National Association of Railroad Passengers: www.narprail.org

Hotline #396

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, The Judiciary, the District of Columbia and Independent Agencies held its annual Amtrak appropriations hearing on Wednesday. The new chairman of the subcommittee is Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI), who replaced Ernest Istook (R-OK).

Knollenberg relied on “sound bite” assertions regarding per passenger subsidy and every rail advocate’s favorite, “it would be cheaper to buy Amtrak passengers plane tickets.” Knollenberg made it clear to Amtrak that $1.82 billion will not be achievable in the current budget environment. Nonetheless, Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn made a clear and concise case for the $1.82 billion funding level and clearly explained why separation of management and maintenance does not work in a railroad environment.

In a written statement submitted to the committee, NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon refuted the claims of Knollenberg and other anti-Amtrak statements and emphasized the utility and relative low cost of operation of Amtrak’s long distance trains.

Also Wednesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee “marked up” (or approved) a “clean” Amtrak reauthorization, H.R. 1630 and a rail infrastructure investment bill, “RIDE 21” (H.R. 1631). This bill is sponsored by Chairman Don Young (R-AK), Ranking Member James Oberstar (D-MN), Railroads Subcommittee Chairman Steve LaTourette (R-OH), and Ranking Member Corinne Brown (D-FL). The bill is essentially identical to the 2003 legislation introduced by Young and Oberstar. It authorizes (but does not appropriate) $2 billion a year for Amtrak and provides for a federal-state funding match partnership.

Young said, “Although serious disagreements still exist about Amtrak’s long-term management strategy and structure, there is a common understanding of the need for near-term funding…The legislation also contains funding accountability procedures closely modeled on those already in effect under the current appropriations laws.

“I think very little is understood about the enormous progress Amtrak has made in the past year to improve the quality of the track, the rail bed, its rolling stock and to upgrade its operations,” said Oberstar. “In David Gunn, Amtrak has a true railroader heading that organization. He is arguably the best person we’ve had in that position since Amtrak was created in 1970.”

While the Amtrak reauthorization was passed out of committee on a unanimous voice vote, Representative Mark Kennedy (R-MN) attempted to introduce an amendment that would have required Amtrak to print the cost of the per-passenger subsidy on each ticket issued. Kennedy withdrew the amendment under pressure from fellow Republicans.

The House of Representatives Republican letter to Appropriations leaders has been closed and sent. The final count was 22 members, one more than last year. Thank you for your efforts! If your Congressman is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he/she did not sign this letter, as it would essentially amount to signing a letter to him or herself. The 22 Republicans are:

Steve LaTourette (OH), Mike Castle (DE), Sherwood Boehlert (NY), Rob Simmons (CT), Michael Fitzpatrick (PA), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), Tim Johnson (IL), Todd Platts (PA), Curt Weldon (PA), Chris Smith (NJ), Peter King (NY), Jim Saxton (NJ), James Leach (IA), Phil English (PA), Jerry Weller (IL), Jim Gerlach (PA), Scott Garrett (NJ), John McHugh (NY), Joe Schwarz (MI), Mike Ferguson (NJ), Sue Kelly (NY), Randy Kuhl (NY).

The formation of a “Passenger Rail Caucus” will be announced at a press conference on Thursday, May 5, at 10:00 a.m. on the Cannon House Office Building Terrace (near the intersection of Independence and New Jersey, SE) here in Washington, D.C. This is a bi-partisan effort being led by Reps. Mike Castle and Michael Fitzpatrick and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rob Andrews (D-NJ). If you live in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, please attend this event! The Congressmen want a big turnout from the train-riding public. No matter where you live, encourage your Representative to join this caucus!

During a break in the House Appropriations hearing, David Gunn told an Associated Press reporter that indications are that the consortium of Bombardier and Alstom underestimated the brake life of the Acela Express equipment. “I believe they misjudged the life of the rotors…Their life expectancy was less than they had planned and they were caught without a supply,” Gunn said. Bombardier has countered with the fact that the brakes’disc face (front of the disc) showed normal wear. The official investigation as to what caused the brake spokes to crack is still being conducted.

A tragic accident occurred in Amagasaki, Japan on Monday when a commuter train sped into a curve, derailed, and smashed into an apartment building. The death toll now stands at 106 with hundreds more injured. The focus of blame for the incident has been placed on the train’s engineer (who was a fatality as well). Eyewitness and passenger accounts indicate that 23-year-old Ryujiro Takami overshot a platform at the station just prior to the accident and the traveled at a high rate of speed in an attempt to compensate for the 90 second delay he incurred. Despite claims here in America of Japanese technological superiority, the line on which this accident occurred lacked even a basic speed control system or cab signaling which would have required the driver to slow for the curve or applied the brakes automatically if the driver failed to slow down.

A Norfolk Southern freight train derailment disrupted rail service in North Carolina on Tuesday. The derailment occurred near the Yadkin River Bridge, approximately 40 miles north of Charlotte. Crescent passengers were forced to utilize a bus bridge between two sets of equipment, Carolinian passengers were bussed to Rocky Mount, and the Piedmont was cancelled.

The last rock blast to complete the 21 mile-long Loetschberg Tunnel in Switzerland took place this week. When complete, this tunnel and the sister Gotthard Tunnel will permit vastly improved Swiss-Italian freight and passenger rail transportation. While need for the project has been long agreed upon, it has been plagued with cost overruns and safety issues—eleven employees have died thus far during its construction. The Loetschberg Tunnel is planned to open in 2007; the parallel Gotthard in 2015.

A reminder: Amtrak is once again sponsoring a photo contest for its 2006 wall calendar. Enter the “Picture Our Train” 2006 Wall Calendar Contest by submitting an original color photo of an Amtrak train (sporting the new logo and livery) and your image could appear on next year’s wall calendar with photo credit. The First Prize winner will also receive an Amtrak travel voucher. Amtrak’s website has more information and complete contest rules.