A View from Across the Pond

British companies are vying for possible takeovers of Amtrak services in the US. This article takes a look at this and other rail developments in North America. There has been speculation and proposed legislation to permit the ailing Amtrak to be dissolved and permit parts of its network to be managed by other companies or agencies. Amtrak's own strategic plan exacerbates an already chaotic situation by endorsing the idea of other operators managing services it already monopolizes, though it stops short of extending this to the train operations. Such a situation impacts the British railway industry since many proposals involve British companies as US operators or contractors. Several British companies are identified in this article as possible players in any Amtrak breakup. One British firm, Herzog Transit Systems, a parent company of one operator of US commuter trains and maintenance provider, has hired a well-known lobbyist to establish the National Rail Construction and Maintenance Association with a view towards monitoring any Amtrak fragmentation. This article also examines Norfolk Southern's impressive recovery efforts in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/49957551
• Authors:
  • Weinman, Michael R
• Publication Date: 2005-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 26-27
• Serial:
  • Rail Professional
  • Issue Number: 104
  • Publisher: Cambridge Publishers Limited
  • ISSN: 1476-2196
  • Serial URL: http://www.cpl.biz/ourwork/general/rp.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Contracting out; Disasters and emergency operations; Hurricanes; Lobbying; Monopoly; Railroads; Restructuring
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak; Herzog Transit Systems; National Rail Construction and Maintenance Association; Norfolk Southern Corporation
• Geographic Terms: New Orleans (Louisiana)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01007178
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 14 2005 11:30AM