Hotline #726

In anticipation of a June 24 rail strike, Amtrak is not taking reservations for trains originating June 24 or 25, and plans to curtail some overnight trains before June 24. Generally, anything that would be moving at 12:01 am on June 24 will not leave its point of origin, or will operate only part-way. For example, the westbound Empire Builder of June 23 will be a Chicago-St. Paul coach train. However, Amtrak plans to run the following trains that originate on June 22 through to their final destinations -- trains 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 28; as well as train 58 of June 23. But Amtrak has cancelled the last San Diegans in both directions on June 23.

Amtrak is phoning passengers with reservations whose travel will be affected, but says these cancellation plans will be rescinded in the event of a last-minute settlement. Travelers must stay flexible, follow the news and be prepared for changes to their plans.

We will update this message next week as events warrant. No one can predict how long a strike would be, but Congress recesses for two weeks on July 2. Amtrak President Graham Claytor has told NARP that such a four-to-seven-day shutdown would tear Amtrak apart.

The pace of negotiations picked up this week. Amtrak met with its unions at least three times this week and will meet with them again on June 23.

We can expect that an Amtrak strike would shut down the entire national system, as well as much commuter service. All commuter trains using both Boston stations, New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station, Washington Union Station, Los Angeles Union Station, and others, would be cancelled. New York Penn Station alone handles 1,000 trains and 600,000 passengers a day.

Here are the transit figures from the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, which were unavailable last week. The transit total for 1993 was $3.8 billion, the same as for 1992. ISTEA had authorized $5 billion. One area that was cut was operating assistance. Aviation got a slight increase, and highways got a decrease for the first time in quite a while.

A full House Appropriations Committee mark-up is rumored for July 1, but could come earlier. The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee should have their mark-up soon after their return from recess on July 21.

The Senate Commerce Committee on June 16 reported S.2608, the Amtrak reauthorization bill. It is the same as introduced, including the provision that would have one Amtrak board member representing the consumers, picked from a list submitted by NARP. An amendment by Senator Pressler (R.-S.Dak.) was passed, saying any state without Amtrak service now could get more liberal 403(b) funding than other states -- Amtrak would cover 75% of the long-term avoidable costs the first year, 50% the second year, and the normal rate thereafter. Amtrak opposed the amendment.

Amtrak is canceling some food service on some short-distance trains in the wake of its inspection agreement with the FDA, reported last week. Some long-distance trains are being held until a suitable food-service car is located, though a couple have run without a diner. Amtrak believes it will get the number of bad-ordered food-service cars to a more acceptable level within a couple weeks.

The Virginia Railway Express begins commuter-rail service on June 22 on its Manassas branch.

Southern California commuter rail took a step forward yesterday with the announcement of an agreement for local counties to buy 340 miles of Santa Fe lines, including the Fullerton-San Diego main line used by Amtrak. The price is $500 million. Local transportation authorities must still approve the deal.

Southern Pacific has proposed a commuter service with two branches, from Suisun City and Brentwood to Oakland, Cal. SP would not operate the trains but would supply the tracks and old Peninsula commuter coaches. SP says it could start in a year.