Hotline #836 - July 29, 1994

A new threat to the long-distance trains has emerged in the form of an expected effort by Rep. Joe Barton (R.-Tex.) to get the House Rules Committee to permit a vote to weaken labor protection when the Amtrak authorization goes to the House floor. The Rules Committee might consider his request next week but more likely the week of August 8. Without labor protection, Amtrak could save substantial sums of money immediately upon discontinuing most long-distance trains. Therefore, NARP's House authorization testimony called labor protection "service protection." Labor and others were surprised by the House vote to abolish the ICC, so one must regard Barton's effort as dangerous. If Barton was concerned about improving the labor productivity on Amtrak instead of killing trains, he might try to see how to give Amtrak leverage in that regard, instead.

The House-Senate conference on the DOT appropriations bill could come as early as late next week, or as late as September. Now is the time to contact your legislator who is on either the House or Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation. Of special note, Amtrak wants the Senate's $392 million for operations, which is $15 million above the House level. Also, the House's $245 million for capital is $15 million above the Senate figure. Finally, the House directive to spend Northeast Corridor funds on design and construction of a track for the Providence & Worcester Railroad should be opposed.

The Amtrak board passed a resolution on July 27 directing Amtrak President Tom Downs to seek legal remedies where necessary to improve on-time performance. Downs is to meet with Secretary Pena to request that Attorney General Janet Reno begin litigation against railroads that fail to comply with statutory requirements to give preference to passenger trains. The resolution mentions the Lake Shore Limited, which was only 40% on-time April through June, with freight train interference on Conrail-owned tracks accounting for 24% of the total delays.

For that period, Amtrak said CP-Soo Line stayed in first place, rising to 94% on-time, and Illinois Central moved into second place, rising 8% to 86.2% on-time. Southern Pacific dropped from sixth to ninth (last) place, 65.6%, and Burlington Northern was eighth with 65.8%.

With regard to the pending Santa Fe-Burlington Northern merger, the Amtrak board also directed Downs to take necessary steps to protect Amtrak's rights and enhance and protect its business opportunities. Downs said, "We need to be sure that this merger will not adversely affect the performance of our trains on the merged railroad and on any other railroad that might be adversely affected by the proposed merger."

We hear that Burlington Northern is treating Amtrak better and is doing a good job between Chicago and St. Paul with the strike-rerouted Empire Builder. The train has lots as little as 42 minutes, but generally loses an hour westbound due to waiting in St. Paul for buses from the missed locations.

Amtrak is spending $11.3 million on winterization efforts to avoid last winter's embarrassments -- replacing Horizon car sliding doors with hinged Dutch doors; providing heaters for Amfleet restrooms and Horizon vestibule steps; more standby electric power installations; sheltering of water lines; and provision of ice-melting equipment and switch heaters.

The St. Louis MetroLink rail system celebrates its first birthday July 31, with a day of free rides sponsored by local businesses. On August 1, Citizens for Modern Transit will host a community birthday for MetroLink, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, at the Union Station stop.

Bill Norman leaves Amtrak today, after 15 years.