Sep 16, 2005: Hotline #416

September 16, 2005

A hearing on Amtrak reform is set for September 21 at 10 AM, before the Railroads Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The subcommittee chair is Steven LaTourette (R-OH).

The Senate may take up the Transportation/Treasury/HUD appropriations bill, containing FY 2006 Amtrak funding, early next week. The top priorities are securing the $1.45 billion for Amtrak in the Senate committee’s bill while eliminating that bill’s damaging, micro-managing language about on-board service. Funding for domestic programs in FY 2006 may not be finalized before the fiscal year begins on October 1, and continuing resolutions (to temporarily fund programs at FY2005 levels) and/or an omnibus bill are possible. Please see NARP’s Action Alert page for the latest Amtrak legislative information.

Amtrak has postponed its fare increases originally slated for September 20. NARP and several legislators strongly protested the plan for a one-time “sledgehammer” increase in the cost of monthly tickets in the Northeast (e.g., a $375 increase for New York-Philadelphia). Numerous US Representatives and six Senators had protested Amtrak’s proposal. In a press release, Amtrak stated that no new date has been set for possible fare increases, and that it will wait to take further action “to conclude additional briefings with public officials and other interested groups.”

Amtrak has also scrubbed its plan to abandon service at Cornwells Heights, PA. Amtrak President David L. Gunn met yesterday with Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and a concerned passenger. Fitzpatrick also protested the proposed fare increases.

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 14. With these actions, four of the United States’ six remaining “legacy” network air carriers are now operating in bankruptcy. US Airways will soon emerge from Chapter 11 in order to merge with the solvent America West Airlines. United Airlines currently hopes to emerge from Chapter 11 on February 1, 2006 (albeit under a business model presuming lower oil prices). American Airlines has pushed into the black since winning $1.8 billion in annual labor concessions in 2003. Continental Airlines enjoys the advantage of having restructured through two bankruptcy filings in the 1990s. Airlines have been hit hard by rising fuel costs, intense competition from low-cost carriers, and excess domestic seat capacity. Meanwhile, analysts speculate that startup airline Independence Air (formerly Atlantic Coast Airlines) might not survive the next year.

Amtrak will reinstate two more Acela Express weekday round-trips on September 19, one of which will serve Boston. For more information, see Amtrak’s press release.

Amtrak sent five baggage cars and former Express boxcars loaded with relief supplies to the Gulf Coast region this week. All of the goods were donated by Amtrak employees, and will be used to assist other Amtrak employees affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Amtrak Blue Water train 364 of September 11 struck debris placed on Canadian National tracks in Imlay City, MI by four teenage vandals. No one was injured, but the locomotive was damaged and a CN engine took the train the rest of the way to Port Huron. Lapeer County Sheriff’s deputies arrested all four suspects, who are said to have confessed. Train 365 of September 12 was canceled, and Port Huron-Chicago passengers were bussed. 

Improvements to Milwaukee’s Amtrak station may be more ambitious than originally planned. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the city’s Plan Commission approved on September 12 a major redesign to the project, which would cost $15.2 million. The original, modest $4 million plan was said to be insufficient to transform the station into a welcoming “gateway” to the city. Under the new plan, the building’s drab facade would be replaced by a 7,500 square-foot glass-and-steel addition three stories high. Improved facilities would also consolidate Greyhound into the station. (Greyhound recently made dramatic improvements to their current station, but welcomes the city’s plans.) The improved station also would serve as an anchor for redevelopment of the area. $9.2 million in funding has already been secured; the remaining $6 million would come from a tax-incremental financing district.

Boston’s MBTA has settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of James Allen, who died of a heart attack aboard a T commuter train on July 30, 2002. The conductor decided to advance the train three stations to Back Bay before having paramedics meet the train. Since then, MBTA has changed its emergency procedures, and deployed automated external defibrillators aboard its trains. MBTA has vowed to sue Amtrak, who was the contract operator of its commuter services at the time, to recoup the $3.9 million settlement.

The Redevelopment Agency of Berkeley, CA will dedicate the city’s improved Amtrak facility tomorrow, Saturday, September 17, at 1:30 PM. The renovated Berkeley Rail Stop and Transit Plaza includes an expanded, repaved platform, new signage, landscaping, lighting, benches, and other pedestrian, traffic, and safety improvements. Unfortunately, the 1913 Southern Pacific station building remains unoccupied. It was last used as a restaurant; another restaurateur is said to be considering moving in. The City of Berkeley has been unwilling to purchase the structure.

Amtrak is extending the Heartland Flyer north 30 miles between Oklahoma City and Guthrie, OK, in connection with the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival, north September 29-30, south September 30-October 1. The same train extends between Fort Worth and Dallas October 7 and 9 (both directions both days), for the Oklahoma/Texas football game on October 8. Reservations are available through normal channels except that “Julie” cannot sell Guthrie. For more information, see Amtrak’s press release.

VIA Rail Canada discontinued the Toronto-Montreal Enterprise this week, which was the only overnight train on VIA’s corridor. The Enterprise was launched January 16, 2000 with Renaissance equipment purchased from Europe. Those cars were later reassigned to VIA’s eastern services, and the two Enterprises arrived at their termini for the final time on September 15 with Budd stainless steel (Heritage) cars. VIA also once had a similar overnight corridor train called the Cavalier, which was discontinued in 1990.

On a couple of days, Amtrak’s Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express will be replaced by motorcoaches due to Canadian Pacific track work at Ft. Edward, NY. On September 20, train 291 will operate New York-Albany only, with passengers bussed to Rutland. On September 21, trains 68 and 294 will operate Albany-New York only, and train 69 New York-Albany only. Passengers on trains 68 and 69 will be bussed to and from Montreal. Passengers on train 294 will be bussed from Rutland. Buses will also cover all intermediate stops north of Albany.

Amtrak’s Boston-Albany trains will be replaced by motorcoaches due to CSX track work between Boston and Springfield. Passengers on trains 448 and 447/449, which normally connect to and from the Lake Shore Limited at Albany, will be bussed September 25-28, and October 2-5. The motorcoaches will be able to carry 100 passengers. Checked baggage will be handled as usual.

Amtrak Hiawatha schedules are temporarily modified to accommodate a Canadian Pacific bridge project in Milwaukee. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays through October 6, trains 331, 333, 334, and 336 will operate only between Chicago and the Milwaukee Airport Rail Station. Substitute motorcoaches will be provided to and from downtown Milwaukee, adding about ten minutes to each trip on the affected schedules.

The Amtrak Capitol Limited will be delayed approximately 30-40 minutes by CSX track work between Rockville and Cumberland, MD. This applies only on Sundays through Wednesdays, through December 14.

The September issue of NARP News is available to NARP members who have registered for an account on this site.  Click “Login” on this page (above, left) to access the member-only section; those without an account can click “Register” to receive one.

Correction: We erroneously stated in last week’s Hotline News that wireless internet access aboard Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin trains is complimentary. It is not; users must now pay a daily access or subscription fee. This was instituted a few months ago after nearly two years of complimentary wi-fi access from trial vendors. Jim Allison, senior planner for the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, explained that the vendors have absorbed all of the implementation costs thus far. “If a “free” service is pursued [on a permanent basis],” he said, “State funding would have to become available to follow that business plan. We are pursuing such funding at this time.”

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