Oct 17, 2008: Hotline #575

President Bush signed H.R. 2095, the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 including the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, into law yesterday.  The White House news release stated, simply, “On Thursday, October 16, 2008, the President signed into law:  H.R. 2095, which authorizes appropriations for the Department of Transportation’s railroad safety and passenger rail activities and for Amtrak for Fiscal Years 2009-2013; and revises statutory provisions related to railroad safety and passenger rail activities.”

Amtrak smashed ridership records once again during Fiscal Year 2008, which ended September 30.  Amtrak carried 28.7 million passengers, an 11.1 percent increase from Fiscal 2007, and increased ticket revenue by 14.2 percent.  Eight long-distance routes recorded double-digit percentage ridership increases, the highest being the Texas Eagle (up 15.2 percent) and the Sunset Limited (up 13.2 percent).  Among corridor trains, Downeaster ridership was up 31.2 percent, Piedmont up 30.4 percent, and St. Louis-Kansas City trains up 30.2 percent.  For more information, see Amtrak’s news release.

NARP Deputy Director David Johnson joined other rail industry and public officials at a passenger rail summit hosted by the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission in Meridian, MS October 10.  Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant remarked, “This is the first time in history that an emerging mode of transportation is one that already exists.”  He struck a conciliatory tone regarding the fate of service between New Orleans and Orlando, suspended since before Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and now mandated by H.R. 2095 for Amtrak to submit an operating plan to restore.  He said, “We have not given notice of cessation because we are committed to providing service.”  He also noted that it is easier to start new corridor service where long-distance trains already run, due to existing stations, crew bases, and host railroad familiarity with Amtrak.  In the coming fiscal years, Kummant said that “We need to focus available capital funds on equipment procurement.”

Deputy Federal Railroad Administrator Mark Yachmetz observed that the federal relationship with the rail industry has been seen from a commerce (regulatory) view rather than a public works perspective.  He also said each state must have a robust rail component in their state DOT.  It can’t just be one guy in a desk at the end of the hall next to the vending machines.

According to former Massachusetts Governor and Amtrak Vice-Chair Michael Dukakis, it is in times of economic distress that “we can seize opportunities” such as investments in passenger trains as fiscal stimulus.  “Certainly, when we’re in the middle of a fiscal mess, this is a great time to put people to work rebuilding this country’s infrastructure, including its national rail passenger system,” said Dukakis.  He noted that the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative Plan would cost half of the proposed expansion of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, which largely serves fairly close cities that trains could more efficiently serve.

Amtrak reservation sales agent Dan Thomas is leading a class-action lawsuit against Amtrak on behalf of over 500 Call Center employees.  The lawsuit claims that agents were working outside of normal working hours and not being paid for all hours worked, and seeks damages over $5 million from Amtrak.

Construction on the new station in New Buffalo, MI begins this month and Amtrak service is expected to switch to the new station in May 2009, according to press reports.

Picayune, MS opened its new Intermodal Transportation Center yesterday.  The $1.2 million facility provides better facilities to Amtrak passengers, and the city hopes to lure Greyhound to the station.

Temporary busing from Memphis Central Station to a remote boarding site ended on October 15, after a forced detour since April 23 due to a sinkhole.  CN sinkhole repairs are complete and the City of New Orleans is now operating as usual.  See Amtrak’s news release.

Amtrak will once again detour the Coast Starlight between Los Angeles and Sacramento via Tehachapi Pass due to UP tunnel work on the normal Cuesta Pass route between San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles.  Trains 11 and 14 will both detour on October 24, 26, and 29, as well as yet-to-be-announced dates in November.  Unlike previous detours, trains will not take the San Joaquin route (BNSF) between Bakersfield and Stockton, but the somewhat slower UP route.  Train 14 is scheduled to arrive into Sacramento at 9:30 PM (and hold for the scheduled 11:59 PM departure), while train 11 should arrive into Los Angeles at 6:10 PM, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier than usual.  Passengers bound to or from stations between Los Angeles and Sacramento may take existing California corridor trains and Thruway connections.

Amtrak will divert Empire Service and Ethan Allen Express trains to New York Grand Central Station tracks 34 and 35 due to track work on October 18, 19, 25, and 26.  Schedules will change slightly and shuttle bus service will operate between Grand Central and Penn Stations.  Some trains will turn at Croton-Harmon.  Adirondack, Lake Shore Limited and Maple Leaf trains will continue to operate to and from Penn, but some schedules will be altered.  See Amtrak’s news release.

Amtrak westbound Pere Marquette train 371 will operate one hour earlier from October 27 to December 4 to accommodate CSX track work.  Eastbound train 370 may incur delays of 20 to 30 minutes during the first two weeks of track work.

Additional Thruway changes will go into effect in Southern California with Amtrak’s October 27 schedule change.  San Joaquin Thruways between Bakersfield and Simi Valley will no longer serve Chatsworth or Simi Valley.  Stops will be added at a new stop in Lebec (station code LEB, not effective until January 1, 2009), as well as Newhall/Santa Clarita, Burbank Airport, Van Nuys, and new stops at Westwood/UCLA (WES), Culver City (CCY), and Torrance (TOA).  Other minor changes will occur as well.

Amtrak has revised plans to reinstate the Lake Shore Limited thru cars.  While thru car operations will resume on October 27, a sleeping car going to and from Boston will not be added for an unknown number of days.

On November 1, Amtrak will end its perk for Northeast Corridor multi-ride ticket holders (ten-trips and monthly passes) that has allowed passengers to upgrade to Acela Express trains within 30 minutes of departure for $20.  Due to high Acela demand, such upgrades will no longer be allowed.

Amtrak Downeaster schedules will change on November 17.  Some trains will depart anywhere from 40 minutes earlier to 20 minutes later, while many will remain unchanged.

Amtrak Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner, and Metrolink Ventura County Line service was suspended on October 13 due to wildfires near the Santa Suzanna Pass.  Surfliners were substituted with motorcoaches north of Los Angeles, while the Coast Starlight turned in Santa Barbara.

Sun Country Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 6.  The filing came amid fraud, money laundering, and other charges against parent company Petters Group Worldwide.  The airline told employees that it may cut back services or even shut down by December 1.

NARP’s Board of Directors is holding its Fall meeting in Portland, OR today and tomorrow.  Yesterday, Board Members toured Tri-Met transit facilities, including the future Westside Express Service (WES) commuter train, and the plant of United Streetcar LLC.  Last night, the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates (AORTA) sponsored a reception at which NARP honored the City of Portland with its first Tracks to the Future Leadership Award.  Susan Keil, the Director of the City of Portland Office of Transportation, accepted the honor on behalf of the city.  At its meeting today, the Board was addressed by Scott Moore, Vice President, Public Affairs West, Union Pacific Railroad, and Robert Melbo, Statewide Rail Planner, Oregon DOT.  Tonight the Board honors the life and memory of late NARP Treasurer Bob Glover.

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