AMTRAK TROUBLE EVERYWHERE

Think the train is the way to go in these days of uncertain air travel? Think again. Amtrak, minimally efficient in the best of times, is at sea amid a crisis and heavier-than-usual demand. makes you wonder just what all that Congressional money has been buying.

After our shuttle flight to Washington was cancelled on Monday because of the American Airlines tragedy, we returned to the office to book an Amtrak ticket for Tuesday. We provided all the required information to Amtrak's web's site, clicked to secure the reservation and ..... were informed that the session had timed out and to please start all over again.

Instead we turned to the phone, dialing up Amtrak's automated reservation system. Everything went well until the computer locked us into a return ticket from Washington for the day before we would actually arrive there. The menu has no option for selecting the return date you call.

Thinking a warm body might untangle this mess, we dialed again, only to be consigned to Hold Purgatory. Giving up we walked to Penn Station and purchased our ticket there. Total elapsed time to make a reservation: an hour and a half.

We wern't Amtrak's only victims. At the next window, a woman was discovering that the phone clerk whom she had earlier asked to change her reservations had cancelled everything out.

Oh, and when we tried calling Amtrak HQ for some reaction? A busy signal.

The article can be found in the 14th November WSJ --- COMMENT: TRAVEL

BOMBARDIER TO SHUT 3 FACILITiES IN EUROPE

The following headings were found in the WSJ on the 14TH NOVEMBER 2001

Canada’s Bombardier said it’s rail equipment division will close two manufacturing plants in Germany next year and a service center in Britain, and will convert two European manufacturing plants to service facilities. Most employees will be offered alternative jobs. Bombardier said the changes are the result of an analysis on it’s European facilities following the acquisition of Germany’s Adtranz in May.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to find out about the railroad industry. One hopes that the Directors of the CHSRA read things! More than that, one hopes that they also understand the futility of supporting "steel-wheel-steel-rail technology for the future of California's transportation needs.

This is a railroad job

Now is not the time to be talking about Amtrak liquidation. Rather it is the time to strengthen its nationwide operation.

Saving Amtrak is tant ammount to saving a historic relic and turning it into a living museum. It does not have a real utility as an alternative for passengers.

European transport policy for 2010 : time to decide

Another show of policy makers with an inability to look outside their box. It's a shame how much design and innovation are not part of the formulae of policy makers

CargoLifter Teams Up With Magnetic Levitation Rail System

Read about this technology Californians and then ask why the California High Speed Rail Authority is so far behind!

Rail planners vote to narrow route, technology options

California High-Speed Rail Authority board chooses conventional rail.

Alcoa has never heard of Magplane needs

Alcoa Inc., the world's largest aluminum producer, will cut 6,500 jobs, or 4.6 percent of its global workforce, to make its manufacturing operations more efficient amid a climate of low metal prices and weak demand. The Pittsburgh-based company said cuts will affect workers at 40 locations in the Americas and Europe.

It's about time Alcoa's top management keep their antennaes up to a great future guideway need.

Roads Mired in Review Gridlock

With transportation projects on hold--some from the 1960s--the Governor says that the review process must be streamlined.

Urban Village Backed for NoHo

ANOTHER URBAN VILLAGE IN SOUTHERN CA

SOTTO CITY

What happens when a former Disney Imagineer starts designing restaurants and ballparks?

ATTACK OF THE URBAN PLANNERS

PLANNERS' WTC INPUT SLAMMED AS 'IDIOTIC' AND 'INSULTING'

Think transit is expensive? Check out the cost of cars.

A Seattle research group concludes that, dollar for dollar, public transit is a much better investment that highways.

Urban planner’s picks should guide downtown

Andres Duany will develop a revitalization plan for downtown Fort Myers, FL.

Firm carves niche with used wood

Old pallets, bleachers, turned into fine furniture.

Muscovites defy building codes - and gravity

Wealthy upstairs neighbors recently installed a swimming pool in their apartment, and now the ceiling of her book-lined living room sags and creaks ominously under the strain.

Let the Sun Fight Terrorism

Let the Sun Fight Terrorism"

Highest retail rent district: East 57th Street, New York

When it comes to renting shop space, Manhattan is the world's most expensive area, followed by Hong Kong and Paris, according to Main Streets Across The World 2001's survey of global retail rents. The annual ranking was conducted by property consultants Healey & Baker and assessed rents at 221 locations in 43 countries. The five most expensive retail-rent districts and their average annual cost per square meter:

1. East 57th Street, New York $7,535

2. Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 5,630

3. Champs-Elysees, Paris 5,322

4. Oxford Street, London 4,087

5. Manezhnaya Square, Moscow 3,000

- Associated Press Business & Finance