End of the Line: The Failure of Amtrak Reform and the Future of America's Passenger Trains
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.92 (701 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0844742031 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 282 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2017-02-22 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Last week, though, the Bush administration adopted Mr. Vranich's idea of giving the federal money to someone other than the folks who brought us the Acela. Amtrak officials no longer pretend that Acela is the futurethey've vowed not to buy any more of the trainsbut they insist that they still know the solution to passengers' woes: more money from Washington. Vranich made the conversion from spokesman to scourge, arguing in books titled 'Derailed' and 'End of the Line' that train service would never improve as long as Amtrak had a monopoly on it. (John Tierney The New York Times) . Mr
His previous book, "Supertrains," was praised by President Clinton and quoted in Senate debate. He lives in Southern California.. Joseph Vranich" "has served as the president of the High Speed Rail Association, as an Amtrak Public Affairs spokesperson, and as executive director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers
Kenneth L. Bird said New Thoughts on The Amtrak Issue. When I heard that Joe Vranich had authored another book about Amtrak, I wondered what he would say that had not been included in his book Derailed published in 1997. Turns out -- plenty. In "End of the Line," Vranich focuses almost exclusively on events since then, when Congress passed a law ordering Amtrak to reform. In reading it, the fresh material just keeps pouring out. He offers a documented chronological history of the trouble-prone Acela Express (which as of May "New Thoughts on The Amtrak Issue" according to Kenneth L. Bird. When I heard that Joe Vranich had authored another book about Amtrak, I wondered what he would say that had not been included in his book Derailed published in 1997. Turns out -- plenty. In "End of the Line," Vranich focuses almost exclusively on events since then, when Congress passed a law ordering Amtrak to reform. In reading it, the fresh material just keeps pouring out. He offers a documented chronological history of the trouble-prone Acela Express (which as of May 2005 are not running because of faulty brakes) and examines Amtrak's "fossilized" high-cost route structure. He outlines official findings that tra. 005 are not running because of faulty brakes) and examines Amtrak's "fossilized" high-cost route structure. He outlines official findings that tra. "Amtrak's Failures and European and Japanese Rail successes" according to Ramon Carreras. Vranich explains in simple language the many failures of the Amtrak system, some of those are Amtrak's fault alone while others have been put on it by Congress and other institutions. This book has statistics that show that while parts of the system are profitable there are vast expanses that consume any possible profits. There also examples of what could happen to the Amtrak system if it followed one of many paths that former nationalized rail systems have taken in Europe and Japan as well the take over short haul passenger trains by states unhappy with Amtrak's service. Overall an excellent read for those interes. "A must read for Amtrak reformers" according to Joh Padgett. End of the Line: The Failure of Amtrak Reform and the Future of America's Passenger Trains is the best analysis of the efforts to reform Amtrak ever to be put into printed form. The fact that the book is written by Joseph Vranich, a former spokeman for, and ardent supporter of Amtrak (now a critic of) speaks volumes about the troubles facing this storied government agency.Vranich has an insider's view of the history of the railroad having helped lobby for its creation and from being there in its early years on through to helping convince Congress to pass the authorization for the Acela Express program in the early
Joseph Vranich has produced the first insightful analysis of the deficit-ridden Amtrak system since the passage of major reform legislation in 1997, the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act. His review comes as Amtrak is seeking record federal subsidies while continuing to resist meaningful reforms.The book addresses myths and fallacies about Amtrak, exposing how the railroad is not as essential to mobility as it claims. For example, each of the nation's top sixteen airports serves more travelers every day than does Amtrak's entire national system.