Editor’s Note: Russ Jackson is the distinguished retired editor of the Western Rail Passenger Review. – Ccrail.com Editor
By Russ Jackson; November 16, 2017
The recent commentary by this writer published on the internet and in Steel Wheels was highly complimentary of Amtrak’s long distance trains and its crews following my recent trips. RailPAC VP Long Distance Services James Smith agrees that the atmosphere and morale “out there” is very high, after his recent trip on the Sunset Limited, City of New Orleans, and Southwest Chief. To Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson I say “keep it up!” Good customer service is the most important area to generate word of mouth promotion! Mr. Anderson, you have a nucleus of talented employees and junior executives who are doing top jobs. Don’t mess it up. Keep listening to them, and to rail advocates! Get out among ’em! Your presentation to NARP in Chicago was particularly impressive when you said that upgrading Superliner equipment is a priority. Unfortunately, that will only keep total capacity at what we have now, making growth difficult. Come west, young man, see what we have out here…and build on it!
A new calendar year is upon us. Amtrak has been around since 1971, yet there are some projects dating back to that date that need finishing, and many have emerged since then that still need to be addressed, solved, and implemented. Maybe rail advocates haven’t been loud enough, so in this writing (one of many from this author for over 30 years) I will show my frustration at the lack of finality for some things that should have been accomplished YEARS AGO. Notice the ALL CAPS? Well, as you read the following and see something in ALL CAPS, think of the writer SHOUTING those words. Maybe we can finally have ACTION, AND SEE GROWTH!
Click here to read the full story.