Hotline #686

Congress returned on September 11. Everyone wants to know what is happening with H.R.2950, the House surface transportation bill, but all that can be said is that, officially, it is in limbo while House leadership continue to discuss what is to be done with it.

The Senate 1992 DOT appropriations bill was approved yesterday at both the subcommittee and committee levels. The Amtrak numbers compare very favorably with those approved by the full House on July 24 and published in our August newsletter. Amtrak would get $331 million for operations, $180 million for capital, and $145 million for the mandatory FRA payments. The Northeast Corridor would get $66 million for on-going projects and $194 million for Boston electrification -- both figures more than Amtrak's own request! Subcommittee Chairman Frank Lautenberg (D.-N.J.) and ranking member Al D'Amato (R.-N.Y.) deserve the hearty thanks of all NARP members for producing this kind of numbers during what is always a difficult process. Special thanks also to Senator Kennedy (D.-Mass.) for publicly supporting the electrification. Now the Senate bill will go to the Senate floor for approval and then to conference to be reconciled with H.R.2942, the House version.

The NARP Executive Committee voted on September 10 to initiate a suit in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts over the Central Artery rail link. NARP maintains that state and federal officials failed to observe or enforce federal laws when they gave the issue no serious attention in their planning. Pressure from NARP members has helped the state at least say the rail link is a good concept, but not in the Central Artery. State officials now say an all-rail tunnel under Congress St. would be better, but of course have not said how or when it would be paid for. Perhaps the Congress St. proposal should be treated as a smoke screen. Contributions made out to NARP specifying "Boston Legal Fund" are still appreciated.

Canadian postal workers, as we warned two weeks ago, have spread their strike to other federal government sectors, including Canadian customs. Customs are considered an essential service and not allowed to strike, but have been working "by the book," causing massive back-ups at border crossing points. However, it looks like Amtrak has been spared, or perhaps overlooked. Trains have not experienced delays this week. But if you are traveling on Amtrak across the border, be on the look out. Also, beware that there is a huge transit strike in Toronto that may last a few days.

Former Federal Railroad Administrator John Riley, who was just appointed Minnesota Transportation Commissioner in January, has now been appointed Governor Carlson's chief-of-staff. The former chief left under a cloud of scandal.

For the fourth time in a year, a president of a rail union has been turned out of office by its membership. The president of the United Transportation Union, Fred Hardin, was defeated in a vote on September 9. The new president, Thomas DuBose, has pledged that the UTU would rejoin the Railway Labor Executives' Association, rail labor's main lobbying group in Washington.

Amtrak's Express magazine lately has been featuring the famous who like to ride on trains. This summer, one issue featured actor Michael Gross, who used to appear on "Family Ties" on TV. He is a NARP member and has a long railroad background. The current issue features author Judith Martin, who writes the "Miss Manners" column in the Washington Post. She regularly graces Amtrak's Metroliner service between New York and her home in Washington.

There was a bit of the Wild West on the Empire Corridor last week. On September 4, and 80-year-old New York City resident fired ten pistol shots into the coach ceiling when he became angry when he thought he missed his stop. He was subdued by two Amtrak employees, put off the train at Rhinecliff, and arrested.

Good news for Chicago -- Metra submitted a 1992 budget yesterday that does not require a fare increase, as had been proposed previously.

The centennial of the Grand Trunk tunnel under the St. Clair River, which is used by Amtrak's International, is next week. Tomorrow, the American Society of Civil Engineers will dedicate a commemorative plaque at the Port Huron Amtrak station, at 10:30 am. On September 19, Canadian National will run special trains between Sarnia and Port Huron all day long, with mid-morning ceremonies at both stations.

The City of Holland, Mich., will rededicate its Amtrak station on September 21. The former Pere Marquette depot has had extensive renovations, paid for by Michigan DOT, the city, and a local business family. Amtrak and CSX plan to have an equipment display at Holland that day.

Amtrak will display a Heritage 10-6 sleeping car at the Greenfield Village Railroad Days at Dearborn, Mich., on September 21-22.