Hotline #868 - March 10, 1995

Amtrak announced on March 8 that the savings it predicted for cutting service between Detroit and Pontiac cannot be realized, so the service will be continued. Back in December it took NARP less than a day to realize that there is no facility to turn or service trains at the new station site in Detroit. Now Amtrak acknowledges it is more economical to continue sending the trains to Pontiac than to build a new facility in Detroit. Also, revenues on the ten-month old Pontiac service are higher than originally thought.

An announcement on Vermont is still expected from day to day.

News on the Empire Service train cuts has been slow to come out because neither Amtrak nor New York State thought it was worth an official announcement. That makes it harder for citizens to pressure the state to save the service and gives the state less time to react. Trains 281 and 284, the Mohawk, will not run west of Albany Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays, starting April 3. One round-trip will also be cut between Albany and New York.

As part of the agreement between Amtrak and Wisconsin, Hiawatha fares go up 50% on March 12. The new schedule on April 2 will drop trains 331, 335, 338, 342, and 343 on all days; and train 330 on Saturdays and train 334 on weekdays. Other trains run the same times as now, except 340 leaves Milwaukee at 5:15 pm and 341 leaves Chicago at 7:20 pm.

The February newsletter and additional letter are going out to you today first-class. In particular, read the part about passenger demonstrations that may be happening in your area March 18. These are being arranged by NARP directors who are able to set one up. NARP may do a special Hotline message on March 15 or 16 just with demonstration locations that are known at that point.

More is known about the public outreach sessions to be held by Amtrak at Senator Lott's request. Tentatively, the first is in Racine or Kenosha March 28, then Meridian April 11, Philadelphia April 12, Sacramento April 18, Portland and Seattle April 19, Cleveland April 25, Dallas May 1, and possibly one in New York. We hope the public will tell the hearing panels that a smaller Amtrak is not acceptable.

A DOT press conference on March 7 kicked off a new public awareness campaign about grade crossing safety, including the first new TV spots in ten years.

Former Federal Railroad Administrator Gil Carmichael has been named chairman of MK Rail Corporation, a subsidiary of Morrison Knudsen.

Rolling strikes on the Canadian Pacific within Canada began this week. CP has few passenger trains, but strikes could spread to Canadian National and VIA Rail at any time.

Region 6 meets at Beech Grove, Ind., tomorrow at the Ramada Inn South, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. The speaker will be Scott Leonard of NARP, plus a tour of the Beech Grove shops. Also tomorrow, Region 12 meets at Santa Ana, Cal., at the station, 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Speakers are Gil Mallery of Amtrak West, Cindy McKim of Caltrans, Richard Stanger of Metrolink, and Ross Capon of NARP. On March 12, Region 11 meets at Albuquerque, N.Mex., at the Gourmet Diner, 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. The speaker is Ross Capon of NARP.

On March 18, Region 4 meets at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. The speaker is Amtrak Chief Financial Officer Betsy Reveal. Also March 18, Regions 7 and 9 meet jointly at Bloomington, Ill., at the Jumers Hotel, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Speakers include former Federal Railroad Administrator Gil Carmichael and NARP President Jack Martin.

On March 25, Region 5 meets at Fayetteville, N.C., at the Prince Charles Hotel, 10:00 am to 8:30 pm, with some special events the night before and day after. Speakers include NARP President Jack Martin.