Hotline #939 - July 19, 1996

The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee on July 16 approved its version of the 1997 DOT funding bill, H.R.3675. The full committee then approved it yesterday, adding language requiring a study of Amtrak privatization by the Discovery Institute in Seattle.

The Senate bill has $872 million for Amtrak, which is 61% higher than the House bill and 16% higher than current funding. System capital is at $250 million, compared to $120 million in the House. Northeast Corridor funding is $200 million, compared to zero in the House. Both bills contain $142 million for mandatory retirement payments and $80 million for high-speed trains and maintenance facilities.

But the bill -- like the House bill -- has $200 million for operations. That is $50 million less than the Amtrak request. This is bad news, since it now appears that the current Amtrak route structure would not survive 1997 even on the $250 million Amtrak requested for operations. If there are service cuts, it appears they would be either at the October 27 timetable change or in early January.

The bill could go to the Senate floor next week. House-Senate conferees may meet before the August 3 recess, but more likely after Labor Day. That gives you over a month to leaflet passengers. It's critical that the conference committee adopt the Senate numbers, so let us know if you need more leaflets.

Progress was made this week in some negotiations between the freight railroads and the remaining unsigned unions, but the possibility of a strike still remains. On July 17, the shop workers reached agreement with the railroads. As of noon today, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes and the Transportation Communications Union still did not have agreements.

If such agreements are not reached, a work stoppage could begin at 12:01 am July 24, or soon thereafter. Amtrak says a strike could cost them $2 million a day, but we think it could be higher. The strike probably would not affect Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, the Illinois Central, or the Southern Pacific.

Heavy rain caused washouts yesterday on several lines just west of Chicago. The lines have reopened but Amtrak and Metra trains are running with delays.

Two years ago, on August 3, 1994, Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited derailed on Conrail tracks at Batavia, N.Y., injuring 102 people. After a lengthy investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that the wreck was caused by a flattened rail head at a point where two rails joined. Apparently, the spot was just flat enough to cause a wheel on a lightly loaded mail car to climb over the rail head, drag along the track for as much as three miles, and finally cause eight cars to break away and tumble down a 25-foot embankment.

The Danish IC3 train is now in the United States. It has been shown in Las Vegas and in Southern California. On July 21 it will be in Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, Solana Beach, and San Diego. The IC3 will operate in regular San Diegan service from July 21 through August 1, as trains 570, 577, 578, and 585. But it will not run on July 26. After August 1, it will tour other parts of California.

Amtrak and the City of Atlanta on July 15 dedicated the work they did to remodel the Brookwood Station in time for the Olympics. Nearly $500,000 of work was done. Also, daily service on the Crescent is now operating until August 11.

Amtrak will run a special train on August 10 from Oakland to San Diego for the California Republican Party, whose members will be on their way to the national convention.

The Piedmont will become an all-reserved train from July 26 to December 31.