Hotline #194 - June 8, 2001

There is a good chance that a House version of the fiscal 2002 transportation appropriations bill will be marked up (i.e., approved at subcommittee level) as soon as Tuesday, June 12. Phone or fax your Representatives to urge them to urge the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee to support President Bush's request for Amtrak, $521 million to be "scored" at 100% (i.e., all the money paid up front). If your Representative is a Subcommittee member, then just urge him or her to work for the Bush request. If you don't already know your Representative's phone number, the Capitol switchboard is 202/224-3121 (or click here). Subcommittee members are:

Rogers, R.-Ky. (chair)	Sabo, D.-Minn. (ranking Democrat)
Wolf, R.-Va.	Serrano, D.-N.Y.
DeLay, R.-Tex.	Olver, D.-Mass.
Callahan, R.-Ala.	Pastor, D.-Ariz.
Tiahrt, R.-Kans.	Clyburn, D.-S.C.
Aderholt, R.-Ala.	Kilpatrick, D.-Mich.
Emerson, R.-Mo.
Granger, R.-Tex.
Sweeney, R.-N.Y.

The American Passenger Rail Coalition -- representing business interests -- organized a successful high-speed rail lobby day that took place yesterday. About 100 leaders speaking for industry, labor, passengers, and local governments converged on Capitol Hill, with their primary message being to pass the High Speed Rail Investment Act (which, of course, benefits the entire national passenger rail network). An early meeting with Sen. Joseph Biden (D.-Del.), Rep. Jack Quinn (R.-N.Y.), and Rep. Bob Clement (D.-Tenn.) preceded many visits organized between the participants and legislative staff. The day ended with a reception hosted by APRC, where the guest of honor was Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who was recognized for his many contributions during his two terms on the Amtrak board. To see a longer release about this, jointly issued by APRC, High Speed Ground Transportation Association, NARP, Rail Labor Division, and Railway Progress Institute, click here.

Amtrak's apparently longstanding plans to mortgage part of New York's Penn Station for $300 million became public this week in an awkward way. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta mentioned the deal to reporters last week, leading to a June 6 Washington Post story. Amtrak calls the loan "a one-time financial transaction to make up the Acela-related shortfall" caused by delivery delays. Later, Mineta agreed to remove a federal lien on the collateral property, allowing loan negotiations to proceed. To its credit, Amtrak is not seeking to cut routes to save money, though Secretary Mineta told reporters Amtrak should consider that. NARP said in a release that the Amtrak network is already skeletal and does not need to be reduced.

The Vermonter has been suspended north of Springfield, Mass., since June 1, due to track conditions on the New England Central (north of Palmer, Mass.). The train had been due to delays of about a half hour before that, but after further inspection, more slow orders were imposed. The total resulting delay was about 2.5 hours, so Amtrak annulled the train.  A replacement bus has been running, but its last day is June 10. Evaluation of the track is still proceeding, but Amtrak does not expect to reinstate the service until the New England Central makes such repairs as are identified as being necessary.

Amtrak's Cascades service added a new stop on June 1. Trains now stop at Tukwila, south of Seattle near I-5 and I-405. It is also about three miles east of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. This is not a stop for the Coast Starlight. Amtrak and the new Sounder commuter rail service share this station, which is temporary until an adjacent, permanent facility is built within a couple years.

A tunnel fire on the Union Pacific that started June 2 between Eugene and Chemult (where the crosses the Cascade range) resulted in Amtrak temporarily turning the Coast Starlight in both Portland and Klamath Falls, with replacement bus service provided.

Because "Quiet Cars" have been so popular, Amtrak on June 1 extended the program to nearly all its Northeast Corridor trains. Now -- except on Acela Express 2150 and Metroliners 121 and 123 -- the policy on all weekday NEC trains will be to not have cell phone use in one car. This will normally be the first coach of the train; signs will be posted and announcements made.

Amtrak and Icelandair announced May 31 a program to share codes -- in other words, a traveler can book a ticket for both carriers through either carrier for certain itineraries. This is one of the first times this has been done between an airline and Amtrak -- there was such a short-lived arrangement in the early 1990's for Midway Airlines and Amtrak's Philadelphia-Atlantic City service. Travelers may book Amtrak tickets from Washington or Philadelphia to BWI Airport on the Northeast Corridor to connect to Icelandair flights to Iceland, Britain, Scandinavia, or other European points served by the airline.

A ceremony at the Amtrak station in San Jose on June 6 celebrated the millionth passenger to ride a Capitol Corridor train in the last 12 months.

Amtrak moved into historic Union Station in Worcester, Mass., on May 30.  It recently had a major renovation, conducted by the Worcester Redevelopment Authority.

The "Trails and Rails" program of Amtrak and the National Park Service was expanded May 26 to the Adirondack (Yonkers-Hudson; Saratoga Springs-Westport) and Vermonter (Amherst-Essex Junction). Narrated on-board tours of the areas are provided on these segments weekends (plus Monday holidays).

The Fort Worth-Oklahoma City Heartland Flyer's second anniversary, June 14, will be observed with special activities at Oklahoma City, Norman, Pauls Valley, Ardmore, Gainesville, and Fort Worth -- plus a station dedication at Purcell.