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February 2005 Hotlines |
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February 2005 Hotlines |
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Reports this week from Congressional Quarterly, The New York Times and Reuters indicate President Bush will zero-out Amtrak in his proposed fiscal 2006 budget. The budget is said to include $360 million to continue commuter rail operations on Amtrak-owned tracks in the Northeast Corridor. Needless to say, if $900 million was a shutdown level for fiscal 2005, zero for 2006 is also a shutdown level.
NARP issued a news release on Wednesday, responding to the reports.
Sometime next week, the House and Senate appropriations committees are expected to decide whether and how to reorganize their subcommittees, and who the chairs and ranking members will be. While Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) has said he will not have a chairmanship, it remains uncertain who will become chairman. It is possible, at least on the Senate side that the ranking Democrat could change as well.
Missouri will see increased funding for Amtrak service, under Governor Matt Blunt’s proposed fiscal 2006 budget. Blunt’s bill calls for an additional $200,000 for the service, a 3% increase over last year. When a reporter asked Mike Keathley, the governor’s interim budget director, why the governor wants to continue funding Amtrak service—which has been controversial amongst Missouri Republicans—Keathley said, “"Many Republicans have said that…Many Republicans also have Amtrak trains running through their districts."
In stark contrast to the current federal Amtrak funding situation, China has announced that they will spend $12 billion on their railways this year. The main focus of this effort will be eliminating bottlenecks on their nationwide network. This year's investment was part of a plan approved last year by the State Council, or cabinet, to spend more than 2 trillion yuan ($240 billion) to expand China's railway network by more than a third, to 100,000 km (62,000 miles) by 2020, according to Reuters news service.
One accident and one major service disruption befell VIA Rail Canada this week:
Last Friday evening, VIA Rail Toronto-Montreal Corridor trains #49 and #65 became disabled near Kingston, Ontario. The resulting problems with the two trains and inability of either VIA or Canadian National mechanical staff to correct the problem resulted in nearly 400 passengers being stranded on the equipment until 7:00 a.m. the next morning. It is unclear why passengers were not offered bussing or transfer to another corridor train. VIA has promised full refunds or vouchers to affected travelers and has launched an internal investigation into what happened.
On Monday, the Canadian derailed near Evansburg, Alberta after being struck in the side by a logging truck, according to CBC News. All but the rear two cars of the train derailed. There were no fatalities; however, several passengers, crew members, and the truck driver were taken to hospitals.
The Federal Transit Administration has rejected an application from Las Vegas for federal monies to extend the existing 3.9 mile monorail an additional 2.3 miles into downtown Las Vegas. Among other factors, the FTA cited low ridership on the initial segment. The monorail, which has been fraught with problems since it was opened, returned to full service right before Christmas.
However, the proposed commuter rail operation between Raleigh and Durham is moving forward, despite recent reports to the contrary (including our Hotline #382). The Triangle Transit Authority continues to press on with engineering, legal, and logistical planning to permit a ground breaking to take place later this year. "The fact is that it is closer to construction and implementation than it ever has been," said Gulley, a former Durham mayor and state senator who helped create the TTA in the late 1980s. Wib Gulley, lawyer for the Triangle Transit Authority told the Raleigh News and Observer, "Already, a great deal of work has gone forward. The feds have increased the height of one last hurdle, but we're going to clear it."
Full service on the California Zephyr, Reno Fun Train, and Reno Snow Train have resumed. These services were cancelled in mid to late January due to severe weather in the Sierra Nevada’s. While the Zephyr continued to operate east of Denver, operation further west was disrupted by the danger of rock slides in the Colorado River Canyon.
Acela Express trains 2190, 2191, 2203, and 2220 will not operate with First Class until at least the end of May 2005. These trains are assigned trainset #18 which was involved in the October 2004 derailment of an Acela Express train at New Haven, CT. The First Class car received the brunt of the damage; it has been removed for repairs.
Amtrak’s Hiawatha service is offering a special 20% off promotion for travel through March 31, 2005. Request discount code H456 when you make your reservation. For more details, visit the Hiawatha Service website.
Prospective college students can once again get a discount on Amtrak travel, thanks to the Campus Visit Discount program. Students receive a discount and may bring a parent or guardian with them as a free companion in coach. Reservations made be made for travel through December 15, 2005 (blackout dates: February 18-21, March 24-28, May 27-30, July 1-4, September 2-5, and November 22-29). Travel is not valid on Acela Express, Metroliners, Auto Train, the Canadian portion of the Maple Leaf, or 7000-8999 series thruway buses. Request code H459 when booking
If you live along the “Main Line” of suburban Philadelphia (between Overbrook and Paoli), be aware that Amtrak has removed the inner-track fencing at all SEPTA stations in that corridor. This is in anticipation of soon-to-begin trackwork along the route, which will eliminate long-standing “temporary” speed restrictions along the route (which effectively limit speed to 60mph in the corridor). Amtrak has posted “No Trespassing” and other warning signs along the route and plans to increase police patrols to ensure compliance. The fencing will be replaced when the work is complete, likely in early 2006.
Amtrak funding would be eliminated and the railroad forced into bankruptcy if the Bush Administration’s fiscal 2006 Department of Transportation (DOT) budget is approved by Congress. The budget was released Monday and has no money for Amtrak. If approved by both chambers of Congress as recommended by the Administration, the budget would lead to the bankruptcy of Amtrak. The budget does include $360 million aimed at allowing commuter rail service to continue on the Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor tracks if Amtrak does shut down. This money would be administered by the Surface Transportation Board.
Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) hosted a news conference Tuesday. Speakers included Reps. Julia Carson (D-IN), Allyson Schwarz (D-PA), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Corinne Brown (D-FL), Ed Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, Colin Peppard of Friends of the Earth and NARP Executive Director Ross Capon. Oberstar referred to “this bizarre budget submission.” Brown asked, “What do you do when failure is not an option?” and complained that the railroad industry in general “does not get its story out well.”
On the Senate side, Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Conrad Burns (R-MT) are circulating a pro-Amtrak letter among their colleagues, seeking the signatures of as many senators as possible.
NARP has condemned the Administration’s budget request as irresponsible and going against the will of the American people. We have issued two news releases, and given numerous print and radio news interviews by NARP staff. In addition, CNN came to the NARP office on Tuesday to tape a segment with Capon. The air date is undetermined as of now.
NARP has also established a webpage focused on the fiscal 2006 budget battle and added a direct link from our homepage to this location. Get involved! Contact your elected officials and let them know that this plan is unacceptable to you. The special page contains updated information, a link to who has signed the Senate letter, press coverage, and a link to a new Action Alert flier to download, copy, and hand out to passengers.
On Monday morning, February 14, NARP’s Capon is scheduled to appear for an hour (6:00 to 7:00 A.M. Central Time) on Wisconsin Public Radio, simulcast on the web.
Then, at 10:30 A.M. Central Time, Secretary Norman Y. Mineta is expected to hold a news conference in Chicago on Monday to speak about the rail passenger issue, and perhaps respond to Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn. On Monday, Gunn sent a message to Amtrak employees which included this, “The President's proposal does provide $360 million to the Surface Transportation Board for continued commuter and freight operations on the NEC only after forcing an Amtrak bankruptcy. It also isn't accompanied by any kind of plan for how Amtrak could continue operations. In a word, they have no plan for Amtrak other than bankruptcy. Obviously, the proposal is irresponsible and a surprising disappointment. It doesn't acknowledge all the hard work you've done over the past two years to run a tighter and better ship.”
Although subject to final approval probably on February 15, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) has proposed a new line-up of subcommittees, and has proposed Joe Knollenberg (R-MI, Royal Oak) as chairman of a new subcommittee of transportation, treasury and housing. The subcommittee’s jurisdiction would also include the District of Columbia. There had been talk of the Senate also reorganizing its appropriations committees. At this point, that reorganization seems unlikely, so we may in for some complicated House-Senate conference committees—or perhaps FY06 will be yet another year covered by an omnibus bill.
Robert Crandall’s nomination to the Amtrak Board has been allowed to expire by the Bush Administration. Reports that he made significant financial contributions to the Kerry campaign suggest he will not be re-nominated. Amtrak’s board continues to function with only four of seven voting member slots filled.
Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn’s efforts to return Amtrak infrastructure to a state-of-good-repair continue :
Amtrak’s website scored highest among “Passenger Transportation Companies” in a recent Online Customer Respect Study of the largest airline and travel firms conducted by the Customer Respect Group. According to the Group, the survey measures, “Simplicity (ease of navigation), Responsiveness (quick and helpful responses to inquiries), Privacy (respect for the privacy of the customer), Attitude (customer-focus of site), Transparency (open and honest policies) and Principles (values and respects customer data). Combined they measure a company’s overall Customer Respect.”
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) has written a detailed letter to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta about his and the administration’s anti-Amtrak antics. The letter is on Murray’s website, preceded by a brief news release headlined, "Murray Demands Answers on Bush Plan to Bankrupt Amtrak." In the letter to Mineta, Senator Murray decries policy as, "reckless and irresponsible" and questions whether a functioning railroad could ever emerge from bankruptcy reorganization.
Thirty five Senators sent a letter to Senate budget leaders expressing their desire for full ($1.8 billion) funding for Amtrak in 2006. Senators Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) led this effort. The letter was closed rather quickly—after being open for signatures for about one week in order to get the letter out quickly. A list of Senators that signed and text of the letter is available on our website. Failure to sign may simply be the result of logistical problems and the tight deadline—but do thank your senators for signing or clarify with them the reason they did not.
Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta has begun an anti-Amtrak road show which seeks to obscure his efforts to push Amtrak into bankruptcy. Part one was in Chicago last Monday, part two is at the Charlotte, NC, railroad station Tuesday, February 22, at 12:30 PM. The media advisory for the Charlotte event carries this headline: Tour of Charlotte Train Station & Piedmont Line Rail Cars, News Conference to Discuss the Future of Amtrak in North Carolina and Announce Reforms that Could Benefit Local Travelers”.
In Chicago, Mineta said Amtrak "(runs) trains that nobody rides between cities that nobody wants to travel between," (despite clear statistical proof to the contrary--both in ridership and passenger-miles) and that Amtrak, "could actually save money by not running the train and buying the riders an airplane ticket instead" (which ignores the fact that hundreds of Amtrak cities not only have no commercial airline service, but do not have an airport within fifty miles of their city and that many Americans cannot or choose not to fly).
Many rail advocates and Amtrak employees turned out at Chicago Union in support of Amtrak. News accounts took note of the demonstrators. While the news conference was not open to the public, people stood outside carrying signs and making their voices heard. Many were interviewed by local media outlets. Special thanks to Rick Harnish and Dominic Liberatore for their efforts to organize this demonstration. If you can get to Charlotte Tuesday, please do!
Perhaps the week’s most disturbing event was the "annual report" four-page letter (and attachment from President/CEO David Gunn) which Amtrak Board Chairman David Laney sent to Capitol Hill on Thursday. The attachment outlines Amtrak's considerable progress of the past few years. Unfortunately, and unlike in the past, there is no grant request, only a statement that a grant request will be sent "as soon as a planning process permits."
In theory, that "process" could have a positive outcome, but Laney actually said that the board, "agrees that the President’s proposed operating budget of ‘zero’ is the right message [but] to effect needed reforms at Amtrak, ‘zero’ is not the right number at this juncture." He also wrote: "Route elimination, for instance, will often incur substantially greater labor-related costs in the early years than would route continuation; but such costs can be carefully phased and managed."
The board has only four voting members (Laney; Floyd Hall; Enrique Sosa; Mineta--who is always represented by DOT General Counsel Jeffrey Rosen).
It is unfortunate, to say the least, that the Amtrak Board, which should have known for months about the February 15 grant request deadline, is unwilling to say how much the company needs. The simple fact of Amtrak not having a number on the Hill makes securing funding that much more difficult.
The report is at www.amtrak.com, click on "Inside Amtrak," then "Other Reports," then "Annual Report to Congress, February 17, 2005" (PDF). [It is more readable than the version Amtrak originally posted early today.]
The Heartland Flyer would continue operation under a proposal put forward by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry this week. New state revenue figures indicate an additional $105 million will be available for the fiscal 2006 budget. Henry said in a press release, “I think the Heartland Flyer is a great asset to Oklahoma, and we can’t turn our backs on it in this time of need. While the Flyer’s long-term future must depend on federal funds, I think the state should lend a helping hand at this critical juncture. By making a good faith effort on the state level, we will demonstrate our commitment to passenger service and increase the likelihood of landing more federal support in the future.”
New Jersey Transit is considering linking its Atlantic City line with the remainder of its commuter rail system by running express trains from Cherry Hill to Trenton on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The transit operator is also considering building a transfer station where the Atlantic City line crosses the River Line (the Trenton-Camden diesel-powered light rail line).
Metrolink is renaming an interlocking (a point at which trains change tracks) on its East Bank Line to honor Conductor Thomas Ormiston who died in the January 26 Metrolink accident in Glendale, CA. A memorial fund has been established for Conductor Ormiston’s family and will remain open until April 11. The Thomas M. Ormiston Memorial Fund is held at the Bank of America. Anyone wishing to make a contribution may do so at any Bank of America branch. Those making a donation outside of California should inform the teller that the account is a special savings account set up in California at branch #431. The account number is 04313-05922.
The Coast Starlight is scheduled to return to full service on February 28. To encourage ridership on the restored service, Amtrak is offering a 25% discount for travel on the Coast Starlight. The discount is valid for sale between February 14, 2005 and May 23, 2005, and for travel February 28, 2005 to May 26, 2005. Use code V212.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent another excellent letter late last week—this time to Amtrak Board Chairman David Laney. This letter, co-signed by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), condemns the Board’s actions in not requesting a funding level for fiscal 2006. The letter states, in part, “This year’s report as submitted by a largely new Board deliberately evades the question of the railroad’s subsidy needs and instead praises the President’s irresponsible proposal to bankrupt Amtrak as the ‘right message.’ Such an approach undermines Congress’ ability to assess Amtrak’s needs and is a disservice to the Corporation that you are charged with governing.” The full letter can be read on Murray’s website.
NARP has continued its efforts to save the Amtrak national system. A new feature has been added to our website, “DOT/OMB Amtrak Fact Check.” This is an evolving document that refutes false or misleading statements from the Administration.
Please use this information in letters to the editor and in communications with your legislators, making clear your strong opposition to what the Administration is trying to do to Amtrak.
Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta continued his “Amtrak Bankruptcy Road Show” with a February 22 news conference at the Charlotte station, and a February 23 op ed column in the New York Times. In Charlotte, the Piedmont train was in the background.
The Chicago Transit Authority is pushing the idea of an “O’Hare Airport Express” service along its existing blue line between downtown and O’Hare. The service would run on the existing Blue Line right of way which would be expanded to three and in some places four tracks to permit the Express trains to pass local service. According to the Chicago Tribune, “passenger amenities would include express ticketing and advance baggage check-in at airline counters at the proposed transit transfer superstation at Block 37 in the center of the Loop.” Fares would be in the $20-30 range (far higher than current all-stops CTA fares but lower than taxi or van service). A funding source for construction has not yet been identified.
Another transit project is in the works in Venice, Italy. The city long famous for its gondolas and canals that snake through the city is considering a subway link to the mainland. Echoing the efforts by many here in the United States, Mayor Paolo Costa told the Associate Press, “Venice is losing population and jobs, and that is going to continue if we don't improve public transportation to the mainland…it is sure to save jobs in the city and it should be an incentive for people to continue living here. It's a step to ensuring Venice doesn't become a museum visited only by tourists.” The proposal has several unique aspects to ensure that the city is not damaged, including a method of tunneling, rubber-tired vehicles and super-deep stations.
Amtrak has announced the major schedule change to the Sunset Limited hinted at in the November 2004 timetable. Effective with the departure of train #1 from Orlando on March 8 and the departure of train #2 from Los Angles on March 9, the following changes will occur:
Already rain-deluged Southern California took another hit this week with an additional five to eight inches of rain from a tropical storm-like system. Rail service north of Los Angeles was cancelled again this week due to additional mudslides in the Santa Barbara area. In addition, several mudslides delayed service between Los Angeles and San Diego. All service, including previously-suspended service to San Luis Obispo resumes on February 26 and February 27 (trains #768 and #774). The Coast Starlight’s resumption of service is also imminent: the first southbound train will depart Seattle on February 28 and the first northbound from Los Angeles will be March 1.
One set of Talgo equipment is being removed from service for re-painting. As a result, Seattle-Bellingham trains #513 and #516 will have Superliner equipment from February 24 to April 30. While Business class will not be available, café car and bicycle service will continue to be offered.
The most intense part of the Amtrak-State of Pennsylvania partnership to upgrade the Keystone Corridor will commence on March 7. This project will involve installation of concrete ties, new switches, upgrading of the signal system, and renewal of the electrical catenary wire system to support restoration of full electric locomotive service. To accommodate massive single-tracking on the line, almost all Keystone trains will see schedule changes ranging from 30 minutes earlier to 30 minutes later. Go to Amtrak’s website to read the press release with the new times. The schedules will be in effect until April 24, when another revision is likely.
Former Washington State Representative Ruth Fischer (D-Tacoma) passed away on Tuesday. NARP and Washington ARP Board Member Jim Hamre said, “she was one of our earliest and strongest supporters of the Northwest Corridor and is also considered the godmother of Sound Transit. Ruth had been ill for some time. In fact, she had to give up her appointment to the state Transportation Commission only a few months after being named to the commission by Gov. Locke. Ruth received WashARP's Tom Martin Memorial Award in Dec. 2002 for her many tireless years of support for rail and transit.”