Following through the intent of compliance, the operator, Amtrak, by its past history of a slovenly approach to safety, is clearly the most egregious party to this disaster.
Recently, the NTSB declared how Amtrak lacked a coherent and acceptable safety culture, given its repetition compulsion to serially experience actions of over speed and inadequate communications causing wrecks in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Further investigation would evidence how Amtrak’s non-transparent, insular culture contributed to overlooking the sharp curve and inadequate training of crew.
The facts are although Amtrak has a Board of Directors, they are mere political appointees lacking in the basic, rudimentary expertise of railroad operations (which was required by Amtrak’s enabling legislation of 1970). Instead, their focus is on maximizing real estate opportunities along the Northeast Corridor.
Mirroring such a superficial, uninvolved Board providing no stewardship and not demanding accountability, is an executive/senior management team also with no in-depth railroad experience more concerned with self-perpetuation by laying off the few competent managers with actual railroad experience; kowtowing to the Board’s focus on real estate along the Northeast Corridor. Importantly, due to this relationship between Board and management, note how nobody was dismissed from management, no Board member quit in disgust, and the CEO did not resign in disgrace.
Adhering to the worst characteristics of a government monopoly acting as a pure state-owned enterprise unaccountable for its actions is the contributing factor to this needless disaster. Fixing such a broken monopoly acting as a predator upon state-supported rail corridors requires significant structural changes to revamp its leadership by dismissing current Board/management; placing Amtrak as a ward under the Federal Railroad Administration serving as a receivor, with guidance from experienced people in railroading.
Following through the intent of compliance, the operator, Amtrak, by its past history of a slovenly approach to safety, is clearly the most egregious party to this disaster.
Recently, the NTSB declared how Amtrak lacked a coherent and acceptable safety culture, given its repetition compulsion to serially experience actions of over speed and inadequate communications causing wrecks in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Further investigation would evidence how Amtrak’s non-transparent, insular culture contributed to overlooking the sharp curve and inadequate training of crew.
The facts are although Amtrak has a Board of Directors, they are mere political appointees lacking in the basic, rudimentary expertise of railroad operations (which was required by Amtrak’s enabling legislation of 1970). Instead, their focus is on maximizing real estate opportunities along the Northeast Corridor.
Mirroring such a superficial, uninvolved Board providing no stewardship and not demanding accountability, is an executive/senior management team also with no in-depth railroad experience more concerned with self-perpetuation by laying off the few competent managers with actual railroad experience; kowtowing to the Board’s focus on real estate along the Northeast Corridor. Importantly, due to this relationship between Board and management, note how nobody was dismissed from management, no Board member quit in disgust, and the CEO did not resign in disgrace.
Adhering to the worst characteristics of a government monopoly acting as a pure state-owned enterprise unaccountable for its actions is the contributing factor to this needless disaster. Fixing such a broken monopoly acting as a predator upon state-supported rail corridors requires significant structural changes to revamp its leadership by dismissing current Board/management; placing Amtrak as a ward under the Federal Railroad Administration serving as a receivor, with guidance from experienced people in railroading.
What else would you expect from a government-run enterprise?