Hotline #11-A - December 11, 1997

Amtrak President Tom Downs resigned unexpectedly yesterday. According to the Washington Post, he was "apparently pushed out during a two-day meeting of Amtrak's board." The Post article went on to discuss how sources said that the board was unhappy with Downs' handling of the contract negotiations with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes earlier this fall. At that time, the Clinton Administration asked the board to conduct the negotiations instead of Amtrak management. The deal that resulted angered Congressional Republicans because it required Congress to raise Amtrak funding, or face another strike threat, according to the Post.

NARP President Jack Martin said in the Post, "I'm surprised at the timing. I hate to see the continuity interrupted when some of the building blocks have now been put into place." He was referring to the successful passage of the Amtrak reauthorization and access to new capital funding. Martin told the New York Times that Downs deserved praise for working tirelessly to put Amtrak on a stable footing.

Downs' resignation is effective immediately. The board named George Warrington, who is the current president of the Northeast Corridor Business Unit, as acting president.