Hotline #781

Due to flooding, the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief are not running between Chicago and Denver or Kansas City. People starting trips on those segments will not get alternate transportation. Earlier, the California Zephyr ran on the Chicago & North Western. That is now closed, too, but may reopen sooner than the Burlington route. Amtrak says present conditions are likely through early next week, maybe longer. Flooded-out St. Louis-Kansas City trains should resume on July 10. The Illinois Zephyr is terminating at Quincy. The Texas Eagle and Empire Builder are operating normally, but all Chicago-St. Louis trains are losing about 30 minutes because the Merchants Bridge is closed.

In a ceremony at North Station this morning, Massachusetts Gov. William Weld and Lt. Gov. Paul Cellucci officially endorsed a proposal to link North and South Stations by building a rail tunnel beneath the new Central Artery. They committed $1.5 million in state funds toward Central Artery Project design modifications. Send NARP a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a copy of the state's news release.

Congress is in recess this week. The 1994 DOT appropriations bill, H.R.2490, is still expected on the House floor the week of July 19. We still expect a Tauzin amendment to transfer $20 million from Amtrak to the Coast Guard. Please tell your representative you oppose this.

Also, budget conferees soon will deal with the energy tax. One big problem is a Senate provision excusing the airline industry and mass transit -- but not Amtrak -- from the Senate's 4.3-cent transportation fuel tax. Also, the Senate bill earmarks the 4.3 cents for the Highway Trust Fund, instead of deficit reduction. Conferees dealing with these issues will include most Senate Finance and many House Ways and Means members.

President Clinton signed the summer job supplemental bill, with $45 million for Amtrak, this week before leaving for Japan.

At the end of June, the Ohio legislature approved a bill forming a freight and passenger rail development fund, which the governor is expected to sign. The fund would begin to receive revenues in 1995.

Delivery of the first Superliner II car has been delayed and is now expected in early August.

The ICE has been running tests up to 125 mph at various points between Washington and Philadelphia this week.

Ridership on the Los Angeles Metrolink Riverside commuter line is good, after free service ended a week ago. Morning trains handled more than 1,000 people on July 7, while there were crush loads -- a few times over 5,000 -- for the free rides in June.

The X2000 will be on display tomorrow at Jack London Square in Oakland, 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm. On July 11, it makes a round trip to Salinas, with stops both ways at San Jose and Watsonville. On July 12, it makes a round trip to Fresno, with stops both ways at Merced. On July 13 it leaves Oakland at 7:45 am, makes a short stop at San Jose, a long one at San Luis Obispo, and arrives Santa Barbara at 6:15 pm. On July 14, it leaves Santa Barbara at 2:30 pm, stops at Moorpark and arrives at Los Angeles at 5:15 pm. On July 15, it is on display at Los Angeles from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, leaving for the east at 2:00 pm. On July 16, it stops at Albuquerque from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, and Lamy from 11:00 am to 11:30 am. It arrives at Chicago at 1:00 pm on July 17. On July 18, it leaves Chicago at 7:00 am, is on display for Amtrak employees at Beech Grove from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, and arrives at Cincinnati at 9:00 pm.