Hotline #21 - February 13, 1998

The most important Amtrak funding message right now is support for the broader definition of capital that transit already enjoys. This is critical if Amtrak is to survive without an operating grant. Meanwhile, Senate Commerce Chairman John McCain (R.-Ariz.) has written to President Clinton warning him that reappointment of any incumbent Amtrak board member other than Transportation Secretary Slater would be unacceptable.

Amtrak announced its first group of investments using the capital funding from the Taxpayers Relief Act of 1997, on February 12. The initial amount is $360 million, about a third of the available 1998 total. Of that, 27% is going to systemwide projects such as upgrading the reservations system and expanding mail transfer facilities; 28% is for Amtrak Intercity for projects such as improving the Kalamazoo line and upgrading Superliner and Horizon cars; 27% is for Northeast Corridor projects such as the Boston high-speed project; and 17% is for Amtrak West for projects such as improving the Las Vegas line and stations such as Seattle, Centralia, Salem, and Sacramento. The projects were chosen for speedy return on investment that will help Amtrak cope with shrinking federal operating support.

The inaugural of the fourth-weekly Texas Eagle last weekend was marred by a five-and-one-half-hour delay, caused by the derailment of a Union Pacific coal train near Kensett, Ark. The Eagle had to be rerouted through Pine Bluff to Little Rock. However, UP overall gave the train excellent handling, including on the detour. Festivities at stations from Little Rock all the way through Fort Worth -- though delayed -- were a big success.

Amtrak and the States of Texas and Louisiana are considering a new train from Fort Worth to Dallas, Shreveport, and Bossier City, according to a February 9 wire story. The train would be aimed at bringing tourists to Louisiana casinos, which have been asked to pay part of the cost.

Amtrak service in California was disrupted for a second week due to flooding. However, Capitol Corridor service was restored February 10, as well as some San Joaquins. The Coast Starlight was not running south of Portland, and may be restored today or tomorrow. The San Diegans did not run north of Los Angeles most of the week. South of Los Angeles, they were subject to delay. The California Zephyr was annulled west of Sacramento. Metrolink service was truncated on the Oxnard and Lancaster routes.

The Missouri House Appropriations Committee has cut the governor's $4.95-million request to support St. Louis-Kansas City trains. The committee approved only $3.5 million. NARP members in Missouri should contact their state legislators, starting with House members, and urge that the governor's $4.95 million be restored. Write to them at the State Capitol, Jefferson City 65101.

The Federal Aviation Administration has given its approval to a plan to use part of the $3 airport departure tax to build a light rail line from Kennedy Airport to Jamaica in Queens, N.Y., where connections could be made to city subways and the Long Island Rail Road. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the three New York-area airports, will build the light rail line. It already owns and operates the PATH subway from Manhattan to New Jersey. The light-rail line should be open to Howard Beach A-line subway station in 2002, and to Jamaica in 2003.

We are sorry to report that former NARP board member John P. Stith of Richmond, Va., died February 10 at the age of 59, following heart surgery. Jack Stith continued to be an active NARP members and was running again for Region 4 director. He also produced the newsletters of the Virginia Association of Railway Patrons and the Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS, and did much other work to promote his interest in passenger trains. He retired in 1994 after serving 26 years as the principal of the Falling Creek Middle School.