from NARP President Bush's fiscal 2006 budget would eliminate all federal support for Amtrak. This budget was formally released on Monday, February 7, 2005 at the Department of Transportation headquarters by DOT Secretary Norman Y. Minetta NARP is encouraging everyone to contact President Bush and your House and Senate members. Let them know that there should be an increase in passenger rail funding. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
It must be remembered that this is a proposed budget. The House of Representatives originates all financial law. So it is they we should be contacting first. After making it's way through committees, and if passed by the House, only then does it go to the Senate. But it's form will likely have already been much altered. Any changes made by the Senate, and it must pass back to the House to be reconciled There is enough time for taking well thought out steps to ensure adequate AMTRAK funding. Boxcab E50
First of all the lieklyhood of this bill getting passed is slim. Far too many republicans and democrats alike don't like the budget. It'll get butchered and Amtrak will likely get less than minimum wage, literally. The point is, Amtrak has never earned a penny. The government would rather consolidate and create a federal airline than keep Amtrak in the fold. I doubt David Gunn will settle for less than what is bare minimum (and what the government won't provide, anyway) and will do as he promised....shut it down. I would bet within 5 years Amtrak will be gone. It's sad but even as railfans, we have to face the brutal truth. Amtrak hasn't worked, isn't working and never will. The general population doesn't want 6 hour delays and 18 hour journeys where airfares are half the cost and get you to the same place in under 3 hours. Maybe if Amtrak "cut the fat" and became more of a city-to-city thing, like the Northeast Corridor, and the runs that make money.......... Sell off different trains separately and allow independant operaters run their own railroad. (i.e. Metrolink, Chicago Metra, MARC, etc...) Perhaps regional services work better than national? Yes, support Amtrak, but is it really the best thing? [ 09. February 2005, 02:16: Message edited by: A&A 6183 ]
