Hotline #700 -- April 1, 2012

April 4 marks the deadline for the submission to the Federal Railroad Administration of applications by states seeking some or all of the $2.4 billion in high-speed rail funds that Florida’s Governor Rick Scott rejected.

While FRA does not reveal the details of each application, a number of news releases from state transportation agencies give a sense of what to expect.  Here is what we have:

• California – $2.4 billion – The California High-Speed Rail Authority submitted the most aggressive list of projects with an application that would utilize all of the “Florida money.” The money—and the required state match—would allow for completion of a segment between Merced and Bakersfield, forming a 180-mile spine for the statewide system that would stretch from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
• Missouri - $1 billion - Missouri’s application will focus on two aspects of the St. Louis-Kansas City corridor.  The state has a list of $373 million worth of projects to begin the immediate upgrade of service between the two cities, with higher speeds and better reliability.  Their application also has the first steps towards a dedicated high-speed corridor—$600 million worth of engineering and design work, planning, and property acquisition.  “The design, planning and construction of this project would create high-paying jobs in communities across Missouri over the next several years, and provide the necessary resources to prepare for construction of a dedicated high-speed passenger line,” Governor Jay Nixon (D) said.  “It would be a transformative step for Missouri, both in terms of the jobs created and in developing this mode of transportation between our state’s two largest metropolitan areas and the cities along the route, including the state capital.” The project would create an estimated 1,300 jobs.
• Wisconsin - $150 million - In a move that was something of a surprise to advocates that saw Governor Scott Walker turn down $810 million for a Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago train earlier this year, Wisconsin has applied for funding for projects that would upgrade the Milwaukee-Chicago service. However, Walker has specifically attacked the ridership projections for the Madison-Milwaukee section of the line.  He has also voted to support the Hiawatha service as a member of the state legislature.  So perhaps the decision isn’t that big an about face. The funds would go towards the purchase of two train sets, a new train shed at the Milwaukee station, and the construction of a maintenance facility in Milwaukee.
• Rhode Island - $31 million - The state has identified three projects that would ease station congestion and expand capacity.  They would construct a third track at Kingston Station in South Kingstown; perform engineering and environmental review to ease congestion at Providence Station; and perform engineering and environmental review for a plan to expand trackage at T.F. Green Station (the airport in Warwick) to a point where Amtrak would agree to stop some of its trains there.  T.F. Green is perhaps the only airport in the nation where the rental car facility (atop the station) is more convenient to train riders than to airline passengers.

Amtrak released an updated fleet strategy plan today; a document intended to serve as a blueprint for the replacement of the railroad’s aging fleet and allow Amtrak to meet the steady increase in U.S. demand for passenger trains.

“The plan provides Amtrak with a flexible and adaptable strategy to fleet development to meet demand for service now and in the future, and support the growth of a domestic manufacturing base vital for the success of intercity passenger rail in America” said the railroad in an official statement.

The plan documents recent procurement efforts, which includes the purchase of 130 single-level cars to replace the oldest cars and increase capacity on long-distance trains, and an order for 70 electric locomotives to replace all those currently in operation on the Northeast and Keystone Corridors.

The plan also provides additional detail on the procurement plan for 40 additional Acela Express cars, and updates on progress made by the Next Generation Equipment Committee.

You can find the full plan here.


The U.S. Department of Transportation announced yesterday that they have awarded $1 million to West Virginia to develop a state rail plan.

“This plan will help West Virginia identify rail lines that will best serve shippers and passengers well into the future,” said Secretary LaHood. “It is an important part of the President’s plan to win the future by targeting critical rail projects.”

West Virginia will provide a $1 million match in local funds to do the planning work, which will serve to guide investment.  The state will take an inventory of existing passenger and freight rail lines, and analyze the “potential for new freight, high-speed, intercity, and commuter corridors.”

“Planning for freight and passenger rail has been ignored for too many years, and state rail plans will create a sound basis for future, targeted investment,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo.  “Such plans are all part of the President’s long term vision to best use our railroads and create new opportunities for rail.”


A noted conservative argued that it is conservatives who should be spearheading the movement to revitalize passenger trains and streetcars at an event held by the Southeast High-Speed Rail Association on March 30.

“Conservatives know that what worked once can work again,” said William Lind, director of the American Conservative Center for Public Transportation, adding “Our national motto today is ‘drive or die.’”

Lind spoke about how public transportation achieves key conservative objectives for the country, including promoting energy independence and increasing national security, building a sense of community, and stimulating economic development.  Lind feels the opposition to public transportation found among many conservatives arises from the mistaken view that the dominance of highways within the U.S. came about from free-market forces.

More of Lind’s writings.


The Chinese air carriers China Southern and Henan Airlines announced this week that they are abandoning their Wuhan-Nanjing routes, unable to compete with the nation’s new higher-speed train service.

The trains operating along the 280-mile corridor run have a top speed of 160 mph, well below China’s top train speeds.  Even so, passengers have proven more than willing to accept the 3-hour travel time, flocking to the 180 yuan ($27) fares.

Chinese airlines have been nervously eyeing the introduction of 220 mph service throughout the country.  That passengers traveling between Wuhan-Nanjing shifted to rail service at these lower speeds is more bad news for the air carriers, already struggling with their higher levels of exposure to rising fuel prices.


German’s largest train drivers’ union announced a two-day strike earlier this week, protesting what they call operators’ unwillingness to discuss a uniform pay-scale for drivers across the country.

The strike began 3am on Thursday morning and will continue 47 hours through 2am on Saturday. 

National operator Deutsche Bahn will not be effected.  Keolis Germany has been exempted as a result of a willingness to engage in continued negotiations with the union.


A new factor driving oil prices higher is major public spending that aims “to forestall the political unrest sweeping the Middle East.” 

In particular, Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil producer, has seen “the break-even price [needed] to balance its budget jump from $68 last year to $88 this and then $110 in 2015” (Financial Times, April 1). 

Travelers Advisory

• Amtrak’s Lincoln Service passengers will be transferred to chartered motorcoaches and the Texas Eagle will detour between Chicago and St. Louis to allow work to begin on the installation 96 miles of tracks and 250,000 railroad ties for future high-speed trains, beginning this weekend. Union Pacific Railroad crews will be performing the work over the next several weeks.  The upgrades will accommodate speeds of up to 110 mph.  Currently the signals dictate a maximum speed of 79 mph, but a new signal system will be installed.  The improvements are part of larger corridor development plan. “Bringing high-speed rail to Illinois has been a top priority of my administration because of the thousands of jobs and long-term investment it will bring to our state,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D). Illinois Department of Transportation (Illinois DOT) advises that the year 2012 will see 110 mph operation between Dwight and Pontiac.
• Amtrak will be alerting Northeast Corridor passengers about major disruptions through twitter.  As of March 29, you can follow @AmtrakNEC to hear about equipment problems, severe weather, police activity, or anything that causes major disruptions (problems that affect a single train will not be broadcast). Amtrak will treat @AmtrakNEC as a pilot program.  If results are positive, they may consider making it permanent or expanding it to other corridors.