Hotline #731 - November 4, 2011

The California High-Speed Rail Authority released an updated business plan that dramatically increases the 20-year price tag for the full planned line to $98.5 billion, but promises 100,000 jobs in the next five years with another 1 million jobs generated over the span of the project’s lifetime. It also figures a much higher cost for accommodating the state’s growing population without the rail line.

The new business plan has been altered to reflect the post-recession realities facing the Los Angeles to San Francisco line.  In addition to the cost estimates, the plan updates ridership figures and funding expectations to “reflect current economic realities”.

[Read the plan here.]

“We have carefully constructed a business plan that is mindful of the economic and budgetary constraints facing both the state and the nation,” said Authority Board Chairman Thomas J. Umberg. “It will deliver to California and Californians a cost-effective, efficient, and sensible alternative to more highways and increased airport congestion.” 

CAHSRA also updated the cost of the “no-rail” option: without the high speed rail system, the state will need to build as much as 2,300 additional lane-miles of highways, 4 additional runways, and 115 additional airline gates to accommodate the travel needs of the state’s growing population—projected to increase from 38 million people today to 60 million people by 2050.  Those projects would cost an estimated $171 billion, in total, making the rail line seem like a bargain in comparison.

Regardless, the new price tag for the train has put the project under fire.  State Senator Doug LaMalfa has already labeled the new cost estimate unacceptable, indicating he would be in favor of putting the project before voters again.

“The voters were deceived in the original go-around with highly optimistic ridership and cost numbers that have not been born out,” said LaMalfa, adding that the higher price “should have been in front of the voters to begin with so they would have the truth.”

CAHSRA is arguing that the new business plan actually puts the project on firmer footing, providing a more accurate understanding of the facts on the ground.  And in fact, the new plan endorses the previous ridership estimates, saying the system would still require no operating subsidy even at the low end of the ridership projections.

“After conducting an in-depth analysis I am convinced that this is an open and balanced business plan,” said Mike Rossi, a CAHSRA Board member appointed by Governor Jerry Brown. “This is a current, realistic and transparent plan and identifies the funds and financing necessary to implement high-speed rail in California.”

While reports have been circulating for a few weeks that on-board WiFi internet access had been introduced on Northeast Regional trains, Amtrak waited until this week to officially announce it will be expanding its AmtrakConnect WiFi service to 12 of its East Coast routes.

Newly connected routes include the Northeast Regional trains (between Virginia and Boston), Empire Service (New York - Albany - Buffalo), Keystone Service (New York - Philadelphia - Harrisburg, Pa.), Carolinian (New York – Raleigh - Charlotte, N.C.), Ethan Allen Express (New York - Rutland, Vt.), the New Haven - Springfield Shuttle, and Vermonter (Washington - St. Albans, Vt.).  The Adirondack (New York - Montreal), Maple Leaf (New York - Toronto), Palmetto (New York - Savannah, Ga.), and Pennsylvanian (New York - Philadelphia - Pittsburgh) have also seen the introduction of Wi-Fi, though it will be limited to select cars—marked with the AmtrakConnect window stickers—due to these trains using a mix of two different types of coaches.

Wi-Fi had previously been restricted to the Acela Express, the Cascades service in the Pacific Northwest, and the Boston-to-Portland, Maine Downeaster (where installation was managed and paid for by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority).  With internet access on these 12 routes, Amtrak has now provided coverage for fully 60% of its annual ridership.

“The expansion of Wi-Fi further enhances the travel experience for passengers, giving them more options for entertainment or to do work while en route,” says Vice President for Marketing and Product Development Emmett Fremaux.  “We are committed to continuing to improve and expand this service as resources and technology allow.”

While Wi-Fi has been a longtime goal for the company, they report that “the biggest obstacle to providing Internet connectivity on trains is the limited bandwidth on many routes, currently provided through third-party cellular data networks located along the tracks.”  Amtrak is currently in negotiations with cellular companies to expand and improve this coverage using existing—or previously planned—infrastructure, which will maximize limited resources.

The second phase of the AmtrakConnect project will equip AmtrakCalifornia’s Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner, and San Joaquin trains.  Implementation is scheduled for the end of this year.


A study released last week found that the use of 20% biodiesel fuel (containing locally-produced animal byproducts) to power Amtrak’s Oklahoma City-Fort Worth Heartland Flyer had no negative impact on locomotive performance nor additional wear and tear to the engine.

Presented at a railroad environmental conference hosted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign last week, the study found that use of the biodiesel blend—known as B20 since it is 20% biofuel and 80% petroleum diesel)—operated below the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) limits for the General Electric P32-8 class of locomotive.

“The trial design included one year of testing, evaluating the engine and gasket wear, determining the quality of air emissions and regularly monitoring the quality of the biodiesel fuel,” said Roy Deitchman, Amtrak Vice President, Environmental, Health and Safety. “The results of the trial indicate the in-service locomotive was very reliable with the B20 blend, engine wear was limited, air emissions were below EPA limits for this generation of passenger locomotive and the biofuel supply met industry standards.”

The experiment supported jobs in Texas—the biofuel is produced by a vendor that uses locally sourced beef byproduct—and Pennsylvania—some testing was carried out at the General Electric locomotive production facility in Erie.  Amtrak was awarded a $274,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to carry out the research project, in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the State of Texas.  The study made Time Magazine’s list of “The 50 Best Inventions of 2010”.

“Routine use of biodiesel fuel at Amtrak is contingent on many factors, including cost versus traditional ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and availability,” Deitchman said. “But it is clear no significant engine performance issues were found during the trial and we were able to replace nearly 35,000 gallons of diesel with a renewable fuel that was locally produced.”


As of yesterday, passengers on the Downeaster train will be participating in Amtrak’s pilot program for eTicketing.

NARP has already written about the safety benefits of electronic ticketing.  But the new eTicketing program will also allow more flexibility for passengers, who can now print out their tickets at home, use their smartphone to present their ticket to the conductor, or print their ticket at the station.  Previously, tickets had been “value bearing” documents that were very difficult to replace when lost.

“We thank our partners at NNEPRA for their continued support and cooperation in helping bring this exciting initiative to our passengers,” said Emmett Fremaux, Amtrak vice president for marketing and product development. “The eTicketing process provides a more convenient and flexible way for customers to book their travel on this increasingly popular line.”

Aside from the security benefit of conductors having a better idea of who is aboard at any given time, eTicketing will also permit Amtrak to better recognize frequent travelers through the Amtrak Guest Rewards loyalty program, and will make upgrading to Business Class or a sleeper on-board much easier. The eTicketing program is scheduled to go nationwide by the end of 2012.


New Mexico‘s Rail Runner Express reached a milestone last week, carrying its five millionth passenger on October 26.

The commuter service, which runs between Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Belen, opened in 2006. It carries 4,000 passengers every weekday between 13 stations, with a 14th under costruction.  The five millionth passenger, 52 year old Jerry Martinez, received a year long rail pass for his role in the momentous achievement.


Amtrak introduced a new strategy which integrates the development a 220 mph high-speed rail system between Washington and Boston with a general business development plan of the existing Northeast Corridor (NEC), which will be released by the end of 2011.

According to Amtrak, by integrating their high-speed and NEC development strategies the railroad will ensure that the achievement of 220 mph service remains a central piece of the corridor’s development.  The new comprehensive business plan brings all funding, policy, and planning decisions regarding NEC improvements—whether targeted at high-speed or conventional speed trains—within a unified oversight structure.

“The NEC is Amtrak’s premier asset and expanding high-speed rail service is essential to maximizing its success,” said Amtrak’s President and CEO, Joseph Boardman.  “The NEC requires more capacity, greater connectivity and increased operating speeds for all Corridor users.  Improving and expanding our high-speed rail capabilities is central to achieving those goals.”

Coinciding with the release of the new business plan, Amtrak announced that Stephen Gardner will be assuming the role of Vice President of NEC Infrastructure and Investment Development.  Gardner, a transportation policy veteran who had a key role in writing the 2008 law under which Amtrak now operates, previously served as Amtrak Vice President of Policy and Development.

“Stephen has extensive experience and understanding of the NEC and the needs of its customers, and is keenly aware that improving the NEC for all users and building a 220 mph system will require both public investment and private finance,” said Mr. Boardman.

Gardner will be replacing former Vice President of High-Speed Rail, Al Engel, who will be leaving the railroad to pursue other opportunities.

“I appreciate the opportunity I have had to work at Amtrak and guide the development of its high-speed rail program,” Mr. Engel said.  “Amtrak is vital to achieving true high-speed rail in the United States and it is my sincere hope that the initiatives we have launched will gather momentum and become reality.”


Traveler’s Advisory

• There are only two more weekends until the Thanksgiving travel week, and Amtrak is reminding passengers to purchase their tickets early due to high demand. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are typically Amtrak’s biggest travel days of the year (November 23 and 27 this year, respectively).
• Last weekend’s surprise October snowstorm halted and delayed Amtrak service through much of New England.  Amtrak’s Vermonter and Lake Shore Limited were both hard hit, as downed trees and wires ground service to a halt. Amtrak reported that most service was completely restored as of yesterday.
• MBTA train service between Boston and T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, will increase twofold beginning November 14, bringing the weekday total to 20 frequencies (up from 11).
• The Villages—a retirement community in Florida that was ranked one of the fastest growing “micropolitan” areas in the 2008 U.S. Census—will now have a daily connection to Amtrak’s Silver Star (New York – Miami) via Thruway bus service. The new bus stop is located at the Spanish Springs Shuttle Station at 1150 Paige Place., and the Thruway bus will pick-up passengers from the southbound Silver Star Train 91 in Jacksonville at 7:05 a.m., arrive at The Villages to drop-off and pick-up passengers at 10:30 a.m., finally arriving in Lakeland at 12:55 p.m. for train connections south. The bus service will also pick-up passengers from the northbound Silver Star Train 92 in Lakeland at 4:30 p.m., arriving at The Villages to drop-off and pick-up passengers at 7:00 p.m. and then continue and arrive at the Jacksonville station at 10:20 p.m. for train connections north. Tickets can be booked on Amtrak.com. The station code for the new stop is TVF.