Volume II Number 18 – This Was The Week That Was – An Amtrak Saga

March 06, 2002

Here on Wednesday night, Laurence Arnold of the Associated Press has just reported that Amtrak President George Warrington is resigning to become the head of New Jersey Transit, which caries 400,000 bus and train riders each day, making it the third largest mass transit agency in the nation behind New York and Chicago.

Whew!

That’s breathtaking. Amtrak’s senior management is turning over; a new captain will be at the helm.

What now?

To use yet another metaphor, the patient (Amtrak) is on a life support system, and it looks like somebody is about to trip over the plug.

Mr. Warrington may have left in time. With some very strong management and a clear vision, many believe it’s possible to save the patient and save our national passenger rail system.

Amtrak’s bruised and battered reputation on Capitol Hill and at the US Department of Transportation dictated that no matter what Mr. Warrington’s team came up with, it would be seen with a skeptical eye because it came from his efforts.

Now, someone new has a chance to be heard, and taken seriously.

The saga of Amtrak has been fascinating these past many months, and it will remain so until a new, permanent leader is named.

Stay tuned. Rounds one and two are now over. Round three is about to begin. Things are just beginning to get REALLY interesting.