Hotline #870 - March 24, 1995

Many thanks to the NARP members across the country who participated in Amtrak station demonstrations on March 18.

The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee heard testimony about Amtrak yesterday, for the first time under Chairman Mark Hatfield (R.-Ore.). Hatfield said that if this country decides it needs passenger trains, then a way must be found to pay for them. The letters gong to Congress and to the new Amtrak Task Force should help Congress realize that people do want passenger trains.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D.-N.J.), the ranking member and former chairman, is still one of Amtrak's biggest supporters. But he said he was distressed to learn about delays in the Boston electrification timetable, and about other increasing capital items, such as the need to refurbish the electric traction system south of New York, which is 60 years old. He said such developments make it hard to defend and justify Amtrak to other Members of Congress who may be more skeptical about passenger trains.

NARP Executive Director Ross Capon testified yesterday before the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee at a public witness hearing. His panel also included Ed Harper, President of the Association of American Railroads and representatives of the Railway Progress Institute and the High Speed Rail/Maglev Association. Capon emphasized that Amtrak's passenger revenue prospects are brighter than what the General Accounting Office has said.

The first of the Amtrak Task Force public forums will take place on March 28 at the Marriott Hotel in Racine, Wis., at 1:30 pm. A mailing with more details has gone out to all NARP members in southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois. Among the expected panelists are Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R.), Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist (D.), and Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers President John Parkyn.

The rest of the forum schedule has been made final. They are Meridian, Miss., on April 11, Sacramento on April 18, Seattle on April 19, Cleveland on April 25, Dallas on April 27, and Philadelphia on May 3. While there is no "open mike" section, there will be chances to speak to panelists individually before and after they make their presentations. Any NARP member who can, should go to a meeting and say how much we all want a national Amtrak system.

Rail service in Canada, both passenger and freight, has been crippled this week. The strike spread to VIA Rail on March 18, and passengers are having their tickets honored on bus and plane services. No Amtrak trains are crossing the border. Emergency bus connections for the Montrealer are offered at St. Albans, for the Adirondack at Westport, and for the Toronto trains at Buffalo-Exchange Street. The International is turning at Port Huron and has no bus connection.

The Senate passed a line-item veto bill yesterday, which now must be reconciled with one passed by the House. President Clinton has said he would sign such a thing. While this increase in presidential power probably means little for rail during the Clinton Administration, it is worth remembering what would have happened to Amtrak if President Reagan had had this power.

The West Japan Railway Company says that bullet train service through Kobe will reopen in April, two months after the big earthquake there. The rail line was damaged in about 35 places along a 54-mile stretch.

Region 5 meets tomorrow 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.

The remaining meetings are Region 10 in Council Bluffs, Ia., on April 8; Region 3 in Philadelphia on May 15; and Region 8 in Tacoma on May 20.