the AT&SF tells a similar story: the handwriting was really on the wall when the RPOs went away, only he was more genteel about getting out of the passenger buisness.
You might see a freight RR or two become a contract operator for Amtrak services, like Herzog is for the PCS, but don't expect any red carpet service. Ticket prices will rise accordingly, or there will be another "business decision".
Chances of this happening range between vanishing slim and non-existant.
D.J Russell has the reputation of being the prime mover behind SP's notorious anti-passenger attitude, which began in the mid 1950s. What isn't as well known is what lead to his change of heart about passenger operations. He supported buying the 1953 Budd-built train sets for the Sunset Limited ($3 million 1951/52 dollars). A few years later, there was a meeting convened to go over the numbers, and passenger service proved to be little more than a money pit. True, he had an aggressively negative about it, but the numbers just weren't there. It was a business decision.
John Reed of the AT&SF tells a similar story: the handwriting was really on the wall when the RPOs went away, only he was more genteel about getting out of the passenger buisness.
You might see a freight RR or two become a contract operator for Amtrak services, like Herzog is for the PCS, but don't expect any red carpet service. Ticket prices will rise accordingly, or there will be another "business decision".
