Posted on 05/14/2015 2:10:50 PM PDT by grundle
Taxpayers lost $833 million over the last decade on the food and beverages supplied by Amtrak, which managed to spend $1.70 for every dollar that received in revenue.
“Over the last ten years, these losses have amounted to a staggering $833.8 million,” said Rep.John Mica, R-Fla., in a statement previewing a House hearing today. “It costs passengers $9.50 to buy a cheeseburger on Amtrak, but the cost to taxpayers is $16.15. Riders pay $2.00 for a Pepsi, but each of these sodas costs the U.S. Treasury $3.40.”
"Amazon.com is currently selling 24-packs of 12 ounce Pepsi cans for $8.94 -- which averages to about 75 cents per can."
Amtrak President Joe Boardman tried encourage House investigators by telling them that last year's losses represent an improvement over previous years. "Our ongoing programs have certainly delivered measurable financial efficiencies," Boardman told Congress in his written testimony today. "In 2006, our food and beverage service recovered 49 percent of their costs. In 2011, these services recovered 59 percent of their costs," he testified.
The food service is legally obligated to break even, but Amtrak lost $84 million just last year. “The rail service’s food and beverage operation has 1,234 employees, and taking into account Amtrak’s $84.5 million loss last year, that’s $68, 476 per employee," Mica said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Heck I would have started a company and sold it to them for $3 a soda and $15 a hamburger!
Farm out the food vending to a civilian contractor and see how much gets ‘lost’...............................
Stop making sense! It’s very undemocratic of you
JIMMY BUFFETT
“Cheeseburger In Paradise”
Tried to amend my carnivorous habits.
Made it nearly seventy days,
Losin’ weight without speed, eatin’ sunflower seeds,
Drinkin’ lots of carrot juice and soakin’ up rays.
But at night I’d have these wonderful dreams
Some kind of sensuous treat.
Not zucchini, fettuccini, or bulgur wheat,
But a big warm bun and a huge hunk of meat.
Cheeseburger is paradise.
Heaven on earth with an onion slice.
Not too particular, not too precise.
I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise.
Heard about the old time sailor men,
They eat the same thing again and again;
Warm beer and bread they say could raise the dead.
Well, it reminds me of the menu at a Holiday Inn.
But times have changed for sailors these days.
When I’m in port I get what I need;
Not just Havanas or banana or daiquiris,
But that American creation on which I feed!
Cheeseburger is paradise medium rare with mustard’d be nice
Not too particular, not too precise
I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise.
I like mine with lettuce and tomato
Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes
Big kosher pickle and a cold draught beer
Well, good god Almighty which way do I steer
For a cheeseburger in paradise
Makin’ the best of every virtue and vice.
Worth every damn bit of sacrifice
To get a cheeseburger in paradise;
To be a cheeseburger in paradise.
I’m just a cheeseburger in paradise.
$8.94 per case at Amazon? Considerably cheaper than that at stores in my area.
Some well-connected friend of someone-in-power is making a lot of money on this deal. You can bet that the someone-in-power is getting a little taste as well. La Mordida.
yep, makes sense...
Democrats Blame Amtrak Crash on Lack of Infrastructure Spending
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3289539/posts
Four Reasons More Taxpayer Cash Won’t Solve Amtrak’s Problem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3289503/posts
Amtrak crash shows the high cost of ignoring infrastructure
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3289434/posts
Watch: Boehner Lashes Out At Reporter For “Stupid Question” On Amtrak [when a reporter asked if funding was an issue]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3289781/posts
The Shameful Rush to Blame the Amtrak Crash on our ‘Infrastructure Crisis’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3289682/posts
Singer Cher rips GOP over Amtrak funding (Airhead Cher)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3289567/posts
I wouldn’t want to eat an Amtrak cheeseburger even if it were free.
Last I heard, at least in New York State, you could only get vending machine food on an Amtrak train. Who is going to pay for that crap?
Amtrac Rail Kill Burgers....MMM MMMM good
“Amtrak, which managed to spend $1.70 for every dollar that received in revenue.”
Government doing what government does best: waste, fraud, and abuse.
I don’t think that is where the problem is.
I went on an AMTRACK excursion with my kid’s school. They had a snack bar attendent on board. When you wanted something you went and found her, she went behind the counter and got you what you wanted. 99% of the time she was doing absolutely nothing, at a cost of probably $25 - 30.00 per hour.
“Heck I would have started a company and sold it to them for $3 a soda and $15 a hamburger!”
You need to either be related to, or be sleeping with a politician to get business contracts like that
“Perhaps if Amtrak bought its soda for the same price that everyone else pays, instead of paying $3.40 per serving,”
I don’t think it is the price they pay. I believe it is the ‘overhead’ involved in getting it to the customer.
Have it on vinyl. Great tune.
Put out a contract for its food service. The government is nothing more than a damn thief.
Saw him in concert back when it was on the charts!.............In Ft. Lauderdale!.....1978/79...............
“The food service is legally obligated to break even,”
This phrase is meaningless unless someone goes to prison for losing tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.
L
What we’re not being told? Those cans of soda and cheeseburgers have pensions.
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