Hotline #912 - January 12, 1996

While snow shut down highways and airports in the Northeast this week, passenger trains generally kept running. On January 7-9, "intercity travel" meant "Amtrak." Some airports reopened January 9, but airlines will take days to get back to normal.

The Northeast Corridor kept running, though Metroliners were cancelled due to an 80-mph speed limit and reduced business travel. Long-distance trains got through, except a couple Cardinals, and, on January 8, outbound Florida trains and Capitol Limited. The eastbound Capitol Limited of January 7 reached Washington on January 9 at 1:00 am. Passengers were allowed to sleep on the train until morning. This train spent six hours in Toledo behind a Conrail freight derailment.

Amtrak got good media coverage in the Northeast and a pat on the back on the floor of Congress. However, some newspapers focused only on an eastbound Cardinal, held two days at Charleston, W.Va., because of deep snow in the New River Gorge. Passengers were placed in hotels.

An Empire Corridor train stalled in a 12-foot drift near Rhinecliff, N.Y., and some trains were diverted to Grand Central Terminal.

In Washington, all above-ground Metro stations were closed on January 8. Half the fleet was still stranded in suburban, above-ground yards as of yesterday morning. On January 8, 75 people were trapped from 1:00 am until 6:00 am in a train stuck in a snow drift near Takoma Park station. On the evening of January 6, a Metro driver was killed when his automatically controlled train slid through the Shady Grove terminal and struck another train. The two passengers on board were not hurt.

Other systems had problems, too, particularly Metro North, but generally kept running. For part of the week, private automobiles were banned in Philadelphia and in Hoboken.

Keep telling legislators you want the Amtrak half cent. Even if there's no budget agreement to attach the half cent to, there likely will be a tax bill that Chairman Roth would be even better able to influence.

State funding for Amtrak trains in Illinois is in doubt and trains could stop running February 29. Gov. Jim Edgar on January 4 said he had heard no outcry from affected cities. As a result, he said state funding might go to competing needs, like "education." Illinois NARP members should tell their governor and state legislators to keep the trains running.

Amtrak's first video ticketing machine went into operation January 4 at Lafayette, Ind. They are being installed now in Michigan at Grand Rapids, Holland, and St. Joseph.

Amtrak ended baggage service at Trenton this week, claiming it handled only six bags a day.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission approved a $60-million capital plan yesterday for train service between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.

DOT Secretary Pena unveiled Operation TimeSaver on January 10, to "implement the intelligent transportation infrastructure -- within a decade to save time and lives and improve the quality of life for all Americans," he said. Integration of grade crossing and highway signals is one of the nine major goals but, otherwise, the show was road-oriented.

Federal Highway Administration district and regional offices nationwide play a big role in transportation planning. These offices are holding an open house on January 23. Consider paying a visit and getting to know the officials in your area. Check precise times in advance with the office you plan to visit. Also that day, the Washington headquarters will have an open house from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.