Amtrak Cascades to be cut back?

BoxcabE50 Apr 30, 2015

  1. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    Received a newsletter earlier this week in which was noted that there is a shortfall in funding for 2016. If the amount, just over ten million dollars, is not raised, the Portland to Eugene, Oregon segment may be eliminated. I would be very surprised if Oregon folks don't get behind this and raise the capital. It certainly seems like a very small number, in today's rail transportation subsidy world.
     
  2. Charlie

    Charlie TrainBoard Member

    1,910
    183
    39
    Sadly, Boxcab, it seems that many state legislatures are really reining in the pursestrings these days. What we need is more awareness that public transit requires more money than can be raised by private capital and/or the "farebox". The nickle trolley fare ceased to be relevant over 100years ago but the public's consept hasn't changed.

    Charlie
     
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    It has not helped with the image created for Amtrak. From their being very poorly planned before start up, to a disinformation campaign on costs which has worked all too well. Too many people associate Amtrak style money troubles with other heavy rail passenger efforts. It is interesting that Oregon presents as a State wanting to lead in such development, yet here we are... Ten million dollars is chump change by comparison to other places throwing hundreds of millions, and even billions into these enterprises.
     
  4. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

    5,508
    2,011
    98
    Where is the shortfall coming from? Is it coming from the Oregon paid portion or is Amtrak getting a haircut at the Federal level and the Oregon portion of the ride, which generates less money and has fewer trainsets is what's being cut? Or did ridership with the new passenger sets that Oregon bought not meet expectations?

    No offense, but the OP is too vague to mean much of anything to me given that Cascades is funded by Fairbox, Fed Subsidy, Wa Subsidy, Or. Subsidy and I think even BC Canada chips in for the trains that travel that far.
     
  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    That's what I am hoping to learn. As I understand it, the State needs to come up with ten million dollars. But how and why, I don't know.
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
  8. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

    5,508
    2,011
    98
    That makes sense. Oregon is very progressive, but they've always been hit or miss with the cascades, because so little of the run is in Oregon. Basically, They pay a lot of money for what they have and from what I understand, most of the ridership is between Vancouver Washinton and Seattle. Because why deal with downtown Portland when you can park at Vancouver. I don't know how the Eugene to Portland segment fares, but it has always been a funding challenge because of the above stated reasons.
     
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    Going back a few years, it was Oregon, (especially Portland area folks), who went after adding that portion of the run. I voiced some doubts about it, and was trampled under foot for doing so. Now here we are, and.... To me, being so-called "progressive" should mean they'd step up and lead the way. If they can approve half the amount, in today's dollars, the rest is not a giant leap.

    I wonder how much they've flushed away on pot legalization baloney? If they'd tax that garbage, the funds would be raised, quickly.
     
  10. pdx1955

    pdx1955 TrainBoard Member

    169
    5
    22
    Actually, most of this issue is federal funding of Amtrak. Recent legislation eliminated Amtrak funding of state regional services, forcing states to pick up the entire tab. The 10 million shortfall will be funded especially since the state bought two trainsets just a couple years ago.

    Currently there is an environmental study going on thru the whole corridor and once that is done, the door will be opened for federal funding of improvements (longer sidings, more sidings, higher speed switches, etc). Washington State did that years ago which is one of the reasons that allowed the large amount of improvements there to occur.

    Peter
     
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    I remember they were doing studies back in the 1980's, almost thirty years ago now.
     

Share This Page