Hotline #985 - June 6, 1997

Congress yesterday gave final approval to the budget resolution, including the pro-Amtrak language of Senate Finance Chairman Roth (R.-Del.). This language creates an Amtrak Reserve Fund for capital investment. Expenditures from this fund depend on Roth's finding offsets -- that is, spending reductions or revenue increases to cover the added Amtrak spending.

Since this does not actually provide the gas-tax half cent, it remains important to get co-sponsors for the half-cent bills. Strong sponsorship of these bills shows support for the concept of a dedicated source of Amtrak capital funding. Senator Torricelli (D.-N.J.) became the 15th sponsor of S.436, the Senate half-cent bill, this week. The House bill, H.R.1437, is up to 44 sponsors, with Nadler (N.Y.), Moran (Va.), Dellums (Cal.), and Filner (Cal.).

Much progress has been made in setting up Thruway bus service from Denver to Trinidad connecting to the Southwest Chief. It may start as soon as June 23. That's good news, but Amtrak has had nine months to plan for such Thruway service. It should not have had to take the efforts of citizen activists in Colorado to make such a logical move a reality.

The Texas Eagle full consist of two sleepers, three coaches, a lounge, and a diner will be restored with tomorrow's southbound trip and the northbound trip of June 10. It is looking like Los Angeles through-cars won't be restored because of difficulties in switching the new express cars. They do not have head-end power electrical cables and must be on the rear of whatever train they are on.

The Denver Post ran an editorial on June 2 saying that we should not forget the past oil crises, nor expect a highways-only transportation policy to work in coming decades. The Post seemed to favor the Amtrak half cent. A Dallas Morning News editorial, also on June 2, came out strongly in favor of the half cent. Other positive editorials rain in late May in Baltimore and Roanoke.

Two bills of interest to passengers were passed recently in Oklahoma. S.B.651 was made into law May 27. It allows the state Turnpike Authority to sell revenue bonds to finance projects that are "feasible and economically" sound. The bill was sponsored by a senator who wants to look at using such funds for high-speed rail service between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The second bill, Senate Joint Resolution 12, became law on April 25. It creates a 17-member Passenger High Speed Rail Ts Force that will review the state's efforts on establishing Amtrak service in Oklahoma and examine high-speed rail options.

The Lawton Constitution, in Oklahoma, editorialized on May 29 in favor of both the two Amtrak half-cent bills pending in Congress, pointing out that states without Amtrak service would benefit from a set-aside in those bills.

A Conrail derailment east of Utica, N.Y., disrupted Amtrak service last weekend. A CSX derailment June 4 blocked the Sunset Limited route west of Chattahoochee, Fla.

Amtrak President Tom Downs and many public officials rode a special run of the Flexliner between Milwaukee and Glenview, on June 3. Gov. Tommy Thompson (R.-Wis.) was there, and said that Flexliners should be running permanently in Hiawatha trains that are extended out to Watertown, and that Amtrak should get the gas-tax half-cent bill to help make that happen.

NortheastDirect trains are having a promotional game called "Get a Taste for Winning" from June 9 through July 6. Game pieces are available in the cafe car, and prizes include food items and ticket discounts. There is also a new food menu.

The display train for the Great American Station Foundation will be at the Amtrak stations at Tampa tomorrow from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm, and North Charleston, S.C., June 9 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.