Hotline #742

The staff conference discussions on H.R.4250, the Amtrak reauthorization bill, were completed October 3, with House approval on October 4 and Senate approval on October 7. It then went to the President for signature.

H.R.4250 is valid for two years, instead of three as the Senate had wanted. It requires several studies, including for the market impact of Boston electrification, the trials of high-speed rail equipment across the country, and the takeover of the old post office across Eighth Avenue from Penn Station in New York. It earmarks funds for new 403(b) services -- thus challenging interested states to secure a corresponding earmark in the 1994 appropriations bill. Eliminated was a Senate provision for an Amtrak board member to represent the interests of consumers, to be chosen from a list of three names provided by NARP.

President Bush signed H.R.5518, the transportation appropriations bill, on October 5. Just passed by the Senate yesterday was the energy bill that raises the tax-free ceiling for employer-provided transit passes from $21 a month to $60 and taxes employer-provided parking worth over $155 a month.

NARP this week wrote a strong letter to Amtrak President Graham Claytor about worsening service quality lapses -- FDA-related and otherwise -- and the need for more incentive fares on certain routes. Meanwhile, Amtrak is furloughing 250 of its 1,250 Beech Grove workers, due to the tight operating budget. Also, to the surprise of other House Members, Rep. Al Swift (D.-Wash.) said during debate on H.R.4250 on October 4 that Claytor is "going to retire this year."

The DOT won't meet an October 28 deadline for issuing a final policy on alcohol testing for aviation, trucking, and railroad workers, according to the Journal of Commerce. It had a year to fulfill a legislative mandate made soon after a fatal August 1991 New York subway crash that involved alcohol. It may be another year before new rules are actually implemented by the industry.

The Caltrain station at Menlo Park had its 125th anniversary observed last weekend. It was built by a Southern Pacific predecessor in 1867.

The opening of the English Channel tunnel will be delayed further; the latest estimate is mid-December 1993. Earlier delays were blamed on problems the Transmanche group of contractors had in building the three tunnels. Now the tunnels are complete, but problems have arisen in fitting them out and in building the two terminals at either end of the tunnels. Only token through-train services are foreseen through the winter of 1994, with full service delayed until summer 1994.

Short line Wisconsin & Southern, which runs mostly northwest of Milwaukee, purchased in August the Wisconsin & Calumet, which runs from Chicago to much of southern Wisconsin. Now the Wisconsin & Southern is thinking about buying a Soo Line branch between Madison and Watertown, with trackage rights into Milwaukee. The Madison-Watertown segment is being considered by the Wisconsin DOT for use by extended Amtrak Hiawatha trains from Milwaukee.

We are hearing reports that Greyhound is increasing rents dramatically for small bus companies who use Greyhound-owned stations. Many smaller companies will move. That will hurt passengers making bus-to-bus transfers, but might help passengers making bus-to-train transfers. For example, American Buslines moved into Indianapolis Union Station last week. American serves many Indiana points, though not necessarily at times convenient for Amtrak connections.

Because Amtrak increasingly relies on interim timetable changes, NARP has set up an experimental, free timetable hotline to be updated whenever important Amtrak changes are made. The hotline explains how to order Amtrak and Washington-area local rail timetables and -- for a $1.00 per timetable charge -- local rail timetables from other U.S. cities. The number is 202/408-8331.