This Week At Amtrak 2005-02-14
Vol. 2, No. 4 – February 14, 2005
- Enough is enough. It’s time for Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn to leave the company, preferably as soon as possible.
His constant crisis mongering, complaints about the people he works for, and poor company strategies have placed Amtrak in perhaps the worst financial crisis it has ever endured, not counting this year’s budget proposal.
In today’s Washington, loyalty and team playing is held in high esteem. Instead, Mr. Gunn seems to march to the beat of his own drummer, one that is way, way off key. While individuality is always admirable, it is more admirable to be able to work with those who control your fate. Mr. Gunn continues to prove he is incapable of this concept.
It is important to remember that nearly three years ago, Mr. Gunn walked into an almost impossible situation, inherited from his predecessor, George Warrington. Mr. Gunn performed yeoman’s duty cleaning up a mess that none of us may fully comprehend. It’s amazing in those first months the gentleman didn’t have a stroke or heart attack. He must be made of strong stuff. However, today, Mr. Gunn is so far away from reality, that not only are his services no longer needed, but his continuing service to the company and the country are harmful. He must leave, and leave soon.
There are many good and true people working for Amtrak, just waiting for their potential to be unleashed by the proper leader. Amtrak, for all of its woes and problems, has the potential to be a viable and vibrant company. With the right new leadership, under the direction of Amtrak’s able board of directors, this is both probable and possible. Once official Washington understands that Amtrak’s potential for long term success is not based on endless growing subsidies, strangling growing debt service, and success in one small region, enthusiastic support will be forthcoming. First, though, decades of bad memories for Washington concerning Amtrak must be erased. While a tall order, it’s doable.
Thank you, David Gunn, for your past successes and service. You did admirable work, which will be recognized for a long time. Please, take this opportunity and depart gracefully, and allow the United States of America to have the passenger railroad it deserves, not the passenger railroad it has now.
