Hotline #171 - December 29, 2000

Amtrak Intercity has been in a crisis mode for over two weeks, facing what it calls the coldest Midwest December over [perhaps 3-4 weeks without one day over 30 degrees]. Amtrak says that in Chicago, it used more salt in the first three weeks of this cold spell than it used the last three years. Amtrak's own problems are exacerbated by en-route delays as freight railroads also are having more frozen switches, breakdowns, and delays than usual.

After overworking personnel these weeks, and finding its shops unable to keep ahead of freeze-related damage to equipment, Amtrak has concluded that it must cancel three trains through January 30 -- Lake Country Limited (Chicago-Janesville); and two Detroit trains (only the Wolverine continues). In January, all three Michigan routes are programmed to use Superliners, which are better able to withstand the bitter cold. Amtrak intends to restore full operations January 31 and anticipates making an announcement about this around January 20.

Precisely because the Superliners are holding up well, no cancellations of long-distance trains are planned, although passengers should check on delays and isolated cancellations. Amtrak continues to experience chronic freeze damage to the plumbing systems of Amfleet II cars (generally used on single-level long-distance trains), and has found that a "retrofit" applied to 80% of these cars seems unable to withstand current conditions. Amtrak has assembled an extra Lake Shore Limited train set to help reduce late train originations caused by late arriving inbound equipment.

NARP will continue to investigate this situation. We want a service that is not so vulnerable to bad weather. We welcome insights from Amtrak customers and employees. We do not want anonymous tips but will protect anonymity when requested.

President-elect Bush announced today his nomination of Tommy Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson will resign as governor of Wisconsin, where he has turned that state from one with no state passenger rail program to the leader of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. It is unclear whether he will be able to continue as chairman of the Amtrak board. He earlier had expressed a wish to be Secretary of Transportation, but, apparently, Bush had other plans for him.

President-elect Bush's transition team last week named 22 "team chiefs" to serve as liaisons for the new Administration. The liaison for Transportation is Jack Schenendorf, who is chief of staff to outgoing House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R.-Pa.). The liaison for the Office of Management and Budget -- which has great power over Administration policy where it concerns funding requests from Congress -- is John Cogan. He is a Stanford University economist and was OMB deputy director under the former President Bush.

In the wake of the sudden breaking of the connection between the northbound Texas Eagle and westbound Empire Builder (December 7), Amtrak has told NARP that the core cause was a condition imposed by Union Pacific in exchange for agreeing to expand the train to daily service in May. That resulted in an October 30 timetable change that shifted the Eagle's schedule 30 minutes later. However, Amtrak says efforts are underway to change the schedule in a way that would restore the connection.

The first volunteer station host program began last week at Emeryville, Cal. NARP board member Doras Briggs was inspired by the North Carolina DOT train host program and saw the need for station hosts during her extensive travels in the U.S. and Europe. So she decided to try it out at her local Amtrak station, and earlier this year got the enthusiastic support of Amtrak West management. "It can be overwhelming, especially for people who are first-time riders," Briggs said in the December 19 West County Times. "But during the busy times when a lot of trains are arriving and departing, Amtrak staff cannot be everywhere at once." Capitol Corridor station service manager Jeff Snowden said, "The station volunteer program is a good benefit for Amtrak and its passengers ... It will allow us to get information out to more people at a time when it's most needed."

Maryland officials approved a two-year contract with CSX on December 20, providing $30 million in new investment to benefit the two MARC commuter rail lines operated by CSX. They are the Camden (Baltimore-Laurel-Washington) and Brunswick (Washington-Brunswick-Martinsburg) lines. In return, CSX has agreed to pay a fine when on-time performance falls below 90%; when CSX performance exceeds expectations, the state will pay a bonus into the investment fund. CSX's MARC on-time performance was down around 80% earlier this year, but was 93% last month. CSC blamed the delays on capacity issues, which the new investment should help address.

Of the $30 million pledged by the state, $6 million is state money and $24 million is federal money. CSX will contribute another $6 million of its own money. The new contract includes additional Brunswick line trains resulting from start-up of the Frederick branch a year from now. Maryland approved another $9 million to improve Amtrak track used by MARC's Washington-Baltimore-Perryville service. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Virginia committed $100 million in state and federal funds toward a $380-million project to build a third track on the CSX line between Washington and Richmond, which is also used by Amtrak and VRE passenger trains.

Longtime NARP board member Kevin Gregoire died unexpectedly at his home in Pittsfield, Mass., on December 18. He had put considerable effort into the fall 2000 NARP board meeting, which was held in Pittsfield. Memorial contributions to St. Teresa's Catholic Church of Pittsfield can be sent to Devanney Funeral Home, 40 Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Another death this week was that of Robert Casey of Pittsburgh, who was on the NARP staff in 1973-75, including one year as executive director. Later, he was an official of the High Speed Rail Association.