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Amtrak Needs More Money From Congress, Proposes Steep Temporary Reductions In Service

26 May 2020 7:10 PM | Jackson McQuigg (Administrator)

From Business Insider:

Of particular note is the letter to Congress from Amtrak's new President and CEO, William Flynn:

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-passenger-railroad-amtrak-says-it-needs-new-15-billion-bailout-2020-5

If the proposal stands, Amtrak would cut its long distance routes to tri-weekly train service and combine its Florida service trains.

Also see this analysis from Trains magazine:

https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/05/26-amtrak-asks-congress-for-more-money-plans-workforce-reductions-cuts-to-long-distance-service

FCRP encourages you to speak up to your Member of Congress and Florida's two Senators to ensure that temporary service cuts do not become permanent. 

It's always a good time to remind elected officials that Amtrak service is important to you and your community.

--Jackson McQuigg

Comments

  • 10 Jun 2020 5:55 PM | Anonymous
    How does this effect service to Florida's west coast?
    Since New Years Day 2020, Amtrak's contract ran out and expired to staff its Thruway bus terminal in Pinellas County. All materials have been removed that were inside the waiting area, including furnishings and fixtures. Is the Thruway bus going to bypass Pinellas County, and or possibly skip a couple more stops, let alone be discontinued all together?
    Will work continue, or has it been suspended due to financial problems, on building the new raised platform at Tampa Union Station?
    Will the combined single train serving Florida even make the side trip to Tampa and back from Auburndale, or are both Tampa and Lakeland going to be added to the growing list of cities that will have lost their intercity rail service?
    It seems that Amtrak in Florida has been terminally ill from its beginnings in 1971. If the carrier does not recover, and pending the outcome of the elections this fall in 2020, could Amtrak's Golden Anniversary be tarnished with its imminent demise shortly thereafter?
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