Suspend Amtrak
Vermont should suspend it's Amtrak service and it's state subsidy.
Amtrak needs to improve it's operations and run a well-managed, competitive railroad.
Throughout this winter I've witnessed half-empty Vermonter and Ethan Allen Express trains traverse through Vermont as Greyhound bus lines ran on exactly the same routes with better service and prices. Their coaches weren't half-empty either. Started in 1971 after the bankruptcy of the Penn Central railroad Amtrak has strayed from its original purpose to save passenger rail. Instead its become a labyrinthine bureaucracy based in Washington that doesn't respond to anything including market conditions. For example, Amtrak has a corporate goal in it's route planning of serving state capitols like Montpelier. They've actually scrapped better route proposals like Boston to Burlington because of policies like this which makes no sense. Bringing Amtrak onto the Burlington waterfront is a quality idea but it's planning and it's capital costs seem very unclear including the daily market for this proposed service.
Vermont should suspend it's two Amtrak trains. This would save millions of dollars a year and lead to better transportation policy planning about what the state really needs in it's passenger rail service. And Amtrak needs to return to it's original purpose and run a railroad that is competitive and focused on saving passenger rail.
Amtrak needs to improve it's operations and run a well-managed, competitive railroad.
Throughout this winter I've witnessed half-empty Vermonter and Ethan Allen Express trains traverse through Vermont as Greyhound bus lines ran on exactly the same routes with better service and prices. Their coaches weren't half-empty either. Started in 1971 after the bankruptcy of the Penn Central railroad Amtrak has strayed from its original purpose to save passenger rail. Instead its become a labyrinthine bureaucracy based in Washington that doesn't respond to anything including market conditions. For example, Amtrak has a corporate goal in it's route planning of serving state capitols like Montpelier. They've actually scrapped better route proposals like Boston to Burlington because of policies like this which makes no sense. Bringing Amtrak onto the Burlington waterfront is a quality idea but it's planning and it's capital costs seem very unclear including the daily market for this proposed service.
Vermont should suspend it's two Amtrak trains. This would save millions of dollars a year and lead to better transportation policy planning about what the state really needs in it's passenger rail service. And Amtrak needs to return to it's original purpose and run a railroad that is competitive and focused on saving passenger rail.
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Vermont Should Suspend Both Of It's Amtrak Trains.
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