Hotline #837 - August 5, 1994

The westbound Lake Shore Limited derailed near Batavia, N.Y., at 3:45 am on August 3, at about 75 mph, injuring 102 of the 360 people aboard. About 33 were admitted to area hospitals. Of these, 18 remained as of last night and six-to-ten were expected to be released today. Investigators think the train derailed after some mail car wheels climbed on top of a rail and rolled along the roadbed for three miles. No Amtrak derailments in at least the last five years have been caused by Amtrak equipment failure.

DOT Secretary Pena said he will convene a railroad safety summit, with details to come within two weeks. Among those Pena will invite are NARP, Amtrak, the AAR, Members of Congress, and labor and highway interests.

A new high-speed rail bill, H.R.4867, was passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee today. It replaces H.R.1919 and S.839, which have been stalled since November by freight railroad concerns over liability. H.R.4867 is far less ambitious, allowing only pre-construction activities, such as engineering work. However, it does allow right-of-way acquisition and holds out hope of eventually providing a federal match to money spent since April 1993. FRA says no states are ready to do actual track and signal work.

Talks on a merger of Norfolk Southern and Conrail reportedly are serious enough to involve the companies' chairmen. The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe have already petitioned the ICC for a merger. The Illinois Central plans to take over the Kansas City Southern.

The first California car was to be delivered by Morrison Knudsen at the end of this month, but that has been delayed at least two more months. Superliner delivery is on hold while the Bombardier plant shuts down for a summer break. The first new Superliner lounge car was delivered in July.

Ohio Governor Voinovich signed a law on July 21 creating the Ohio Rail Development Commission. It is the combination of the former Rail Division of the Ohio DOT and the former Ohio High Speed Rail Authority. The new commission will have more powers than its predecessor and oversee the new state Railroad Development Fund.

As part of its restructuring program, Amtrak has introduced a voluntary retirement program for management employees to be followed if necessary by an involuntary program.

Sen. Richard Lugar (R.-Ind.) has introduced S.2286, a bill to allow certain states to spend ISTEA safety money on grade crossing improvements. An identical bill, H.R.4855, was introduced by Rep. Pete Visclosky (D.-Ind.). There are 28 states without seat belt or motorcycle helmet laws that must spend some of their highway money on safety programs.

Greyhound has serious financial problems and says it will reduce long-haul service and focus on shorter routes. Greyhound has renewed its complaints about the Thruway bus system in California. This time, however, we are aware of no Congressional attempt to cut the important Amtrak feeder bus network. Greyhound also is lobbying for federal subsidies, saying if trains get subsidized, so should buses. Of course, buses already enjoy reduced fuel and rubber taxes; perhaps those taxes should be eliminated.

A tentative settlement has been reached in the strike that has shut down subway, light rail, and bus service in Los Angeles since July 26. The Soo Line strike is now three weeks old, with no end in sight.

St. Louis voters on August 2 passed a quarter-cent sales tax to benefit local transit.