United Rail Passenger Alliance

Volume 5 Number 13

1. Amtrak has of late been wooing various parts of these united states trying to drum up new business for the corporation. Instead of looking to expand the most profitable parts of Amtrak’s business — the long distance train network — Amtrak is seeking to have more states and commonwealths simply hand it money from the various state treasuries to run local and regional passenger trains. Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 12

1. As everyone knows by now, it’s the silly season, when politics are in the air, and presidential campaigns are in full swing. Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 11

1. IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE ABOUT THE SUNSET LIMITED. The moment may be close at hand. Reports from various reliable sources have indicated the Sunset Limited may be back in Florida, perhaps as early at the first of June. Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 10

1. NEWS FLASH! Three cheers for the Union Pacific Railroad; Amtrak’s reservations web site is showing sleeping car space available on the full route of the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, effective April 1, 2008. Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 9

1. Amtrak’s well respected Inspector General, Fred Weiderhold, Jr., needs to act swiftly and decisively. A mess has been dropped in Mr. Weiderhold’s lap that isn’t pretty, and it may involve fraud and other criminal acts. Mr. Weiderhold is the only one who can get to the bottom of this and clean up what has become an unholy confusion where reputations are on the line. Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 8

1. This came floating over the This Week at Amtrak transom from an Amtrak employee, and it’s too important to ignore. This message clearly demonstrates how very dedicated so many Amtrak workers are to their jobs and good passenger service, but are unable to perform because their own company — which demands much from them — will not provide them with the right tools and environment to do their jobs. Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 7

COAST STARLIGHT LATE UPDATE: The Los Angeles Times reported at 10 P.M. EST February 19, 2008: Amtrak officials said they will provide coach service between Sacramento and Portland, Oregon, starting February 29th. From Portland, riders can connect with the Cascades service to Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Only coach-class service is available, with no dining service provided.

Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 6

1. (Yawn) It’s that time of year when all sorts of ill-informed people run amuck over Amtrak’s free federal money request. (Gasp!) President Bush, in his final budget request to Congress has requested $900 million for Amtrak, as opposed to the $1.3 billion Amtrak received during the current budget year from the national money trough. While various organizations which support Amtrak for all of the wrong reasons and in all of the wrong ways cry “the sky is falling and the Earth is rushing up to meet it” the wrong headline is being used. Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 5

1. Half of a train is better than no train. Amtrak has reversed its decision on annulment of the Coast Starlight due to the mudslide blocking the Union Pacific mainline tracks near Chemult, Oregon. Continue Reading »

Volume 5 Number 4

1. When we last left our thrilling story, we were all breathlessly waiting to hear whether or not Amtrak would reverse its stance on the annulment of the Coast Starlight on its entire 1,377 mile route because of a winter mudslide in January in a remote part of Oregon. Continue Reading »