Hotline #38 - June 12, 1998

The mark-up of a 1999 transportation funding bill by the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee was postponed again this week, this time to June 16. To help make the case for the full funding request for Amtrak, over 50 Senators signed a letter that was delivered today to Subcommittee Chairman Shelby (R.-Ala.), written by Senators Roth (R.-Del.) and Kerry (D.-Mass.). Click here for a list of those who signed.

The Surface Transportation Board formally approved on June 8 the takeover of Conrail by CSX and Norfolk Southern. Legally, the split-up of Conrail can take place August 23, or anytime thereafter. Norfolk Southern has said it would like to start in September, but CSX is favoring spring 1999.

The three-month experiment to extend some Amtrak Hiawathas west of Milwaukee 48 miles to Watertown, Wis., is now two-thirds over, and is set to end July 11. Through June 8, almost 15,000 rides were taken on the new service. A group of downtown Milwaukee merchants has written to Governor Thompson (R.), saying that ridership has been "impressive," and urging him to extend the trial through the rest of the summer, so that upcoming special events like the Great Circus Parade could benefit.

However, the governor's office has said that could not be done because there is no funding for it, because host railroad Canadian Pacific has said it wants $15-33 million in permanent improvements for any extra service beyond July 11, and because Canadian Pacific has scheduled track work for that time period. Some of the permanent improvements may involve restoring double track Canadian Pacific removed just a few years ago.

The new commuter train service between Stockton and San Jose, Cal., the Altamont Commuter Express, has been delayed once again. Rainy weather has prevented construction of passenger platforms at Stockton, Lathrop, and Tracy. The service was originally supposed to start in March, then in May, then in July, and now it looks like September. Last month, Herzog Transit Services was selected to operate the service. They also operate the commuter lines in South Florida and Dallas.

The Amtrak Reform Council's second meeting will be July 6 in Washington. Meetings are open to the public. One member of the council is Joseph Vranich, who recently became vice president of a big public relations firm, in charge of their British Aerospace account.

Amtrak now has ratified contracts with shop-craft workers who will maintain the high-speed train sets, with the Transportation Communications Union and with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.