United Rail Passenger Alliance

Volume 3 Number 47

1. Memo To: Alex Kummant, Amtrak President and CEO Subject: Please take a ride on your Sunset LimitedMr. Kummant, we’ve all heard how pleased you were to ride the Coast Starlight, and how there is a possibility the Starlight will regain its rightful place as one of Amtrak’s premier long distance trains. The results of the Starlight come from the hard work of many dedicated Amtrak employees, both onboard and in management and support positions, who have worked many years to make sure this train represents everything a long distance passenger train in America can represent.

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Volume 3 Number 46

SPECIAL NOTE: Unless breaking news events warrant coverage, there will be no TWA next week during Thanksgiving Week. TWA will return the week of November 27th. Happy Thanksgiving to all, and a warm “thank you” to all Amtrak employees who will be working during the Thanksgiving holiday so many passengers will be able to be with their family and friends during this important holiday.

Volume 3 Number 45

1. Amtrak, perhaps more so than most entities, is governed by politics. This week, the political winds in Washington brought a sharp change to the landscape, and many will be wondering how Amtrak will be affected. Probably, not much.For the past several years, Amtrak has become mostly a bipartisan issue, especially when it comes to funding. Amtrak has consistently had most of its budget requests met by Congress (about as well as any other program requesting money from Washington, on a percentage basis), so there is not likely to be much change on that front.Also in the past, Amtrak, during its more naughty management times, had consistently submarined Congress, which brought about much needed oversight, even to an unnecessary point of micro-managing the company’s affairs. The unnecessary micro-managing may change, but not necessarily immediately, at least until Amtrak proves it can be trusted to do the right thing in everyone’s mind.

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Volume 3 Number 44 — Any given day can bring dozens of communiques to the URPA electronic mail box. Here is a sampling of the last few days. Read more…