Hotline #844 - September 23, 1994

A conference committee met yesterday to reconcile the two versions of H.R.4556, the 1995 transportation appropriations bill. Amtrak operations got $392 million, which was the higher Senate figure. The conferees, by picking the high number, seem to be telling Amtrak to keep any service cuts to a minimum despite the decline in revenues. For capital, Amtrak got the Senate figure, $230 million. The Northeast Corridor got $200 million and the Farley/Penn Station project got $40 million, subject to authorization.

The Senate Commerce Committee, after long delays, this morning approved S.2002, a three-year Amtrak reauthorization bill. It requires Amtrak to study Kansas City-Omaha service. It authorizes funding for the Boston rail link and the Farley/Penn Station project. It is believed that House leaders would go along with the rail link authorization in conference. However, appropriations conferees approved nothing for it yesterday.

The House is not likely to pass its Amtrak reauthorization, H.R.4111, until after the Senate passes S.2002. This is because of the Barton amendment to eliminate Amtrak labor protection, making Amtrak vulnerable to dismemberment. House leaders will not risk voting on Barton for nothing. But we have heard that Representative Barton (R.-Tex.) has persuaded Kay Bailey Hutchison (R.-Tex.) to offer an identical amendment in the Senate. So please tell your Senators to oppose Hutchison, too.

Amtrak released its specifications for the high-speed train-set order on September 16. Amtrak is giving the three remaining consortia until October 30 to present technical and financing proposals. Amtrak hopes to award a contract by the end of the year.

Commuter-rail service will be extended to Worcester, Mass., on September 26, with three peak-hour round-trips.

The anniversary of Amtrak's worst wreck was yesterday. Forty-two passengers and five crew were killed when the Sunset Limited hit a bridge that had been struck by a barge. Most were drowned. There was a private wreath-laying ceremony yesterday at the accident site, ten miles northeast of Mobile, Ala.

The National Transportation Safety Board approved 29 recommendations arising from this wreck on September 19, including calling for a sweeping program to inspect rail and highway bridges vulnerable to such accidents. A Coast Guard survey this year identified 500 such rail bridges alone. Essentially, this follows a draft released June 21. The bridge in Alabama has since been outfitted with navigational lights, even though it is not on a legally navigable channel.

The main cause of the accident was the barge operator's inability to use radar while lost in the fog. To address that, the House yesterday approved H.R.3282, the Tauzin (D.-La.) bill, as part of Coast Guard reauthorization. It includes the amendment by Merchant Marine Chairman Gerry Studds (D.-Mass.) for a stricter licensing and inspection program. This amendment was opposed by the barge industry. The Senate has not acted on a barge safety bill. Amtrak President Downs wrote to Studds this week urging adoption of the safety program.

DOT Secretary Pena's rail safety summit will be held in Washington on September 30. NARP Executive Director Ross Capon will be on a panel on emergency response planning and training, and on one on passenger-car design.

The Talgo train will do after-work excursions on October 5-6 between Los Angeles and Vincent, sponsored by NARP Region 12, Renfe Talgo, and Metrolink.

Canadian Pacific has offered $1 billion for all Canadian National lines east of Winnipeg. The fate of CP's line across Maine remains unclear. The line west of Brownville has no apparent buyer. The east end may go to the Irving group of New Brunswick, which is allied with Guilford.