Hotline #186 - April 13, 2001

Although Congress will be on spring recess for another week, legislators' offices are open and accepting mail you may write in favor of the High Speed Rail Investment Act. We urge regular mail (or fax) when possible, as legislators' offices are flooded with e-mail and may not give it as much attention. See our web site for ways to reach your Representative and Senators. See our web site for a current list of co-sponsors on S.250, the Senate bill. The House bill should be introduced later this month.

President Bush released the details of his fiscal 2002 budget proposals on April 9, building on the "budget blueprint" released February 28. As indicated in February, the budget proposes large increases for highways, aviation, and transit -- not surprising given the guaranteed, firewalled nature of these programs. Also, as before, the proposed Amtrak funding is $521 million -- same as this year, but all to be received at the start of the fiscal year. That is in contrast with recent years, in which Amtrak got 40% in year one and 60% a year later. The President proposes $20 million for the Penn Station/Farley project in Manhattan (same as this year) and $25 million for the high-speed ground transportation program (same as this year).

Amtrak President George Warrington visited Nashville on April 10, meeting with Mayor Bill Purcell, Gov. Don Sundquist, Rep. Bob Clement, and others about the prospects of returning to that city. Amtrak is studying a proposal to extend the Kentucky Cardinal from Jeffersonville, Ind., to Nashville (it likely will be extended the short distance from Jeffersonville to downtown Louisville this fall). Warrington told officials the study could be done by the end of the year and -- if it's favorable -- the train could reach Nashville in another year (early 2003). Clement said he also was encouraged by Virginia's plans for passenger rail service from the east to Bristol, on the Tennessee border.

Ridership on the Capitol Corridor in California reached a record level of 93,584 in March. That's 44.5% more than March 2000, and 1.1% more than the previous busiest month (November 2000). March 2000 was the first full month of the current service levels on the corridor. Revenues were up about 30% over the year before.

Amtrak's Vermonter has been disrupted by a track washout and freight derailment south of Bellows Falls, Vt., since the beginning of the week. Buses have been ferrying passengers between White River Junction, Vt., and Springfield, Mass. The line's owner, New England Central, expected to reopen the line today. The line runs alongside the Connecticut River.

Flooding also my be affecting the Empire Builder, due to high water on the Mississippi River between Red Wing and La Crosse. The river was expected to crest as early as today, and passengers were bussed from St. Paul to the east this morning. Flooding also would affect the traditional detour route via Burlington Northern Santa Fe on the Wisconsin bank of the river. Check with Amtrak before traveling. If the Red River in the Grand Forks area rises enough, it could also force a detour between Fargo and Minot (albeit over a route more direct than the normal one).

A media-only trip was scheduled for today over the portion of the Boston-Portland route that is Guilford-owned (the part in Maine and New Hampshire). Guilford said the trip is meant to educate the public about public safety through the invited media guests. But the exclusion of public officials left some wondering how that message would be colored, given the on-going dispute between Guilford and the Northern New England Rail Authority over what train speed can be supported by the tracks safely. Highway crossings are another area of concern, and Guilford and the Authority spent two days this week jointly inspecting crossings and markers. Some station platform work may begin in the next few days with a goal of being completed by June 15.

VIA Rail Canada's westbound Ocean derailed yesterday at Stewiacke, N.S., 47 miles north of Halifax, injuring 24. Investigators are looking at a switch immediately before the point of derailment. The train was headed for Montreal and was passing through the center of town at about 50 mph. Some cars plowed through the warehouse of a feed store, and a dining car was severely damaged.

National Geographic's Traveler magazine web site in June 2000 set up an on-line forum that asks, "Should your Taxes Pay for More U.S. Trains?", followed by text referring to Amtrak in particular. To see it, click here (and scroll down to the appropriate question). The site is still accepting new comments (at the end at "Post a Message").