Here's an obsure issue: Amtrak

[RetroLounge]

Does anyone know what the candidates positions are on Amtrak?

I'm gonna go dig around on Dean's Site. Maybe the supporters of other candidates could post if they know anything.

This is just a curiousity-type issue to me, as a train/railfan, and I thought of it after seeing Clark's Money Train to NH.

Edit: I searched Dean's Site and found nothing so I sent a request for info to the campaign.

[Renew Deal]

1. What are the issues surrounding the rails/Amtrak?

I haven't heard anyone talking about this.

[RetroLounge]

3. Mostly whether it is going to be funded to the point

where it can be made (somewhat) profitable. They authorize minimal funds, and then complain when performance is poor. Bad equipment breaks down, passengers are late, not ewnough money to upgrade equipment, passengers go elsewhere, lowers profits, etc. Viscious cycle.

Deferred maintenance has caught up and equipment and infrastructure is in bad shape.

Also route expansion vs. contraction.

High Speed rail corridors.

Privatization (bad idea).

McCain's been trying to Kill Amtrak for years. Tommy Thompson (HHS) was a huge Amtrak supporter when he was Gov of Wisconsin (one of the only things I agreed on with him).

[are_we_united_yet]

2. Amtrak's

biggest Washington ally was Senator Hollings? if I remember correctly, while Mc Cain was considered the dreadful snake by NARP (true?). All I can say is Dean never discontinued the Vermonter which went into Montpelier when he was Governor (which means almost nothing)

Glad I could help /sarcasm

:)

[Renew Deal]

4. A Clark supporter talking about Amtrak

http://environmentalists.forclark.com/story/2003/11/16/18133/424

I have a few complaints as well. There is no word yet on mass transit funding and research. Nor any word on upgrading Amtrak to a higher standard of service in more populated areas. I hope a transportation policy brief will be forthcoming to supplement this environmental brief.

[ramapo]

6. A lost opportunity

Amtrak has always been underfunded. It's a vicious circle.

Highway construction gets untold billions in subsidies. And Amtrak is painted as a money pit.

Europe has a rail system that works. Why can't we?

[Tweed]

9. Why we can't be like Europe

Europe has a great train system because the cities are so close together. That's why New England's train system is great becasue there is more demand. No one wants to take a 8 hour train ride to K.C. from Chicago when they can probably get there in 2-3 hours instead.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Only a couple routes on Amtrak make money.

Some Republicans want to shut down the rest.

Some places that don't make money however, like northern Montana, really rely on it. There are places where if there were no Amtrak, and you don't have a car, you're not leaving.

Maybe we can't be like Europe. But Russia has a passenger rail system. So does Australia and China and India.

[jburton]

17. about making money

Would any airlines make money if they weren't always receiving government subsidies? It seems like only Southwest is profitable.

Repugs love to dis Amtrak funding, but have no problem giving money to the so-called private airline carriers.

[Kool Kitty]

26. That's for sure.

The airlines get bailed out if they sneeze. Big receivers of corporate welfare.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Other countries have shown

that rail equals or exceeds air in efficiency for journeys of 600 miles or less. In Japan, it carries more than 1/3 of the traffic between the two largest metro areas of Tokyo and Osaka, holding its own against airlines and expressways.

Our govt. has treated Amtrak like the inmate of a slave labor camp: feeding it only enough to keep it alive, not enough to keep it healthy.

The anti-rail types bitch and moan about 1 billion dollar annual subsidies--for Amtrak service for the whole nation. Meanwhile, most states spend billions just for the highways within their own states.

If the Reagan admin had been smart (I know, fantasyland), they would have redirected a goodly percentage of the military budget to building both intercity rail and urban transit systems with the purpose of cutting down on the need for driving and flying. That would have been the environmentally responsible thing to do, and it would have freed us from slavery to the oil companies and OPEC--which is precisely why the Repiggies DIDN'T do it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

20. You are correct per long distance travel but

There are other areas where the cities are also close enough to have such service. The Amtrak Cascades train is one. It's subsidized by the states of Washington and Oregon as well as the feds. This train runs between Vancouver BC and Eugene Oregon with stops in Seattle and Portland. This area's requested additional service with little cooperation from the federal government.

[RetroLounge]

8. Thank you for the link...

I figured DK would be out front on this, as it really is an environmental issue too.

[Renew Deal]

5. Here is a little something

http://www.railpassenger.org/node/view/3

Most Rail-Friendly Presidential Candidate

[RetroLounge]

7. Interesting, but not know any of the candidate position

I can't comment intelligently on the Poll.

It looks like Kerry is out on front on this. Makes sense, as the NE Corridor is the crown jewel of Amtrak.

[KaraokeKarlton]

30. Dean did support Amtrak in Vermont

the state has been paying to keep our trains. Dean fought hard to make sure Amtrak got support.

[Lefta Dissenter]

11. What I really like

is our current administration's idea that Fed funding be cut, and each state can handle Amtrak on its own. That's SO brilliant!

So then I can get on the train in Columbus, Wisconsin and ride down to... oops - gotta get off at the ILL state line, because ILL decided it's not a priority. But then I can rent a car and drive to Indiana to pick it back up again to ride it out to... well, will Ohio fund it? Jeez, I'll NEVER make it to Union Station at this rate! :shrug:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. Kerry mentions it on his Agricultural issues page.

Strengthen the Rural Economy with Good Jobs at Good Wages

John Kerry understands that revitalizing rural communities requires capital, infrastructure, and technology. Kerry has boosted small business assistance available to rural entrepreneurs. He has supported rural transportation initiatives that would expand Amtrak’s serve to more of America’s rural cities and towns. Kerry has also consistently supported the Essential Air Service program, which ensures that rural airports maintain an adequate level of service. And John Kerry has a plan to replace the nearly 3 million jobs lost during the Bush Administration.
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/agriculture/

[RetroLounge]

15. Thank you. I agree with his views

"He has supported rural transportation initiatives that would expand Amtrak’s serve to more of America’s rural cities and towns."

[AndyTiedye]

18. OUR CANDIDATES SHOULD TAKE THE TRAIN

The train is a nice way to travel. The seats are big and comfortable.
You don't have to wear a seat belt because there isn't any turbulence.
You won't get hassled when you have to go to the bathroom.
If you get tired of sitting in your seat, you can go to the observation car
or the lounge or the dining car, or just walk around in the train.

Trains don't fall out of the sky.
There are very few buildings they can be crashed into.

Our candidates should make a point of taking the train.
Especially Dean.
No small airplanes, ever! Please!

The campain train is a fine American tradition.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

21. I took AmTrak from New York to California once

it's a nice way to travel.

[AP]

22. Sleeper car? Sleep in your seat? Sleep off the train?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. Sleeper car first, then seat

I couldn't get the sleeper car for the whole way.

[AP]

13. On the Edwards blog, Edwards took question on this issue. Said it was

very important and cited his support for some important upcoming piece of legislation. A little digging might find the quote.

A mobile workforce forces employers to pay top dollar for labor. Republicans don't like mobility (unless the oil industry gets a big cut of the big cost of mobility). Democrats -- especially those like Edwards who want to see the middle and working class get full value for their labor -- take this issue very seriously.

[AP]

24. Giving workers transportation options:

Reducing Barriers to Work. Inner-city residents have less access to transportation and child care, making it harder for them to get and keep good jobs. Edwards will:

...

Give Workers Transportation Options. The average commute is 11.6 miles, but more than a quarter of below-poverty-level households don't have a vehicle. At a time when many jobs have moved into the suburbs, transportation is especially critical for inner-city residents. Edwards supports mass transit and innovative programs like the Federal Transit Administration's Job Access and Reverse Commute program. .

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=308">Cities Rising

[Duder]

16. Dean's a fan

Governor Dean was awarded the Rail Advocate of the Year in 2000.

http://www.aot.state.vt.us/rail/Documents/On%20Track%2011_00.pdf

[RetroLounge]

31. Thanks for the link

This is good to see...

[AP]

32. Interesting, since the the first thing he ever did that was political...

...was to help tear up a rail line and put in a trail.

I took a look at this pdf and although it says twice that Dean was Rail Advocate of the Year in VT in captions to pictures, I couldn't find anything in the article which explained what that meant.

[LTR]

19. Clark and commuter rail

Saw an article in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (sorry, could not come up with a link).

No mention of Amtrak, but he was asked about Chicago's METRA rail service. He said he was not totally aware of their plans to expand into Wisconsin, but claimed he is a big supporter of commuter trains, particularly light rail.

That's the best I can come up with so far.

[economic justice]

25. Glad you brought this up!

Another four years of Bush and Amtrak will be toast. So very sad.

[eyesroll]

27. Our own Former Gov. Tommy was a big proponent of Amtrak

He was the chair of Amtrak's board. He seemed to be gunning for the DOT position in Bush's cabinet. I guess now we know why he didn't get it.

[HereSince1628]

28. Rail should be seen as a strategic infrastructure

much like the national highway system.

[KaraokeKarlton]

29. Dean went above and beyond the call of duty to keep Amtrak here

We have two Amtrak routes in Vermont...the Vermonter and the Ethan Allen. If it weren't for Dean, Vermont would not have Amtrak at all. I've ridden on the Vermonter many, many times. At least 20 times, in fact. I love that train!