Hotline #833 - July 8, 1994
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We were unable to record last week's message until July 5, due to technical problems, for which we apologize. Therefore, some of last week's message appears later in this message. Our telephone service provider says it has nearly finished a major equipment upgrade to improve the reliability of the system.
In the Senate, it appears that the 1995 transportation funding bill will be approved in subcommittee on July 12 and in the full Appropriations Committee on July 13. Tell your Senators, especially those on the Appropriations Committee, to be sure Amtrak gets adequate operating support. Amtrak revenues have done poorly this year, so an inadequate operating grant would be very bad.
It will be at least July 19 before the House Energy and Commerce Committee approves H.R.4111, the Amtrak authorization bill.
The United Transportation Union is still headed for a strike against the Soo Line portion of Canadian Pacific. A cooling-off period ends 12:01 am on July 14. The Empire Builder will be rerouted to the Burlington Northern. The union says Amtrak can run Milwaukee trains, but at reduced speeds. Therefore, there will be only four trips in each direction, running 30 to 40 minutes slower than normal.
Canadian Pacific has decided to sell its line across Maine to Cantrak, which would operate the line in its entirety. A competing proposal from Guilford covered only the eastern half of the line. This is the route of VIA Rail's Atlantic, which is also threatened by government budget cuts.
George Warrington, Amtrak's recently appointed chief of Northeast Corridor Operations, has appointed Stan Bagley as head of Northeast Corridor customer services and David Carol as head of the high-speed rail program. Bagley is general superintendent of the Washington Division and Carol is NECIP project director in the Government and Public Affairs Department. Warrington emphasizes that day-to-day Corridor operations continue under existing leadership until the new business unit takes command, probably in early October.