Empire Commuter: Money is not the problem or a solution

Amtrak is hustling for their annual appropriation of taxpayer dollars and the prospects are looking good. A U.S. Senate panel yesterday voted to allocate $1.47 billion to Amtrak in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. That's $176 million more than the agency received in the previous budget, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

Bill Richardson at the United Rail Passenger Alliance has a few things to say about Amtrak's claim that service is lousy because they're broke:

That is only a myth that has been perpetuated by Amtrak management and the National Association of Railroad Passengers and other organizations of that ilk which believe in the illogical concept that government is good, and private industry is bad.

As we have discussed before, Amtrak onboard employees and station employees, as well as those in back office functions like reservations and accounting are de-motivated and self-demonized by their employment and work atmosphere. Too many unresolved union contracts for too long, too much negative discipline instead of positive discipline, and the allowance of too many people to stay in jobs for too long they are not suited for have made a complete mess of Amtrak passenger service.