Former Amtrak mouthpiece advocates scrapping Amtrak

Joseph Vranich, a former public affairs spokesman for Amtrak, has just written The Failure of Amtrak Reform and the Future of America's Passenger Trains, to be published by the American Enterprise Institute tomorrow. In the introduction he writes, "Having second thoughts about one's convictions is a growth experience. I should know, because I had helped create Amtrak, and later advocated its expansion. In my exuberance for train travel, I was one of Amtrak's staunchest supporters. I've since recognized that my advocacy ignored powerful forces in the travel marketplace, and I helped perpetuate a discredited transportation concept. I offer a mea culpa to American travelers, commuters, and taxpayers."

Why the Empire Line seems like London ....

... or do I just need a career change?
ThisisLondon reports commuting to London is "is more stressful than being a fighter pilot in combat, or a police officer in a riot .... Psychologist Dr David Lewis, who led the research, warns that commuters could suffer serious heart problems ... The key for commuters is the feeling they are not in control, this is what makes them lose their temper."

Smashing excuse for a tardy train

The Toledo Blade reports that, "No one was hurt yesterday when an Amtrak passenger train hit a stalled automobile at a railroad crossing on State Rt. 163, authorities said .... Amtrak's eastbound Lake Shore Limited, bound for New York City from Chicago and Toledo, had 156 passengers and a crew of about 10 aboard when it hit the car about 1:35 a.m., Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said. The train resumed its journey after a 103-minute delay."

A little tact goes a long way dept.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A man unhappy with the food service on Amtrak was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for making calls from his cell phone saying there was a bomb on the train he was riding. Conwill had pleaded guilty in August to making the threats July 6, saying he was angry at being served food that contained hot peppers. He said they caused an allergic reaction. The five calls came as the train, en route from Seattle, rolled through Sauk and Juneau counties. It was stopped in Portage and passengers were taken to a school for several hours while the train was searched. No bombs were found.