Hotline #835 - July 22, 1994

The Senate approved H.R.4556, the 1995 transportation funding bill, yesterday. The Appropriations Committee passed it last week. An attempt by Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.) to strip out the $40 million for the Farley-Penn Station project was defeated 77-23. The next step is a House-Senate conference committee, whose members will include appropriations leaders from both sides. If you are represented by anyone on a Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, please tell him or her to fight for the highest Amtrak operating and capital amounts.

H.R.4111, the House Amtrak reauthorization bill, was approved on July 19 by the Energy and Commerce Committee. There were several changes from the version passed in subcommittee on May 24. The proposed 403(b) formula was not changed, but a one-year freeze effectively postpones implementation. The bill does not include a cost study by a neutral third party. A 1995 ceiling of $373 million for operations, which is too low, was retained, but the 1996 amount was increased from $353 million to $373 million. Amtrak would be directed to cooperate with Virginia DOT on a study of service to Bristol, Va.

The United Transportation Union strike against the Soo Line, which began July 14, showed no sign of resolution this week. No talks are scheduled between labor and management. The Empire Builder is using Burlington Northern and there are still only four Milwaukee round-trips, which are 30 to 40 minutes slower than normal. Other than that, UTU leadership has been successful in limiting the strike to the Soo Line. On July 18, a freight train operated by management ran a red signal on Metra tracks while crossing over to another track near Morton Grove, Ill. Ten thousand commuters were delayed while a relief crew was brought in.

A strike threatened for BART on July 18 was postponed when California Governor Wilson intervened.

The Illinois Central has confirmed it plans to buy the Kansas City Southern, with merger taking place early next year, pending regulatory approval.

There was a hearing in Smithfield, N.C., on July 11, held by Rep. Tim Valentine, who represents that area and chairs the technology subcommittee of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. This was where a truck trailer hanging off a CSX train hit Amtrak's Silver Meteor and derailed it, killing the assistant engineer. At the hearing, Valentine asked what technology would have prevented the accident. Amtrak said there was no such technology today and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen said more car inspectors were needed.

Tonight the first Amtrak train used a new track along the west side of downtown Lafayette, Ind. This eliminates a long, slow stretch of street-running for the Cardinal and Hoosier State. The new station site is at Second and Main, but there is no station yet. The former Big Four station will be moved there in September and its renovation will be complete in August 1995.

In conjunction with the issuance of new railroad postage stamps, there will be an Amtrak Superliner display at Dearborn, Mich., July 30, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and July 31 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. There is a special $29 round-trip for those going from Chicago to Greenfield Village those days.

There will also be special events in connection with the 10th anniversary of the Pere Marquette on August 4.

Talks between Canadian Pacific and Canadian National on merging their systems east of Winnipeg were broken off this week. However, CP said on July 20 that it wants to buy outright that part of CN that falls east of Thunder Bay, including CN lines in the U.S. CN, for its part, is interested in buying out eastern CP lines.