Hotline #981 - May 9, 1997

The new Amtrak timetable takes effect this weekend, and with it comes the end of three long-distance trains -- the Desert Wind, the Pioneer, and probably the Texas Eagle.

The Texas House today finally approved the state's Eagle loan. Before the loan is finalized, it must be approved by the Senate, and signed by the governor. Finally, Amtrak and Texas DOT must conclude an implementing agreement. If you are planning to ride the May 11 departure, call Amtrak information tomorrow to find out if it will run.

With the loss of the Desert Wind, Las Vegas will keep its Thruway bus service to Bakersfield, where it connects with the San Joaquin. Las Vegas will also get a new Thruway bus to Los Angeles. ColoRail activists have been working on a Thruway bus from Denver to connect with the Southwest Chief, but Amtrak has not done this yet.

The Pioneer could return in some form once Amtrak has gotten the express contracts it says it needs. In the meantime, a new Thruway bus will run roughly along the Pioneer route from Portland to Hood River, The Dalles, Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker, Ontario, and Boise. A second new bus will run from Portland to Redmond and Bend, and a third bus will run to Grants Pass, Medford, and Ashland, Ore.

Amtrak's Three Rivers will begin serving Youngstown, O., on May 16.

As always, any service restorations -- and the future of all Amtrak -- depends on Amtrak getting an adequate 1998 appropriation, and on passage of the half cent. That's S.436 in the Senate and H.R.1437 in the House. Keep the pressure up on your Members of Congress.

Senate Transportation Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R.-Ala.) said at a hearing on May 7 that he is a "firm believer in the market," and that "if there is a demand for passenger rail service, it will survive." Sen. Slade Gorton (R.-Wash.) also was very negative, saying he had had a bad Empire Builder ride, including unfriendly staff. However, Sen. Lauch Faircloth (R.-N.C.) praised rail in general. Senators Lautenberg (D.-N.J.) and Reid (D.-Nev.) both were very positive.

We hear that the budget agreement between President Clinton and Capitol Hill leaders includes $2 billion a year above current transportation spending levels. Reportedly, after a meeting yesterday among Speaker Gingrich and key House chairmen, transportation's share of federal spending will grow even bigger. The higher the transportation total, the better the chances for enactment of Amtrak's half cent.

In any event, Transportation Infrastructure Chairman Bud Shuster (R.-Pa.) plans to begin the approval -- or mark-up -- process for ISTEA renewal around May 19 and to finish by Memorial Day. He expects House floor debate in June.

The big energy company Enron and Amtrak have signed an agreement letting Amtrak buy its Northeast Corridor electricity at reduced rates. Amtrak now spends about $40 million on electric traction, and thinks the new deal will cut that in half. Some of the savings will go to commuter authorities who use Amtrak's lines. Because Amtrak expects its current power providers to challenge this deal, there may not be any immediate financial benefits.

Amtrak Intercity has a new director of government affairs. His name is Jim Wolfe, and he is an attorney with a background in transportation and government relations. He is also a certified locomotive engineer who was a trainmaster for Union Pacific for three years in Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska. Wolfe will handle Amtrak relations with the communities and 39 states served by Amtrak Intercity.