National Association of Railroad Passengers: www.narprail.org

Hotline #421

The Senate approved $1.45 billion for Amtrak in FY2006 last night as it passed H.R.3058, the Transportation/Treasury/HUD bill. The Senate also unanimously approved an amendment that deleted the damaging, micro-managing language about dining and sleeping car service. Thanks to NARP members for making their voices heard! The bill will now move to House-Senate conference to reconcile the $1.17 billion House level and the $1.45 billion Senate level. The next legislative priority will be passage of S.1516, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (Lott-Lautenberg Amtrak reauthorization), which may get Senate floor time in the next few weeks, and possibly as early as next week. Please contact your Senators regarding this important bill! See our Action Alert page for the latest information.

A statement by NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon was submitted for the record of the September 21 hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Railroads Subcommittee. The topic of the hearing was Amtrak Reform proposals. In his statement, Capon stressed the need for secure federal funding, investment in rolling stock, achieving mechanical stability of the existing fleet, improving customer service, and harnessing efficiencies in on-board service without harming service quality. To read Capon’s statement, click here.

Amtrak announced a third consecutive year of record ridership this week. FY2005 saw nearly 25.4 million Amtrak passengers, shattering last year’s record of 25 million riders with an increase of 1.3 percent. The increased numbers are remarkable given the sharp reduction in seat availability due to the discontinuation of the Three Rivers and reduction in cross-Pennsylvania services from two to one, the truncation of the Palmetto in Savannah (from Miami), the phase-out of Clocker service (being handed over to New Jersey Transit), and hurricane-related service disruptions. Northeast Corridor ridership increased one percent despite the temporary sidelining of the Acela Express fleet. Elsewhere, large gains were seen by the Silver Meteor (+35.6%, likely picking up former Florida Palmetto traffic), Heartland Flyer (+23.1%), Keystones (+18.6%), and Blue Water (+18.3%). All Midwest corridors saw large gains. All long-distance trains were up except the truncated Palmetto (-41.9%), Sunset Limited (-15.6% due mainly to hurricanes), Coast Starlight (-10.4% due to Union Pacific dispatching problems), and City of New Orleans (-3.6% due to Hurricane Katrina). The Lake Shore Limited increased ridership by 11.8% (now being the only daily thru New York-Chicago train) and the Empire Builder by nine percent. Long-distance ridership was up 1.1 percent overall. For more information, see Amtrak’s press release.

Amtrak’s Sunset Limited will return to New Orleans next month. Train 2 will depart Los Angeles on November 2 and arrive New Orleans on November 4. The first westbound train 1 will depart New Orleans on that date. Sunset service restoration east of New Orleans to Orlando will not be possible until next year due to severe damage to the CSX.

The Ohio Hub regional rail plan received a major boost on October 17 after the Ohio State Controlling Board gave a “green light” to the Ohio Rail Development Commission to proceed with a detailed economic impact study (DEIS) of the plan using state funds. The next step would be an environmental impact study (EIS). According to ORDC Executive Director Jim Seney, “If we can complete these two studies, the Ohio Hub Plan can become an officially recognized federal transportation project that is ready for funding.” More information about the Hub Plan may be found at the ORDC web site.

Madison, WI may run commuter rail demonstration service next month, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. As early as mid-November, service might operate for one week along 13 miles of the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad between Middleton and East Towne Mall. Trips would be limited to peak rush hours and would utilize makeshift platforms. High gas prices have sparked calls for this service, which had been proposed three years ago in the Dane County Transport 2020 regional alternatives analysis.

Sacramento Regional Transit’s light rail extension from Sunrise to Folsom opened on October 15. The new 7.4-mile Gold Line brings the system to 37.1 miles. Under construction is the next expansion, a 0.55-mile spur from St. Rose of Lima Park to the Amtrak station.

Anaheim, CA is moving forward with plans for a new regional transportation center that would replace the current Metrolink and Amtrak station at the Angel Stadium parking lot. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Orange County Board of Supervisors agreed on October 18 to negotiate the sale of a parcel of land farther south at a site called the “Platinum Triangle.” It would serve as a regional hub for rail, bus, and future bus rapid transit and high-speed rail. The location would still serve Angel Stadium, as well as the Arrowhead Pond arena and the Grove of Anaheim concert hall. Anaheim city leaders envision mixed transit-oriented development at the site, including 9,000 condominium and apartment units and 7 million square feet in office and retail space.

www.Amtrak.com may now be accessed at www.Amtrak.travel. Amtrak was among the first members of the travel industry to take advantage of the new .travel top-level internet domain.

Hurricane Wilma is disrupting Florida Amtrak service. Today’s Auto Train departures in both directions have been cancelled, as have southbound Silver trains 91 and 97. Northbound Silver trains 92 and 98 are leaving Florida today with additional capacity for evacuees. Tomorrow, the Auto Train and both Silver trains have been cancelled. For October 23 and 24, northbound Silver trains 92 and 98 are cancelled. Amtrak may make further service adjustments as conditions necessitate.

Amtrak Capitols will bus between San Jose and either Fremont or Oakland through October 23 to accommodate Union Pacific tie installation. Southbound Coast Starlight train 11 will terminate in Oakland, with a bus bridge to San Jose, to continuing train 1011. (Train 14 will not be affected.) These changes will also repeat during track closures November 1-8 and 16-19.

Severe New England flooding shut down Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between New Haven and Boston, and Amtrak’s New Haven-Springfield Line, on October 15. While no alternate transportation was provided, service was restored the next day.

A tank car carrying propylene gas exploded in Union Pacific’s Texarkana, AR yard on October 15, killing a nearby resident and forcing thousands to evacuate. Amtrak southbound Texas Eagle train 21 was rerouted around the site, and Eagle delays were expected to continue until the site was cleaned up.

Amtrak’s California Zephyr was disrupted due to a rock slide on the Union Pacific in Byers Canyon (west of Granby, CO) on October 15. At least one Zephyr was rerouted via Cheyenne, WY.

NARP’s Board of Directors is meeting this weekend in Minneapolis. Items on the agenda include a review of this year’s accomplishments and plans for next year.