PeoriaStory

Passenger trains -- their past, present and future

MACOMB -- Amtrak will have airline-style e-tickets in the near future, Amtrak Board Chairman Tom Carper said on March 25. The change is requiring a complete revamp of its computer system.

Carper, who lives in Macomb and is a former mayor, was in the audience for a fascinating, illustrated talk at Western Illinois University by James McCommons, author of Waiting on a Train, the Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service. 

The book was named a Library Journal Best Book of 2009. McCommons, a professor at Northern Michigan University, spent a year riding trains and investigating the future of passenger rail.

His interest was sparked after the California Zepher, an Amtrak train he rode to Seattle, was 12 hours late, he said.

He made nine train trips for a total of 26,000 miles to research the book in 2007.  "I've had wonderful and bad experiences on Amtrak," he said.

Riding the train was a good social experience, he said, since he met and talked with many people. But it was often inconvenient, infrequent, slow, late, expensive, with "spotty customer service," he said.

He recounted the history of rail in the US.  "Everybody had their favorite train," he said, mentioning the Rock Island Rocket, the Super Chief and others. Rail was built in the 19th century with federal subsidies in the form of land grants, but has been privately owned, the "alternative to nationalization." Union Station in Chicago once hosted 300 trains daily.

But the interstate highway system and air travel, developed with heavy federal subsidies, led to the demise of trains which became unprofitable, he said. The decline began in the 1920s.  By the 1970s, Penn Central went bankrupt, "the event of the era," leading to the development of Conrail for freight and Amtrak for passengers.

Amtrak was expected to become profitable, to appease fiscal conservatives in the Nixon administration, he said. But the profits never developed, and Amtrak has been starved for funds. It's still running some of the equipment inherited in the 1970s from the government-brokered deal.

"It's a skeletal system," McCommons said. "It's stuck in survival mode."

There are a handful of long distance trains, and more corridor trains traveling 100 to 500 miles, he said. "We don't have a rail culture in this country."

Yet the future of the nation's transportation system may lie with Amtrak.  Expected increases in the US population and the demand for transportation mean that Amtrak development will be much cheaper and greener than expansion of the highway or airline systems, he said.

Corridor trains, especially, can efficiently replace autos and air travel, and deliver passengers to city centers, he said.

But they will be successful only if they run frequently and are dependable.  Speed is not as important as frequency, he said.

Carper agreed, and said that as the Amtrak route from Chicago to Quincy has increased in frequency, ridership has risen.

Corridor trains receive state support, and some states have invested in better train cars. California, Washington and Maine have been leaders. The Downeaster in Maine has free wi-fi, McCommons said.  All trains in Europe have that.

States and cities also determine the condition of the terminals, he said, with some very nice, others not so nice.

Intermodal transportation, where trains connect with other forms of transportation, is needed to make trains desirable, so people can easily transfer to a bus or plane or rent a car. Every day people arrive in Miami from Europe and ask about the train to Disney World. There isn't one, he said, though Florida now is considering high speed rail.

The Obama administration just designated $8 billion for high speed rail, with an additional $13 billion in stimulus funds for the states. They wanted $57 billion, he said, showing pent-up demand. Illinois got $1.1 billion.

Hybrid engines, electrification, necessary for high speeds, biofuels, automatic control systems, all are possible if the funding is available, he said. The technology already exists. Some people have suggested 2 cents from the federal motor fuel tax to go to trains.

"We're not going to get rid of the car, but if trains are convenient," people will use them, he said.

 -- Elaine Hopkins 

Amtrak still dysfunctional

UPDATE -- See comment below.

MACOMB -- At six months into the Obama Administration, Amtrak remains stuck in the 19th century. Here's the latest folly, described in a letter my husband, George Hopkins, wrote to the Peoria Journal Star, which they have ignored:

Letter to Forum:

How sad that Amtrak cannot operate rationally. This morning (July 8) I put my 17-year-old grandson on the Amtrak train at Macomb for Chicago after a golf visit with me.

The conductor would not allow him to carry his golf clubs aboard. I have carried golf clubs on that same train myself repeatedly. Apparently this policy is announced nowhere except on the website and is only sporadically enforced. Now I must drive my grandson's golf clubs to the Chicago suburbs.

What an absurd policy! Are golf clubs really so dangerous? Too bulky? Any of the huge bags being carried aboard this morning could easily have contained golf clubs--or anything! None I saw were inspected. Bikes are permitted! Ski poles too!

Illinois supports Amtrak with tax dollars. Ruining a family visit with our own tax dollars is a great way to support "Illinois Adventures!"

George E. Hopkins,
Peoria and Macomb

But that's not all that was ignored. I sent an e-mail to former Macomb mayor Tom Carper, who is now chairman of the national Amtrak Board of Directors. He's an acquaintance. No response.

I also sent a complaint to the Amtrak website. Here's their response:

Dear George E Hopkins,

Thank you for contacting us.

We have forwarded your e-mail to our Customer Relations Department. They will contact you as soon as possible in the order that the e-mail was received.

If you prefer, you can contact them through our toll free number, 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245). Select the number '0' immediately to avoid the automated information menu, and an agent will transfer your call. The Customer Relations Department is staffed Monday through Friday between 7am -10pm (ET).

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Pam
Amtrak Customer Service

That was a week ago. Since then, nothing.

What on earth is Amtrak thinking, that a conductor has the option to refuse to allow golf clubs on the train? That's the situation. Some conductors allow the clubs, some don't.

Another Macomb friend took his expensive clubs to Seattle, on Amtrak, with no problems. But on the return trip, the conductor refused to allow him to bring them aboard. Luckily his friend was seeing him off at the station. The friend had to ship them to Macomb, at considerable expense.

This is insane. Amtrak doesn't inspect its baggage. Someone could board with a machine gun in a box. But not golf clubs?

This kind of thing from a quasi-government agency is why some people are suspicious of government programs of all types -- including expanded medical care: arbitrary, insane authority exercised by petty bureaucrats having a bad day.

The airlines wonder why people aren't traveling on them! Answer: It's a hassle. We go via car whenever possible. No extra fees, intrusive searches, fear of a bureaucrat having a bad day, or life.

Finally, some people get revenge. There's a terrific video made by a Canadian musician after United Airlines destroyed his beloved guitar.

Here's a good Chicago Tribune story on him, with a link to the video. I'd make one about Amtrak if I could!.

-- Elaine Hopkins

Comment, 7/28/09. Elliott R writes: I had basically the exact same experience as what you wrote about.

I was going from Chicago to Kalamazoo, and I have taken my golf clubs before, but this time they stopped me and refused to allow me on board.

They said I had to go talk to a manager, who then said I had to go talk to the conductor. The manager was actually somewhat helpful as she walked me out to meet the conductor.

The conductor reeked of alcohol (this was a 7 am train btw) and he initially refused
to let me on board. I basically had to beg him, and he relented and put my clubs in a baggage car. If they're going to do something like that at least make that clear on the website.

Like you said, you could walk on with a nuclear bomb, but not golf clubs.

It was one of the most unbelievable examples of idiotic bureaucracy I've ever seen -
especially when they want more people to ride the train. -30-

Elaine Hopkins responds: Wonder if he wanted a bribe? -30-

Amtrak (go ahead and laugh or shudder)

MACOMB -- After swearing off Amtrak forever last year, I bit the bullet and decided to ride it this week from Macomb to the Chicago area. The good news: the trains were on time, with no problems.

The bad news: this system is so underfunded that it screams for federal stimulus dollars.

Forget the highways. Fund Amtrak. Three hours from Macomb to the Chicago burbs, versus almost five hours to drive. And that's on the rough, under-maintained tracks today.

Start with a modern reservation system. You can book a trip on-line but only if the trip falls within the narrow categories that must be filled out. Otherwise you must call, then hit 'zero' to overcome the ridiculous voice system that never understands what I'm saying.

The reservationists are nice, but so out of date. They still don't know that Macomb has a station agent! Where you can pay for a ticket. It's become a joke at the ticket window -- guess that agent is better off out of the loop as long as the paycheck arrives.

You can't make a reservation too early for some reason. They want to fed-ex the tickets to your home for a huge fee. (Kickbacks from fed-ex or whatever the company is?) But if you want until a couple of days before the trip you can make the reservation on the phone, and pay for it on the train, or at the invisible station agent's window.

Where the agent must type in your credit card numbers onto a keyboard. Not swipe it, as grocery stores do. Makes for errors, probably.

The ticket is a hoot: it says 'flight.' Must be airline leftovers.

Then the train -- its really dirty, but otherwise OK. There's a plug for a laptop but no wireless access.

On the way back I spoke with a woman who boarded in downtown Chicago. She'd had a problem with her ticket, said there were huge lines and only a couple of agents working, and in very bad moods. Other ticket stations were closed.

Hey Congress -- there are some jobs that could be filled!

And how about people to clean the trains! And install wireless! And fix the rough tracks!

We'll see what Obama does about Amtrak!

-- Elaine Hopkins

Amtrak dyfunctional

MACOMB -- This college town has a train link to Chicago, the Illinois Zephyer. an Amtrak train that runs twice daily between Chicago and Quincy. In theory that's a terrific advantage.

In practice, Amtrak is one of the most dysfunctional organizations operating today.

Let me count the ways:

1. Getting tickets. There's a website, but if you need last minute tickets, the site insists on sending them to you for a $12 fee, and you have to sign for them at your residence. Not too helpful if you're traveling, and a terrific waste of money.

So -- call them on the 800 number, and you get voice mail hell, a voice web program that can't tell Macomb Illinois from Macomb Mississippi. So ask for an agent.

The agent says the delivery cost can't be waived and you can't just pick up the tickets at the station or on the train. There's no station agent in Macomb, she says. She advises a call three days before the trip, when you then can arrange to get tickets on the train. Presumably Amtrak is hoping to charge more at the last minute, if the train fills up. She can't say what the tickets will cost.

So -- she's right. The tickets are finally available, and happily at at the same price. This agent also says there's no station agent at Macomb. And Amtrax doesn't do e-tickets like the airlines. She can't explain why. She supplies a reservation number which is valid.

2. The trip from Macomb. The 7 a.m. train is on time, and the station agent in Macomb -- yes, there is one -- laughs when told the reservation system doesn't know he exists. He types up the tickets which say 'flight' on them. Oh well. The trip goes pretty well, though the restroom is dirty. It's an hour late getting into Chicago. Some passengers are worried, since they have to make international airline connections.

3. The return trip. Union Station in Chicago is crowded, but announcements keep everyone informed. The 5:55 p.m. train is almost an hour late leaving. Something about an engine that broke down, had to be replaced.

Finally everyone boards. The train keeps going until it hits Galesburg where the announcement is made that the engine is failing, losing water, and the rest of the trip is uncertain.

Now no one knows anything. It's 10 p.m., and outside it's 7 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The conductor says busses may have to be summoned to take passengers the rest of the way, and that the engine might quit at any time leaving the train without power.

Yikes -- now what? Passengers relate similar horror stories about this line, though one woman says she rides it regularly and this situation is rare. Several people get off the train, and head for the Amtrak station which thankfully is open and warm.

One man rents a car and drives away. Another is frantic because his elderly mother and sister are waiting for him in Macomb and he can't reach them. Several of us call spouses and friends in Macomb who can drive to Galesburg to pick us up.

A few minutes before they arrive, the announcement is made that the train will proceed. And it leaves the station. What happened after that is anyone's guess. Were the passengers stranded in the country? In Bushnell? As the poem says, "if anything were wrong we certainly would have heard." Wouldn't we?

WGEM-TV in Quincy on Jan. 25 reported that the passengers had to be bussed to the final destination, from Galesburg. That's odd. As we drove away from Galesburg, the train had vanished into the night.

Those of us who got off the train drove to Macomb, Rushville and beyond in private autos. The entire trip took almost twice as long as if we had driven the whole way from Chicago.

On the positive side: at least they let us off the train.

Conclusion: and some wonder why more people don't take mass transit.

-- Elaine Hopkins