Hotline #167 - December 1, 2000

The High Speed Rail Investment Act (HSRIA) is still pending, as Congress returns December 5. The main message to the White House and Capitol Hill remains -- "Pass HSRIA before the end of the year." Add appropriations leaders to the list that need this message, in case the tax package fails and HSRIA's survival requires attaching it to one of the remaining appropriations bills. Urge your Republican Senators to contact Majority Leader Lott and Appropriations Chairman Stevens about passing HSRIA. Urge your Democratic Senators to contact Minority Leader Daschle and Appropriations Ranking Democrat Byrd. To contact these officials, see our web site.

HSRIA was part of the big, House-passed tax bill, and also could be in a tax bill that may come before the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and President Clinton reportedly are near agreement on a tax package similar to their earlier "almost-agreement," but House Majority Whip Tom DeLay is said to oppose sending the White House a tax bill this year.

A new "Amtrak Guest Rewards" customer loyalty program was announced November 29. It is generally analogous to airline frequent flyer programs. Complete terms and enrollment information are available at the program's web site, or in brochures available in "select" stations, or by calling 1-800-307-5000.

Generally, the program runs on a point system (not miles, like on airlines). You are awarded 400 points for enrolling (but for a limited time, 500 points if you enroll on-line) -- but you have to travel within 90 days of enrollment to get the enrollment points. Then you earn two points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel (but not for travel before November 29) -- or 500 points for Acela Express/Metroliner trips (or 750 points for first-class Acela Express/Metroliner travel between certain stations). People who have enrolled in Guest Rewards can call Amtrak (800-USA-RAIL) to have their program number applied to trips they already reserved, but have not yet taken.

Points can be redeemed for future Amtrak travel or (after January 1) airline miles, hotel stays, car rentals, or retail certificates from participating companies. For future rail travel, the program divides the U.S. into three zones. We don't have all the details yet on zone boundaries or point-values for every possible trip, but examples we have seen include:

--A free trip in a reserved coach seat in one zone is worth 5,000 points.
--A free trip in a reserved coach in two zones is worth 7,500 points.
--A free upgrade to a standard sleeping car room in two zones is worth 20,000 points.

There is more information at the program web site or at Amtrak's news release.  The Guest Rewards program itself was set up and is being run by Carlson Marketing Group of Minneapolis. For many years, NARP has asked Amtrak to institute a customer loyalty program on a nationwide basis, so we find this announcement particularly welcome.

The first Acela Express tickets went on sale November 29. The first daily revenue round-trip begins December 11. NARP's 10% travel discount initially will be good only on weekend Acela Express trips -- but will be extended to other, non-peak, weekday trips when such trips are put into place in 2001.

Ohio moved closer to formally joining the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact, with the November 20 passage of HR 717 by the Ohio House of Representatives, on a 72-16 vote. Indiana, Minnesota, and Missouri already have passed similar legislation. The Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers called on the Ohio Senate and Governor Taft to move the bill to final enactment.

A meeting of the new Montana/Wyoming Association of Railroad Passengers drew extensive news coverage in Montana. About 20 people gathered in Billings on November 19. The main topic was the group's goal of establishing a Spokane-Billings-Denver passenger rail route. Representatives of the state's two senators who attended the meeting said it would be an uphill battle, with highway money unavailable and with Amtrak under an operational self-sufficiency mandate. Equipment costs alone could reach $100 million. More details will be available when an Amtrak study is released next month. Amtrak last studied the route in 1992. Still, the group is collecting individual petition signatures and local resolutions of support, and reports that a bill (L.C.699) has been introduced in the Montana legislature to help support the proposed service.

Burlington (Vermont)-area "Champlain Flyer" commuter rail service begins December 4, with three weekday round trips from Charlotte to Burlington. Vermont Agency of Transportation plans to add more in April.

Atlanta's MARTA rail system opens a 4.7-mile extension of its North Line December 16, from Dunwoody to Sandy Springs and North Springs.

The Great American Station Foundation on November 27 released its 2000 list of Ten Most Endangered Stations. Of the ten, four are served by Amtrak -- Sacramento, Cal.; Omaha, Neb.; Osceola, Ia.; and Bangor, Mich. One (Skokie, Ill.) is in use as a transit station, and two (Gary, Ind., and Bristol, Va.) may have intercity service in the future. The remaining three are Sunol, Cal.; Sparta, N.J.; and Rural Retreat, Va.

The British passenger rail network is near meltdown due to many slow orders following the fatal accident in October. A majority (56%) of Britons favor returning the railways to the public sector, according to a poll done by Channel 4 television. According to a November 23 Agence France Presse report, with over 20 operating companies and one infrastructure company (Railtrack), "The state of the creaking rail system, a series of fatal accidents and the habitual complaints of overcrowding, cost and delays, have led to charges that the companies are more interested in shareholders than passengers." Only 18% of Conservative supporters surveyed supported the privatization carried out when that party was in control of the British government.