Ax to the Brunell article – Not Amtrak

An article in the May 4 Journal by Brunell regarding Amtrak shows that he has limited knowledge of the Rail industry.

His statements are not completely accurate but like many others, reflect his “party line” preference to end long distance rail passenger service except the NE corridor boondoggle.

Sen. McCain (R) Arizona, is not only one of the most vociferous anti Amtrak politicians, but his voting record itself has been anti Rail heavily subsidizing all other modes of transportation.

Included in my educational background is a degree in Transportation Traffic Management and ICC law. For years I have been tracking the Railway industry operations all over the globe. After WWII, Europeans wisely invested in Rail mode of transport.

The government, Federal, State, Provincial, County and City, together with incompetent bureaucrats, both major political parties, the general public and even some Rail managers have contributed to the depletion and decline of what was once the greatest rail system on earth.

For decades it has shrunk drastically and is at best 70 years behind time.

High speed passenger trains in the USA are practically non-existent. Amtrak has one such train that operates on the inefficient NE corridor at only 125 mph.

The Japanese Bullet Train since the 1960’s has routinely and safely handled passengers in excess of 200 km per hour as does the French TVG, the German ICE and the Chinese Rail system including its mag-lev trains.

Brunell states that the NE corridor makes a $500 million profit wiped out by long distance trains. Wrong! Dead wrong!

That so called profit is strictly an above rail figure but when all actual operation figures are analyzed, it’s a financial disaster.

If anything, that NE corridor needs complete restructuring and separation from Amtrak so it does not further drag down long distance operations. One other man here in town who sometimes works for Amtrak is also very knowledgeable on this subject.

Amtrak has, since its inception, been an unwanted step child of Presidential mis-administrations, bureaucrats and party line politicians.

Some very good and experienced Presidents of Amtrak have tried in vain to improve the system but resigned after being continually stonewalled by the aforementioned groups.

Former Mayor Linda Kadlec, at the behest of citizens of three, yes three counties, was asked if she and the city council could obtain an Amtrak stop in Ritzville. This is just one of numerous requests for passenger service throughout North America.

In May of 2014, we had an in-depth meeting with Mr. Mark McKeon from Amtrak’s Philadelphia headquarters about this possibility. Thus far, nothing further has surfaced. BNSF Railway has made it known that it will eventually double track the line from Spokane to Pasco plus rework the former Northern Pacific route over Stampede pass.

Party line politicians with their questionable statements together with Brunell’s article get the ax instead of Amtrak. While Amtrak has its problems, at least they do provide a public service.

Those with limited transportation expertise particularly of Rail transport, do not.

L.R. Keith, Ritzville