bloomsbury (anonymous) says...

You tell me.
America is the only nation on earth that looks at the railway as an instrument of the past, the rest see it as transportation of the future. America spent untold dollars, man-hours and even human lives to build an intricate national rail system only to see it systematically dismantled in the 60’s & 70’s. In times of war there is NO more efficient way to move large numbers of people and supplies. Comrade Obama is now talking about improving the rail system, but by that he means the rail system on the east coast and, if anything is leftover, the west coast. The heartland remains stranded. Umpteen trains go through Emporia a day. Not ONE can stop for passenger service?
Please!
Complain. Complain loudly.

February 4, 2010 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

eucharistandcannabis (anonymous) says...

Sounds great.

Form an advocacy group, comprised of civic volunteers. Recruit the (free) talents of a local public relations/marketing specialist. Organize a campaign. Generate interest within the community. Create a proposal and take it to Topeka.

Realistically, it won't happen over night. Yet, this is certainly an exciting endeavor the entire city/county can put their arms around to embrace.

You can do it!

February 4, 2010 at 8:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

goodoleboy (anonymous) says...

bloomsbury,

stop being a partisian moron, here is a pretty picture for you:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12398...

Looks to encompass the densely populated areas first, which only makes sense. I think its a great idea, keep your politics out of it.

February 4, 2010 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

b3bill (anonymous) says...

Jim, good article.

I see no reason why The Southwest Chief couldn't add Emporia back to their stops immediately. Many routes used to have "whistle stops", where the train only stopped if someone was getting on or getting off the train. The SWC is an all reserved train, so they'd know if anyone had reservations to get on or off at Emporia. With today's communication abilities, there is no reason this couldn't be made to work quite well and efficiently.

Until a station/platform is available, The SWC could just stop at Commerical Street for a minute or two, if anyone had reservations. It would be very simple and I know Amtrak and BNSF could easily make this work. This would take nothing away from The Northern Flyer project and it stopping at Emporia. No reason Emporia couldn't have both trains stopping here.

Trains aren't for everyone, but neither are cars and planes. If you don't like trains, don't bother riding one. But for the many who would ride a train, Amtrak service in Emporia would be very welcome and it would help out a lot of people.

There is no reason all of the city, county, and state officials representing Emporia and surrounding areas couldn't work together to get Amtrak service restored in Emporia.

February 4, 2010 at 10:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

kckansan (anonymous) says...

Amtrak does not place much emphasis on expansion, and their marketing appears to focus on bathrooms on board, diners, and specials.

The SW Chief may arrive at an ungodly hour in Emporia, but is it also an ungodly hour in Newton.

Emporia as a community would welcome service back, but the looming question is how does a community go about this? If Amtrak seems indifferent, and if the state transportation department ignores or denies the public interest, and if the local legislature and federal elected representatives do nothing, then all that remains is public chatter.

To expand on bloomsbury's call to arms above ("complain loudly") I would add, contact every official in our community and our state representative (Hill and Mast) and our senator (Barnett) and our Congressman (Moran), and your Governor (Parkinson) and make it crystal clear that Emporia wants service restored.

If you are a person with a even more motivation get involved with the Northern Flyer Alliance (I did). This organization seems to have a real sophisticated approach to organizing communities and the public and getting the attention of the legislature. Their efforts and success made USA Today last month.

February 5, 2010 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Great article, goodoleboy. Thank you!

Excellent post, kckansan. It's good to hear clear thinking and good suggestions, not just moronic name calling like bloomsbury's.

My letters are already addressed to legislators and I'm looking at the Northern Alliance. Sure would like to see some rail service in place in my lifetime. Thanks again, kckansan.

February 5, 2010 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

solong (anonymous) says...

Right on goodleboy, bloomsubury's political agenda is inappropriate and you addressed it appropriately. Thanks!!

February 5, 2010 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

admireed (anonymous) says...

Pork Pork Pork Pork Take the Turnpike

Edward McKernan

February 5, 2010 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Gas Gas Gas Gas. Park it and take the train!

Create

February 5, 2010 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

b3bill (anonymous) says...

In response to this post:

=======================
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pork Pork Pork Pork Take the Turnpike

Edward McKernan
=======================

With all due respect, Edward, I'm guessing you're physically and financially able to travel as you wish (ie. good vision and own a reliable car). I am too, so are many people. But there are lots who can't afford a car reliable enough to travel out of town. There are those who physically can't drive (ie. poor vision, other medical issues, etc.) or don't feel confident enough to drive in larger city traffic.

Train travel in/out of Emporia is one opportunity for them to travel some as they may need or wish. They may be going well past the turnpike, perhaps as far as either coast, or maybe just to Topeka or Newton. Why would you want to deny them of a train travel option from Emporia? What does it take from you for them to have that? You won't have to deal with riding Amtrak from Emporia if you don't want. If the train is once again serving Emporia, you may even have a more pleasant drive on the turnpike by having a bit more of it to yourself.

I'll be glad to ride the train in/out of Emporia for some of my travels, as I did when it stopped in Emporia. I'm sure a lot of others will want to ride it too, regardless of their driving capabilities.

February 5, 2010 at 10:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

biscuitboy (anonymous) says...

b3bill

admireed was just following the course plotted by bloomsbury to attempt to turn anything and everything into partisan politics. Reality makes no difference just attack.

February 6, 2010 at 3:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

admireed (anonymous) says...

b3...how much should taxpayers have to spend to support each rider from Emporia to Kansas City or Dallas? When we get this rail service I would wager that we could send them by cab at a much lower cost

February 6, 2010 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

goodoleboy (anonymous) says...

Dear Ed,

You are a railroader, or now perhaps a former one correct? You of all people should understand how effective and economical rail travel is, if it was not then you would have been out of a job long agao right? Many countries have accepted this model with great success, why not us?

February 6, 2010 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

admireed (anonymous) says...

Yes, rail can be effective and economical but not in the US Too many bureaucrats and unions. How would you change the business model to make it pay its way, or close?

February 6, 2010 at 10:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

b3bill (anonymous) says...

If the passenger train was operated only to haul people from Emporia to KC or Dallas, then of course it would be more costly than a taxi fare.

But since the train is already either going through Emporia (The Southwest Chief) and hopefully the Northern Flyer Alliance will be in a few years, there is little cost for them to stop here, much less than a taxi fare to KC or Dallas. A fancy station is not required to have a train stop.

February 6, 2010 at 10:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )