Hotline #843 - September 16, 1994

The first meeting of the conference committee for H.R.4556, the 1995 transportation appropriations bill, is likely to be September 21 or 22.

Also, H.R.4111, the Amtrak reauthorization bill, may come to the House floor next week. But, if the Senate counterpart bill, S.2002, does not start moving through committee, H.R.4111 might not go to the House floor at all. If H.R.4111 does come up, expect a vote on the Barton (R.-Tex.) amendment.

The September 14 Journal of Commerce had a pro-Barton amendment editorial. The Journal said, "Amtrak's supporters know the railroad can't go on forever operating some of its hugely unprofitable routes." The Journal said Barton would help Amtrak by giving it the "flexibility to operate more like other businesses." NARP thinks the amendment really is an attempt to kill Amtrak. Barton would not improve Amtrak labor productivity, but simply would make it easier to shut down routes.

If Amtrak does close routes, there would be less political support for what remains of Amtrak. A downward spiral could begin that ends with the loss of everything except possibly for a few segments that states might fully fund.

Of course, this Journal editorial, like previous ones, attacked Amtrak subsidies without looking at the benefits Amtrak provides society or the subsidies other modes enjoy.

A turbo train caught fire the morning of September 11 at New York Penn Station, causing great amounts of smoke. Train 242 arrived in New York about 25 minutes before the fire began, meaning no passengers were on board. Twelve people suffered from smoke inhalation, some of those firefighters. Rail and subway traffic was disrupted all morning and the fire department complained of Amtrak not being able to confirm for 90 minutes that electrical power had been turned off so firefighters could approach the train. The turbo power unit was destroyed. Because of an earlier fire in another RTG power unit this year, Amtrak parked the remaining four such units pending close inspection of the wiring.

Amtrak is reducing sleeping car charges on five western trains through December 15. This discount can be used with other base-fare discounts. The trains are the Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Desert Wind, Coast Starlight, and Texas Eagle (through to Los Angeles).

The City of Chicago wants to tear down the elevated St. Charles Air Line, which Amtrak trains use to reach the Illinois Central. Amtrak favors restoration of an old Nickel Plate connection to the IC at Grand Crossing in south Chicago.

Amtrak also studied, at NARP's request, a connection at St. John, Ind., allowing Indianapolis trains to reach Hammond-Whiting. Because of freight interference and capital costs on the suggested route, Amtrak recommends instead a connection to the Illinois Central at Harvey, then through Grand Crossing to Union Station.

Rep. Billy Tauzin (D.-La.), chairman of the Coast Guard subcommittee of the House Merchant Marine Committee, will try to get his barge safety bill through the full committee on September 14. He introduced H.R.3282 last October soon after the Sunset Limited wreck in Alabama. Full Committee Chairman Gerry Studds (D.-Mass.) wants to amend the bill to allow a stronger licensing and inspection program. Tauzin and the barge industry oppose such an amendment.

The French National Railways expect to begin selling tickets October 3 for inaugural through-service in the Channel Tunnel to commence October 23.