Hotline #826 - May 20, 1994

The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Bob Carr (D.-Mich.), is expected to approve a DOT funding bill for 1995 on May 25, including specific funding levels for Amtrak and transit. NARP has asked for $437 million for Amtrak operations, including 403(b) trains. On May 24, the House Energy and Commerce Surface Transportation Subcommittee, chaired by Al Swift (D.-Wash.), is expected to approve H.R.4111, the Amtrak reauthorization bill. Swift apparently leans towards the Administration's reauthorization figures -- including only $380 million for operations -- to save time and avoid controversy. This would make it impossible for Carr to meet Amtrak's needs.

Investigation continues on the May 16 accident involving Amtrak's southbound Silver Meteor and a northbound CSX freight train north of Smithfield, N.C. The trains were passing each other on parallel tracks, with the CSX train going about 35 mph and the Meteor about 70 mph. On the CSX train, a truck trailer loaded with cat litter had shifted on its flatcar and was hanging out into the Meteor's path, causing the derailment.

The Amtrak assistant engineer was killed. Amtrak trains were detoured through Raleigh and Columbia until the morning of May 17. CSX has given the National Transportation Safety Board videotapes taken of the freight train earlier as it passed through Savannah and Charleston. The tapes may help show when and how the trailer came loose.

A Washington Post article on May 18 examined this accident's impact on the issue of freight railroad liability in Amtrak and high-speed train accidents. This issue has held up S.839, the Senate high-speed rail bill. Also, there is concern over what this will do to the public perception of riding trains, even though there was no passenger fatality.

Former Amtrak President Graham Claytor died May 14 at the age of 82. He had been hospitalized at Bradenton, Fla., for complications relating to cancer. He retired from the Amtrak presidency five months ago, after serving 11 years. There was a memorial service on May 17 in Washington and a May 18 burial in his hometown of Roanoke, Va.

Amtrak's process for acquiring high-speed train sets will be delayed three months due to an FRA request to have an outside firm study whether existing federal rolling stock strength standards are adequate for 150-mph operation. Amtrak says final specifications will be released by September 1 for delivery between 1997 and 1999.

The Canadian National has selected a winning bidder for its Central Vermont subsidiary. RailTex, a San Antonio firm that operates 23 short-line and regional railroads, will get the Central Vermont for $40 million. This is the route of Amtrak's Montrealer.

There was another barge accident involving a bridge on the Sunset Limited route yesterday. A barge struck the Southern Pacific bridge over the Atchafalaya River at Morgan City, La., bent the rails by up to ten inches, and damaged some of the bridge's bracing. Amtrak has issued no bulletin on how this affects Sunset operations.

A wildcat strike by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes against Conrail today may be delaying some Amtrak trains.

The Le Shuttle service through the Channel Tunnel, operated by Eurotunnel, got permission to begin service this week from the French and British governments. Service carrying cars and trucks between the two tunnel portals began yesterday. Only limited hourly service is offered now; full service begins in July. Standard freight-train service begins in a few days and passenger train service this fall. Eurotunnel had needed more time to test locomotives, and so had delayed the opening from March.