Jun 06, 2008: Hotline #556

The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act died on the Senate floor today.  Trouble started on Wednesday after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) forced the Senate Clerk to read the 500-page bill aloud, which took about eight hours, as retaliation for Democratic inaction on judicial nominees.  A Democratic motion for cloture failed today, 48-36, twelve votes short of the 60 necessary to end Republican filibuster.  Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) was apparently prepared to offer an Amtrak amendment to the bill.

H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, is expected on the House floor next week.  This must be approved by the House Rules Committee.

Currently, there are 41 cosponsors on the bill.  Ideally, the bill needs 218 or more co-sponsors (more than half of the chamber).  Contact your House of Representatives member and ask him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 6003!  For more information, see our Action Alert center.

North Carolina DOT will start a third Amtrak frequency between Raleigh and Charlotte, Gov. Mike Easley (D) announced on Wednesday.  The new midday round-trip will supplement the state-supported Carolinian and Piedmont, and is funded for three years through a $3 million annual federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant.  Service will begin in six to twelve months, pending refurbishment of equipment.  “Ridership is increasing significantly along this route and adding a midday train run will meet the growing demand and provide needed services to North Carolina travelers who are looking for economical alternatives to driving,” Easley said. “As fuel prices continue to climb, more and more people are turning to rail as their choice for transportation.”  Ridership on NC-supported trains has increased by over 22 percent during October 2007 to April 2008 versus the same period in the previous year.

Amtrak informed the Missouri DOT this week that it will cost $400,000 above the recently approved $8 million state operating subsidy for Amtrak to operated state-supported services for the next year.  Last year’s support level was $7.4 million; the jump has been attributed to rising fuel and labor costs.  A blog post on the Kansas City Star web site had this to say:  “Brian Weiler, who oversees Amtrak service at MoDOT, said theoretically Amtrak would have enough money to get through next June 15, two weeks before the fiscal year ends. He said some service could be curtailed, but added “we don’t envision having to do that at this time.” Amtrak officials, meanwhile, are hopeful that a supplemental appropriation from the legislature combined with increased ridership (that should be easy given that the route is about to set a seven-year low and a possible fare increase might make up the shortfall. Keep in mind Amtrak has been patient with the service. Last year, the railroad ate a $200,000 revenue shortfall even as its top officials were complaining that it was hard to sustain such an unreliable service. Through April, only 67 percent of Amtrak trains were running on time.”

Amtrak this week unveiled the upgraded amenities on the relaunched Coast Starlight route between Los Angeles and Seattle.  According to a news release, “The new features and amenities include at seat meal options for Coach passengers and new arcade rooms equipped with arcade-style video games and board games. Sleeping Car passengers will experience a refurbished Parlour Car with enhanced services such as alternative dining, daily wine tasting with regional wines, a specialty coffee bar and a newly redesigned theater with 50-inch plasma HD monitors. The redesigned theater features family and classic movies three times a day. Parlour Car menu items include regional cuisine such as Pacific Bay scallops and Santa Maria beef short-ribs. Complimentary library and board games are also available in the Car.”  According to an Amtrak brochure, sleeper passengers will “also receive a Welcome Gift of sparkling wine or cider and fresh fruit, and a Personal Amenities Kit that includes shampoo, soaps and lotions.”  Additionally, Amtrak is collaborating with TRAXX Restaurant at Los Angeles Union Station to test a pilot program that provides a departure lounge for sleeper passengers on northbound train 14.  The relaunched service officially starts Tuesday, June 10, when Amtrak will host a send-off party with refreshments for passengers departing Seattle on train 11.

Amtrak plans to detour the Coast Starlight on Sunday, June 22 in both directions between Los Angeles and Sacramento via Tehachapi Pass and the San Joaquin route (with no intermediate station stops) due to the need for Union Pacific to repair a bridge near Santa Barbara.  Train 14 is expected to arrive Sacramento at 9 PM and hold for its normal departure, while train 11 should arrive Los Angeles early as well.  Passengers to or from Van Nuys, Simi Valley, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Salinas, San Jose, Oakland, Emeryville, Martinez, and Davis may avail themselves of the various state corridor trains and buses.  The last Amtrak train to traverse Tehachapi Pass was when the southbound Coast Starlight detoured on October 23, 2005; before that, 1974.

Due to the same bridge work, most Pacific Surfliner service will not operate north of Santa Barbara on June 22.  Connecting motorcoaches will serve stops between Goleta and San Luis Obispo, except Lompoc-Surf and Guadalupe (an additional stop will be added at Santa Maria).

California’s Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Metrolink on Tuesday regarding push-pull passenger train operations and the notion that FRA regulations preempt local rulemaking on safety issues.  The topic arose from litigation following the January 26, 2005 derailments in Glendale in which 11 people were killed and 180 injured after Juan Manuel Alvarez parked his Jeep Cherokee on the tracks.  Alvarez is currently on trial for 11 counts of murder.  Litigation against Metrolink will continue due to the fact that plaintiffs allege negligence by Metrolink.

Citing the above tragedy, Union Pacific sent a letter to the California High-Speed Rail Authority last month declining to sell parts of its rights-of-way to CAHSRA for high-speed trains to operate alongside UP trains.  CAHSRA Executive Director Mehdi Morshed called the letter a non-issue and said, “We have known all along that the railroads are not very likely to want to share their rights of way with people.”  Notably, the 2005 incident was due to an external factor that would not exist with the full grade separation that a high-speed rail system would have.

A new station in Leavenworth, WA for Amtrak’s Empire Builder has been pushed back until next year, according to the Wenatchee World, with an estimated opening of September, 2009.  The new timeline is attributed to design changes, coupled with increased train traffic through the area due to detours onto the BNSF line after the January landslide in Frazier, OR on the UP.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has vowed Congressional hearings on the rights of photographers in Washington Union Station.  Following a string of reported incidents in which private security guards under contract to Jones Lang LaSalle (which manages the historic and mall portions of the station) supposedly threatened photographers who were not using tripods or any hazardous equipment, local news outlet FOX 5 investigated.  Their report includes an incident in which, while Cliff Black, Amtrak’s Chief of Corporate Communications, tells the reporter that photography is absolutely allowed in the Amtrak portion of the station, a LaSalle-contracted security guard tells the news crew to stop filming.  In a subsequent interview with FOX 5, Holmes Norton said, “I’m astounded that Union Station would be declared private property, when we [Congress] issued the lease…  The Supreme Court precedents are as clear as water on this.  The fact that we lease it – and we’re pleased that it’s useable now – does not mean that the United States has given up its rights to this public space, nor does it mean that the citizens of the United States or the media… can be, in any way, kept from photographing the beautiful, historic renovation of Union Station.”  Union Station is the most visited destination in Washington, DC.  While LaSalle manages a portion of the property, it is owned by U.S. DOT and was renovated at taxpayer expense.

Southbound Texas Eagle train 21 terminated in Fort Worth on Monday following a UP freight derailment north of San Antonio, and turned as northbound train 22 that day.  Passengers were bussed between the two cities and stations along the route.

Chicago Transit Authority suffered another derailment this week, this time on the Red Line.  On Tuesday around 2 AM, a four-car train with 14 passengers derailed just short of the 95th Street terminus.  One passenger sustained minor injuries.

Announcements of major cutbacks in the airline industry continued this week. United Airlines will ground 100 of its planes (including all 94 of its Boeing 737s and 6 of its 747s – a fifth of its fleet), slash up to 1,100 jobs, cut up to 18 percent of domestic capacity by 2009, and eliminate its all-coach “Ted” sub-brand.

The 56 Airbus 320s that were dedicated to Ted service will be converted to a traditional two-class configuration and re-deployed to give United greater operational flexibility.  This brings to an end experiments by traditional hub-and-spoke carriers to operate leisure service mimicking that of low-cost carriers.  Other forays included Continental’s Continental Lite (1993-1995), US Airways’ MetroJet (1998-2001), Air Canada’s Tango and Zip (2001-2004), and Delta’s Delta Express (1996-2003) and Song (2003-2006).  United itself had operated Shuttle by United from 1994 to 2001 to compete with Southwest Airlines along the West Coast.  In all of the above cases, carriers were not able to duplicate the lower cost structures of their competitors.

Continental Airlines also announced this week that it will eliminate 3,000 jobs, reduce capacity in the fourth quarter by 11 percent, and ground 67 aircraft by 2009.  Continental Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner said that “the airline industry is in a crisis.  Its business model doesn’t work with the current price of fuel and the existing level of capacity in the marketplace.”  Kellner and President Jeffery Smisek will forgo salary and bonuses for the rest of the year.

UK-based all-Business Class airline Silverjet abruptly ended operations and effectively went out of business last Friday, affecting about 10,000 passengers.  France-based L’Avion is the last remaining airline with all premium class seats.  Similar startup airlines Maxjet and Eos folded in recent months.

American Trucking Associations President Mike Card, in May 6 testimony before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, supported 12 actions aimed at lowering fuel prices, including “set a national maximum speed limit of 65 mph” and “require speed limiters set for 68 mph or lower on all new trucks.”

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Jun 13, 2008: Hotline #557

H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, cleared the House of Representatives by a veto-proof margin of 311-104 on Wednesday.  The bill now goes to conference committee to reconcile differences with the Senate counterpart, S. 294.  President Bush has issued a veto threats against both versions of the bill.

NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon in a statement praised the House for providing a framework for future funding for passenger trains.  “The need for expanded train service is clear. Today’s action shows that Congress wants to make that happen. The crucial test will be its ability to provide the necessary funding,” said Capon.

The bill has some changes from the earlier version, including—in the “congestion grants” section—general language replacing a list specific segments.  To see both the original and the House-passed versions of the bill, go to THOMAS and click on Congressional Record (from list at left); select “Daily Digest” from the four choices under “Section of Congressional Record”; enter 06/11/2008 in the date field and fill the circle next to “From”.  Near the top of House activities (about halfway down the entire document), see Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 and click on H.R. 6003.  The third choice that results is what the House passed; the first is the bill’s earlier version. 

With the prospects for California High-Speed Rail and the need for a federal partner in mind, Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) said during bill debate, “This measure will be a big shot in the arm… to assist California and other states in the country that want to add true, 21st century, state-of-the-art high-speed rail.”

Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) engaged in colloquy on the floor with T&I Railroads Subcommittee Ranking Member Bill Shuster (R-PA) to request a provision that would allow for redemption of privately held Amtrak stock in conference committee. “These shareholders have been held hostage for decades.”  Schmidt’s district includes Cincinnati, home of American Financial Group, Inc., which is suing Amtrak for compensation for its 5.2 million shares of Amtrak common stock.  AFG is looking for as much as $500 million (see Hotline #554.)

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) asked T&I Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) to send a letter to Amtrak’s Inspector General requesting an update on the status of safety and security training of frontline employees.  Oberstar said he would oblige.

H.R. 6003 passed with six amendments added on the floor, although the House rejected the worst amendment on a recorded vote of 150-275.  Rep. Pete Sessions’ (R-TX) had sought to prohibit funds “from being used for the long distance Amtrak route with the highest cost per seat/mile according to Amtrak’s March 2008 monthly performance report unless the Secretary has transmitted a waiver for this route or a portion of it because the Secretary considers it critical to homeland security.”  Without mentioning it by name, this amendment was an attack on the Sunset Limited, which Rep. Sessions openly attacked when presenting the amendment. 

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) withdrew his anti-Baltimore-tunnel amendment before the bill reached the House floor.

Here are the amendments that passed (details are on the Rules Committee web site):

• Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN): “Manager’s Amendment.  Would provide that none of the funds may be used to employ workers in violation of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on ways to streamline compliance with National Historic Preservation Act requirements for federally funded railroad infrastructure projects.  It also contains provisions regarding the Northeast Corridor.  It requires studies regarding the expansion of the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor to Memphis and to far south Texas.  It requires proposals for building station stops for the proposed high-speed rail system in the Northeast Corridor.  It also would authorize intercity passenger rail grants to be used for bicycle access into rolling stock and would provide bicycle racks in trains.  Finally, it makes technical corrections to the bill.”
• Reps. Tom Davis (R-VA), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD):  “Would authorize the Transportation Secretary to make grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to finance in part the capital and preventive maintenance projects included in the Capital Improvement Program approved by the Board of Directors of the Transit Authority.  It would prohibit funds to the Transit Authority unless the Authority ensures its rail customers have access to any services provided by any licensed wireless provider that notifies the Authority of its intent to offer services to the public.”
• Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY):  “Would add to the passenger rail system comparison study a request to study train horn technology, with an emphasis on reducing train horn noise and its effect on local communities.”
• Rep. Christopher Murphy (D-CT):  “Would express support for commuter rail service between New Haven, CT, and Springfield, MA.  It would encourage Amtrak to cooperate with state Departments of Transportation to expand commuter rail service on that line.  Amtrak shall report to Congress and the Transportation Departments of Connecticut and Massachusetts on the total cost of uncompleted infrastructure maintenance on the rail line between New Haven and Springfield.”
• Reps. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), and Rush Holt (D-NJ):  “Would require Amtrak, within one year of enactment, to report to Congress on the results of an evaluation of passenger rail between Cornwells Heights, PA, and New York City, NY, and between Princeton Junction, NJ, and New York City, NY, to determine whether to expand passenger rail service by increasing the frequency of stops or reducing commuter ticket prices for this route.”
• Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA): “Would require Amtrak to engage in good faith discussions, with commuter rail entities and public transportation authorities operating on the same trackage owned by a rail carrier as Amtrak, with respect to routing and timing of trains to efficiently move a maximal number of commuters, intercity, and passenger rail passengers, particularly during peak times of commuter usage.  It also would require such discussion with respect to the expansion and enhancement of commuter rail and regional rail public transportation service.”

Voting charts on the members’ section of our web site have been updated to reflect this week’s relevant roll-call votes.

Due to technical problems dismantling the counterweight of the old Thames River Bridge in Groton, CT, Amtrak will operate full service on the Northeast Corridor in New England until further notice.  On Wednesday, when it appeared that only a 48-hour delay would be involved, Amtrak had announced that it would provide regular service on June 14-15 and then offer an elaborate collection of substitute rail and bus services on June 16-19.  The substitute services were close to what NARP had advocated from the start, and a vast improvement over the original plan to offer no substitute service at all for intermediate points between Boston and New Haven.  Yesterday’s The Day (New London, CT) quoted NARP’s Ross Capon saying, “They’ve done a heck of a lot of good work in the past few days.  Given the lead time, it certainly strikes me as a positive, good-faith effort.”

Georgia Gov. Sonny Purdue (R) endorsed Atlanta commuter rail for the first time on Thursday.  In a news conference, he said he would present the Legislature with a “business case” for a plan to start initial service between Griffin and Atlanta.  “We have not kept pace in our transportation infrastructure,” said Purdue.  “We need to catch up and make sure we plan for the future.”  Referring to gas prices and crowded conditions on existing transit, he declared the need for “more transit options” and said that, if the pilot project succeeds, “there are certainly other areas of Georgia that can benefit.”

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) made comments critical of CSX Transportation in connection with the proxy bid by the British hedge fund The Children’s Investment Fund to replace certain members of the CSX board.  Though CSX officially views TCI’s effort as one that would merely have the effect of reducing capital spending, allies of CSX in Congress have questioned whether it is a national security concern to allow a high level of foreign influence.  “Why do I want to protect their right to screw my state?  Given how uncooperative CSX has been on the [Massachusetts] commuter rail liability question, I see no reason to help them out with their foreign investment problem,” Frank told media outlets this week.  “I’m not afraid of the English.  Maybe a new group would be nicer to me.”

Amtrak instituted a new policy effective Memorial Day weekend last month that allows uniformed military personnel to go to the front of the line at all Amtrak ticket windows.  The policy is in place permanently and for all staffed stations nationwide.

Amtrak has sued the owners of the former Railway Express Agency building in Baltimore.  Railway Express LLC has owned the building, which sits on pillars above Northeast Corridor right-of-way, since the City of Baltimore sold it in 2005.  However, Amtrak inherited the NEC air rights from the federal government.  Amtrak claims that it voluntarily vacated its equipment from under the building when the new owner renovated it, but that they erected a barrier to prevent Amtrak from returning last year.  In a countersuit, Railway Express LLC claims that there was an agreement that the space under the building would be used for tenant parking.

The detour of Amtrak’s Coast Starlight on June 22 will include a passenger stop at Bakersfield.  Amtrak will generate additional revenue by allowing ticketing between Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Sacramento, and points north.

Deadly, severe storms in the Midwest this week caused lengthy delays and detours on several Amtrak routes.  The California Zephyr from today through Sunday is suspended between Chicago and Denver.  Motorcoaches are serving the route between Omaha and Denver, and service to Iowa is temporarily suspended.  The Empire Builder has been detouring between Chicago and St. Paul since June 10, with motorcoach service protecting the missed stops.  However, due to flooding, service to Portage and Columbus, WI has been temporarily suspended as of today, and a detour route between Chicago and St. Paul is no longer available.  Trains are now turning in St. Paul.

Continuing Union Pacific trackwork in Illinois will cause additional disruptions to Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle trains starting next week.  On June 16, 17, and 18, the Texas Eagle is planned to detour between Chicago and St. Louis, missing all intermediate stops.  However, bus substitution may be necessary because of increased Union Pacific freight traffic on the planned detour route…which itself is detouring due to the above-referenced flooding.  Check http://www.amtrak.com for the latest updates.  Lincoln Service trains 301, 302, 305, and 306 will be canceled.  Train 303 and 304 will operate only between Chicago and Lincoln, with connecting motorcoach service to/from Springfield, and no service to Carlinville, Alton, or St. Louis.  The same will apply to trains 300 and 307 from June 16 to 24.  From June 19 to 24, all trains will detour on a route that misses Springfield.  Connecting motorcoach service will be provided.  For more information, see Amtrak’s news release.

Amtrak now offers a seasonal San Joaquin Thruway round-trip to Mammoth Lakes, CA and other towns on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  The trip begins at the Yosemite Visitors Center, where passengers connect to/from the existing Thruway at Merced.  The new route, operated by Yosemite Area Regional Transit, includes stops at Yosemite Wolf Lodge, Tuolumne Meadows, Lee Vining, June Lake, and Mammoth Lakes.  Eastbound bus 8662 departs Yosemite Visitors Center at 5 PM and arrives at Mammoth Lakes at 8:51 PM.  Westbound bus 8667 departs Mammoth Lakes at 7 AM and arrives at Yosemite Visitors Center at 10:55 AM.  Until June 29, and from September 6 to 28, the service operates Saturdays and Sundays only.  From July 1 to August 31, the service operates daily.

The third annual Dump the Pump Day is Thursday, June 19.  Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, Dump the Pump Day “is dedicated to raising awareness that riding public transportation helps improve the environment and conserves fuel.  It also offers the opportunity for people to beat the high price of gasoline and support public transportation as an important travel option that helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil as well as reducing the amount of harmful greenhouse gases that are emitted into our environment.”

A Washington Metrorail Orange Line train derailed in Arlington, VA on Monday afternoon.  None of the 412 passengers were injured when the third car left the tracks.  A WMATA supervisor detected the derailment before the operator, who had to be notified to stop the train.

Cell phone use has been ruled out as a potential factor in the rear-end collision of two MBTA Green Line trolley on May 27.  Middlesex, MA District Attorney Gerard T. Leone, Jr. determined that operator Terresse Edmonds, who was the only fatality in the incident, was not using a cell phone at the time the trolley she was operating collided with one in front of it.

United Airlines and US Airways joined American Airlines yesterday in imposing a $15 fee for the first checked bag for most domestic passengers.  The fee is effective for United tickets purchased starting June 13 for travel starting August 18, and is effective for US Airways tickets purchased starting July 9.  On August 1, US Airways will also begin charging $2 for soft drinks on domestic flights in coach, and increase the charge for alcoholic beverages by $2 to $7.  US Airways is shrinking its operations by returning 10 aircraft to lessors, eliminating its Las Vegas “night hub” effective September 3, and reducing its employee headcount by 1,700.

Effective immediately, NARP members are eligible for discounts on the Grand Canyon Railway.  Members get 20% off coach fare on the train, or 10% off a Grand Canyon Railway vacation package.  Certain restrictions apply.  You will need to present your NARP membership card upon arrival at the Railway. The Grand Canyon Railway is a 65 mile railroad running between Williams Junction, AZ (connection with Amtrak’s Southwest Chief) and a point just south of the South Rim of the Canyon.  The rail line was completed in 1901 and re-opened in its current tourist form in 1989. Visit their website for more information.  To book with the NARP discount, you must call the Railway directly at 1-800-THE-TRAIN (843-8784) and ask for discount code “NARP”.

Sean Jeans-Gail joined the NARP staff as Transportation Assistant (Intern) on Wednesday.  A native of Portland, OR,  he earned a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Oregon, and was Phi Beta Kappa.  Since late December, 2007, he has worked as an intern for Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA).  In 2007, he was a key field organizer for the Yes on 49 Campaign in Oregon (which strengthened land-use laws).  He previously worked for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, the City of Portland City Attorney’s Office, and Wells Fargo & Co.  Welcome aboard, Sean!

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Jun 20, 2008: Hotline #558

June 20, 2008

The first step of the Fiscal 2009 appropriations process took place today when the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development approved $1.439 billion for Amtrak.  This is a slight increase over current funding, but $346 million (19%) lower than Amtrak’s request of $1.785 billion.  The legislation provides $475 million for operational support, and $850 million for capital grants and debt service.  Also included is $114 million to meet the back pay recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board 242 and subsequent labor contract agreements.  The full committee was scheduled to take up the legislation next Thursday, but that has now slipped until after the July 4 recess (likely the week of July 7).  Consideration by the full House, and any Senate action, has not yet been scheduled.  NARP issued a news release today about the Subcommittee markup.

Several newspapers penned editorials this week praising House passage of H.R. 6003 to reauthorize passenger rail investments.  Positive editorials came from the Salt Lake City Tribune, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Lufkin Daily News, Kalamazoo Gazette, Capital Times (Madison, WI), Bemidji Pioneer, and Grand Forks Herald.  The Baltimore Sun called H.R. 6003 “only a start” given formidable future needs for funding passenger train expansion.

The price of oil reached a new record this week, as a barrel of US light crude touched $139.89 on Monday afternoon amid strong global demand, uncertainty about supplies, and a weak US dollar.  The price later fell to $134.57.  According to the BBC, some analysts predict that oil could reach $200 a barrel in the next 18 months.

Amtrak has rescheduled replacing the Thames River Bridge, for June 24-27.  Work was postponed last week due to difficulty dismantling the counterweight.  Meanwhile, marine traffic interests anxiously await the ability to pass under the bridge, which has been permanently closed since June 1.  The new bridge lift was scheduled to be operational by June 20.  Currently, only boats requiring clearance of less than 30 feet are allowed to pass.

Amtrak will offer considerable substitute service on all four days – close to what NARP had originally advocated and a vast improvement over the original plan to offer no substitute service at all for intermediate points between Boston and New Haven.  Highlights of the new service plan (for complete details, see Amtrak’s news release):

• Monday, June 23 – all westbound trains operate normally; eastbound trains will operate normally with these exceptions: #178 will end at New Haven; #94 will go to Springfield only (not Boston); #66 will end at New York City.
• Tuesday-Friday, June 24-27 – these are the days the Thames River Bridge east of New London will be out of service.
• (a) In addition to the single Boston trip via Springfield Amtrak had previously planned, there will be two additional Boston trips via Springfield. These additional trips will run non-stop between Back Bay and Springfield.
• (b) A shuttle train will make three daily round-trips between New London, Old Saybrook and New Haven, connecting there with Amtrak Regional trains.
• (c) A shuttle train for Boston commuters will operate between Westerly and Boston on the schedule of trains 66 and 177.
• (d) Four Providence-New Haven non-stop express buses (up to 150 seats per schedule) and four Kingston-New Haven non-stop buses (50 seats).
• (e) No Acela Express service east of New York City.
• (f) No service at Mystic; no service (other than regular MBTA commuter rail) at Route 128; no Westerly-west service; no service linking Boston to Old Saybrook.

Vermont’s Agency of Transportation is still awaiting the go-ahead to purchase diesel multiple units from Colorado Railcar for its state-supported Amtrak service.  According to Vermont Public Radio, “the reason for the delay is unclear.  The state says it wants guidance from a special committee chaired by the state treasurer.  But the treasurer says the Legislature has already approved the deal.”  There are fears that further delays will cause procurement costs to escalate from the current estimate of $18 million, potentially jeopardizing the project.

The new St. Louis Gateway Transportation Center that Amtrak and Greyhound will occupy has had its opening date pushed back to August, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  The multimodal station was schedule to open this spring.

Metrolink, the Los Angeles area commuter rail agency, this week began what it calls “random” inspections of passengers and their belongings on selected station platforms.  While the goal is to find weapons, explosives, or other dangerous items, police officers and Sheriff’s deputies will confiscate and make arrests for other prohibited items such as drugs.  Metrolink claims that the inspections will be quick and will not delay commuters, and says that the screenings are part of a larger ramp-up of police presence at its facilities.

A sinkhole just south of the Memphis Amtrak station is still not repaired, because the City of Memphis and Canadian National Railroad cannot decide who is responsible for the over $1 million project.  The sinkhole was caused by the failure of a rain culvert which was built in 1897.  Meanwhile, Amtrak is busing passengers to and from a temporary boarding site in Woodstock.  Amtrak is urging a swift resolution to the problem, as the daily expense of this alternate arrangement is becoming overwhelming.  City of New Orleans passengers should note that arrival and departure times for Memphis have been adjusted to account for the temporary boarding location.  The bus for northbound train #58 departs at 9:15pm (1 hour 25 minutes earlier than timetable) and the bus for southbound train #59 departs at 6:30am (20 minutes earlier than timetable).

Rides on Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor were free yesterday morning as part of the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Spare the Air Free Transit Day, which coincided with APTA’s Dump the Pump Day.  The annual free transit rides as part of the Spare the Air program are granted to promote environmentally friendly commuting.

Two San Francisco Muni Metro light rail trains were involved in a collision on the afternoon of June 14.  A one-car, westbound T-Third train rear-ended a two-car N-Judah train, which was reportedly stopped at a light on King Street near the Caltrain station.  16 people, including both trains’ operators, were injured, with 12 sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  According to preliminary reports, the T-Third was speeding at 17 mph in a 3 mph zone.

An Amtrak employee is in fair condition after being trapped in a conveyor belt at Amtrak’s Ivy City Yards in Washington, DC.  DC Emergency Medical Services responded Tuesday morning, extricating the 49 year-old man’s leg and taking him to the hospital.  Amtrak and OSHA are investigating the incident.

Severe flooding in the Midwest continued to impact Amtrak’s California Zephyr and Empire Builder this week.  Additionally, starting June 17, the Southwest Chief turned at Kansas City.  Buses are provided between Kansas City and Chicago, except at La Plata, Fort Madison, Mendota, and Naperville.  The Missouri Mules were also represented by buses last weekend due to heavy Union Pacific traffic detouring over its route.  Looking ahead, Amtrak had planned to operate the Southwest Chief through today, but further flooding at Fort Madison has put those plans on hold, to be reevaluated this weekend.  The California Zephyr will continue to be disrupted through the weekend, as the Mississippi River is due to crest at Burlington, IA on Sunday.  Things are looking a little brighter for the Empire Builder; the train is scheduled to resume a Chicago-Minneapolis detour on BNSF tomorrow.

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Jun 27, 2008: Hotline #559

June 27, 2008

In a flurry of legislative activity at the end of the week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6052, which authorizes $1.7 billion in grants over two years to local transit agencies to reduce fares, increase service, or (in light of the transit agencies’ skyrocketing fuel costs) avoid service cuts and fare increases.  It also expands the program under which federal agencies subsidize employees’ transit fares.  Like any authorization—including Amtrak’s—this legislation is essentially a “hunting license” and funds will still have to be secured through the Appropriations process.  This provision, which the Administration opposes because it subsidizes operations, is similar to a provision that the House passed earlier in the energy bill but which was dropped in conference. 

The good news is that the House spent a whole day discussing transit just before leaving town, and many members will want to talk about this in during their time back home over the next week.  Yesterday’s Politico.com, in a front page article called “Pelosi’s Pump Pain; Aggressive pre-recess plan goes by wayside,” this bill was characterized as the only successful House effort to respond to high gasoline prices.  The failed efforts would have given “the federal government more authority to crack down on price gouging by oil companies and smaller vendors, a bill requiring energy producers to relinquish any land not currently being tapped for oil or gas production, and a measure creating new restrictions for commodity traders whose speculations [NARP note: many politicians believe] has driven up the price of oil.”

Members of Congress will be in their home districts this upcoming week for July 4th recess.  Keep an eye and ear on local media outlets for any Town Hall meetings or other opportunities to talk to you Legislators.  Urge full funding of Amtrak in Fiscal 2009 and a speedy conference of S. 294 and H.R. 6003.  Go to our Action Alert center for full details.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) has proposed zeroing-out Illinois’ operational support of Amtrak service in the state.  The $28 million dollars is among $1.5 billion in state funding cuts Blagojevich is threatening absent action by the legislature on increasing revenues.  In a news release, Rick Harnish, Executive Director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, said, “Amtrak is on the cut list to make the most people mad.  The service links the entire state, affecting most every district. If the goal is to pressure the General Assembly, cutting Amtrak makes perfect sense.”  NARP Executive Director Ross Capon was quoted in several newspapers sarcastically saying that Blagojevich’s proposal is “a great way to respond to $4-a-gallon gasoline.”

Primarily related to the price of fuel, Procter & Gamble, the world’s biggest consumer goods company is “rethinking how it distributes products and [considering] shifting manufacturing sites closer to consumers to cut its transport bill,” says Financial Times in today’s lead story.  Keith Harrison, head of global supply at P&G, told FT that “a lot of our supply chain design work was really developed…when…oil was 10 bucks a barrel.  I could say that the supply chain design is now upside down.  The environment has changed.  Transportation cost is going to create an even more distributed sourcing network than we would have had otherwise…With oil at $140, he world has changed.”  This might be the beginning of the end of the 5,000-mile supply line, which writer James Kunstler has been predicting for a few years.

Juan Manuel Alvarez the man who parked his truck on a Metrolink line in Glendale, California, in 2005, triggering a three-way train crash that killed eleven people, has been found guilty of 11 counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson (for the resulting fire).  Jurors found Alvarez guilty of the special circumstance of multiple murders, meaning Alvarez could face the death penalty.  The penalty phase will begin on July 7.  The accident occurred when a southbound Metrolink train derailed after striking Alvarez’s Cherokee, then crashed into a northbound Metrolink train.  The two derailed trains then struck a Union Pacific freight train locomotive, which rolled onto its side, igniting the diesel fuel.

Reflecting the importance of Amtrak to small communities, two cities this week announced plans to push for new stations and the establishment of service in their towns.  Rockwood, PA and Hope, AR will explore renovating station buildings for the Capitol Limited and Texas Eagle respectively.  “We are doing this from tourism standpoint…If people stop on the trains to visit Hope, that is tourism, to stop to look at the Clinton site, or just visit the city in general, but now with gas prices the way they are, and rail passenger traffic is definitely increasing, and Amtrak is coming right by our front door anyway, getting them to stop just makes good sense,” Hope Advertising and Tourist Promotion Commission Secretary Paul Henley said.  Similarly, Rockwood Chamber of Commerce Director Ron Aldom told the Rockwood Daily American, “It’s a more economical way to travel than by your own vehicle….I have a lot of belief in the fact passenger numbers for the trains are up. People are using the trains who have never used them before. It’s a comfortable, relaxing way to travel.”

Virginia Legislators are meeting in a special General Assembly session this week trying to tackle a transportation funding shortfall.  Like many states, Virginia’s gas tax has not been indexed to inflation and thus has not been increased in over 21 years.  Legislators are wary of passing a tax increase in an election year, but face the reality of cancelling many needed improvements and rehabilitations and slashing public transit funding without a revenue stream increase.  The House Republican majority favors tolling, while the Senate Democratic majority favors a gas tax increase, and Governor Timothy Kaine (D) supports a mix of tolling and increases in car tax and registration fees.

Separate from the transportation funding problems, officials in Virginia are considering how best to improve the Washington-Richmond corridor.  Specifically, the Commonwealth is considering rerouting passenger trains from Doswell (just north of Ashland) to Richmond by way of the Chesapeake and Ohio’s former passenger mainline, now operated by the Buckingham Branch Railroad.  This would end passenger rail service to Ashland, and require construction of a new suburban Richmond passenger station, but segregate passenger and freight operations that are currently now a bottleneck in Richmond.  This week, a study was released that said the bypass would cost $167 million more than making improvements along the existing right of way.  Officials in Ashland and Henrico Counties oppose the Buckingham Branch option.  Whichever option is chosen north of Richmond, it is assumed that all trains will eventually serve Main Street Station after restoration of the connection from there south towards Petersburg.  Currently, Main Street is served only by trains traveling to and from Newport News.

Amtrak has announced ratification of the final set of agreements with its unions. The Transportation Communication International Union, the Amtrak Service Workers Council and the ARASA Product Line Supervisors have approved their contracts.  In a message to employees, Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant said, “My hope is that this last set of agreements formally gives closure to what was a trying period in Amtrak history.  We will face a range of challenges and opportunities in the future, and I am counting on a committed, united workforce that can overcome those challenges and seize the opportunities.”

A small fire broke out at the Newport News Amtrak Station on Tuesday night.  While an official cause has not been given, it has been reported that the fire appeared to have been intentionally set; two rolls of toilet paper were burned and matches were found nearby.  The fire broke out just before the arrival of train #95.  No passengers or employees were injured, and train #94 departed on time the next morning.

The full 13 miles of the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar line reopened Sunday.  This is the first service along the line since Hurricane Katrina.  The line has reopened in segments, beginning in December 2006.  The line’s reopening is seen by many as a major morale boost for the city, as well as a much needed stimulus for tourism and local businesses.

The Coast Starlight detoured between Los Angeles and Sacramento via the San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi Pass last Sunday.  Many rail enthusiasts—including NARP Board Members Ryan Stern, Dennis Lytton, Ed Von Nordeck and Bob Glover, and NARP Communications Associate Matthew Melzer—rode the detour, and Amtrak wisely decided to stop the trains at Bakersfield so that a quick return trip to Los Angeles was possible for those who desired such.

Barring any last minute problems, Amtrak service will be restored between New Haven and Boston tomorrow.  The new bridge span at the Thames River was lifted into place yesterday; test trains are operating over the span today. 

Midwest flooding continues to impact Amtrak.

• First the good news—beginning today, the Empire Builder will resume service through to and from Chicago, albeit on a detour between Chicago and La Crosse, WI via. Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific.  Bus service will be provided between Milwaukee and LaCrosse, stopping at Wisconsin Dells and Tomah only.
• As for the Southwest Chief, the train was able to operate thru last Sunday and Monday, before flood waters once again closed the line.  Yesterday’s train 3 detoured via. St. Louis (route of the Ann Rutledge) but departed Kansas City over five hours late.  Today’s service will return to the previous pattern of turning train 4 in Kansas City and busing between Chicago and Kansas City, with limited service to intermediate points.
• There is currently no estimate for restoration of the California Zephyr service east of Denver.  This route has faced the most severe damage of the three Amtrak trains impacted, with nearly 17 feet of water over the rails at Connet, IL (east of Burlington, IA).  It is currently not practical to detour over the Union Pacific Chicago-Omaha mainline due to flooding and heavy freight congestion.  Buses are provided between Denver and Omaha only.
• Finally, Amtrak advises that the Missouri Mules may face delay and last-minute bus substitution due to heavy Union Pacific traffic detouring over its route.  At least one set of trips this past week were covered by buses.

Next Friday is Independence Day, July 4.  The NARP offices will be closed.  Accordingly, next week’s hotline will be posted on Thursday, July 3.

 

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