ChrisDante
June 13th, 2000, 04:40 AM
I thought I'd post this so you might know the latest news. If you want to join Friends of Amtrak let me know.
Subject:
Friends of Amtrak Update 6/11/2000
Date:
Mon, 12 Jun 2000 01:24:47 -0700
From:
"Craig S. O'Connell" <crocon@connix.com>
To:
crocon@connix.com
Dear Friends of Amtrak:
Amtrak has reportedly established a new "Right And Ready" policy, an
ongoing pilot program where terminal inspectors are given more
detailed checklists and wider latitude to declare a car, or a train,
unfit. All "Right And
Ready" inspections are being done and have been going on for a few
months now but Amtrak may make a major announcement of this on July 4th.
Reportedly, this has already done a lot to make sure that the onboard crews
have good equipment at the start of their runs. However, the issue
remains that if you don't have a large enough reserve of cars, and
Amtrak does not, then trains will still depart occasionally with
equipment that is substandard.
This is one important reason why we, as Amtrak supporters, need to led our
representatives in Washington know that Amtrak is a high priority item for us.
Presumably, the goal of the program is to force the product lines to
be accountable and at the same time enable them to identify what
problems come from poor terminal servicing whether it be at Ivy City,
Sunnyside, Boston, or Philadelphia, and what problems crop up en
route.
Reportedly, financial awards have been offered in several rounds as
incentive to the right and ready teams. Early numbers show terminal
readiness to be
improving in line with management expectations.
I am told that the "Right And Ready" policy announcement will be
coupled with a Service Guarantee that Amtrak will tout as
unprecedented in the transportation industry. According to sources,
Amtrak will guarantee a satisfactory trip or issue vouchers or
adjustments to tickets, refunds or other compensation. The new
Service Guarantee program is due to begin on July 4.
Implementation of such a Service Guarantee program could be a nightmare
for those responsible for administering it but Amtrak is attempting to
drive some accountability down to the product lines, station, and train
crews who might be able to find more ways to welcome new riders onto the
system.
This information is unofficial and has not been provided to me by Amtrak
so you, the reader, will have to judge for yourself and time will tell.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak will be starting Acela Regional Service trains #134 & 135 (old
170 & 163 time slots with quicker times) within a month or so. All
tracks in South Station and Southampton Street yard will be energized
as of 12:01 a.m. tonight, Sunday, July 11.
------------------------------------------------------
Around The Rumor Mill:
Reportedly Amtrak is planning to make some marketing changes in the very
near future. About a year and a half ago I reported that serious
discussions were underway to replace Amtrak's "pointless arrow" logo.
There have been rumors ever since but thus far nothing has come of them.
More rumors are now in the air as July 4 approaches and again the
"pointless arrow" seems to be making the extinct list.
As far as I know, Amtrak will have new uniforms on July 1, 2000. I'm not
sure if this will be a system wide change or just a Northeast Corridor
change but the new uniforms will most likely be teal/grey in color, like
the new Acela colors. The name Amtrak will stay but the Acela logo may
replace the "pointless arrow" or an altogether new logo may appear. July
4th could be the date for this announcement as well but I have nothing
firm on that now, just more rumors...
Sources tell me that long-distance services are to be rebranded and
possibly renamed this fall. Does this mean that Amtrak will shed the
names and images of the glory days of railroading that had been
retained? Will names like the "Empire Builder" or "The Crescent", icons
in the railroading world, be abandoned for something more upbeat and
mod? Stay tuned.
-----------------------------------------------------------
From NARP...Legislative Update:
The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by
Richard Shelby (R.-Ala.), has postponed its work on a fiscal 2001
transportation funding until June 13. Full committee action could
come within a couple days of that, with a floor vote as soon as an
opening for it occurs.
Progress on getting S.1144 (flexibility for states to spend TEA-21
funds on passenger rail) to a Senate floor vote continues to be
blocked by a hold on the bill by Senator Bond (R.-Mo.). Bond opposes
any form of Highway Trust Fund money going to passenger rail (even if
states want this flexibility and even if such money already goes to
other, non-highway modes) and apparently does not want his colleagues
to have the opportunity to vote on it. There is a possibility that
some "flexibility" language will be attached to the appropriations
bill.
For more info go to the NARP HOTLINE AT:
http://www.narprail.org/hot142.htm
----------------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release June 9, 2000
SHUSTER ANNOUNCES HEARING ON AMTRAK FUNDING PROPOSALS
Representative Bud Shuster, Chairman of the Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee, announced today that the Committee
will hold a hearing on current proposals to meet future inter-city
rail capital needs.
The hearing will focus on three proposals.
First, the hearing will look at an innovative financing
proposal sponsored by Representatives Houghton and Oberstar to
allow Amtrak and the States to issue bonds for capital projects. The
proposal could provide an alternative method for intercity rail
capital investments.
Shuster noted that the Committee has supported other innovative
financing mechanisms for transportation projects in the past, and
that the Houghton/Oberstar proposal deserves serious consideration.
Second, the hearing will look at a Senate proposal to allow
Amtrak funding out of the Highway Trust Fund.
And third, the hearing will look at whether Amtrak funding
should be allowed out of the Mass Transit Account of the Highway
Trust Fund.
The date and location of the hearing will be announced
shortly.
------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE ON LA - VEGAS SERVICE
The Las Vegas Service is currently scheduled to debut in Late January,
assuming that Amtrak's and the Union Pacific's attorneys are able to
mitigate the Fish and Game Department's insistence that an environmental
impact report needs to be made for the "Desert Tortoise". They feel the
tortoise will be adversely affected by the construction of the 2nd track
between Kelso and Cima which has to occur prior to start up of the
Vegas service. Amtrak West has enlisted the help of Governor Gray Davis
(CA-D) to also assist in this regard.
Meanwhile Amtrak ran a demonstration train between Phoenix and Tucson
for ADOT secretary Mary Peters using the Las Vegas Talgo equipment. It
reportedly was a huge success and grass roots support for the service is
growing exponentially.
------------------------------------------------------
PIONEER SERVICE UPDATE:
Amtrak has reportedly been working with the state of Oregon, and to a
lesser extent Idaho, to identify ways to supplement revenue on the
proposed resurrection of the Pioneer train. The current population base
in the area will make ridership too low to meet operating expenses.
Amtrak is seriously pursuing mail & express freight shipments to help
support a revenue base. However, the problem is that most of the market
for mail and express is beyond Boise and the Union Pacific RR has
opposed taking trains beyond Portland to Boise without significant
infrastructure improvements. Nevertheless, it appears that the PDX-BOI
(Portland to Boise) portion of the Pioneer will happen in the near future.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific Surfliner Attendant
With the start-up of the Surfliners, six Pacific Surfliner Attendant
(P.S.A) jobs will be put on. three will work out of a San Diego base,
three will work out of a LAX base. Their responsibility will be to
provide maintenance (cleaning) service to Pacific Business car and
service to its guests. Secondary to that, the attendant will assist the
Lounge car Lead Service attendant, maintain a trash free environment and
clean restrooms throughout the train consist. The attendant shall
perform outlined standard duty during his/her scheduled hours on board
the equipment but from time to time he/she may be directed to assist or
to perform additional duties.
LAX works LAX-Santa Ana and return SAN crew works SAN-San Juan
Capistrano and return. This way no overnight hotels to pay for.
courtesy: Ed Von Nordeck
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
AMTRAK CONTRACTOR RAIDED BY FEDS -- On June 7, federal
agents, armed with subpoenas, raided the joint Old Saybrook, Connecticut
offices of Balfour Beatty Construction Inc. and Massachusetts Electric
Construction Co., a contractor for Amtrak's high speed electrification
project between New Haven, CT and Boston. The contractors are being
investigated for alleged misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of
dollars and alleged fraudulent overbilling of Amtrak. The agents
arrived with rented trucks and hauled away computers and file cabinets
from the company's offices. For its part, Amtrak has often questioned
the company's money claims, although the quality of the work has never
been in dispute, with electric trains now running that route since
January.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Support An Expanded Amtrak" bumper stickers are still available from Jim
Norton. These are four color, peel and stick variety, sized to fit
inside a legal sized envelope. FREE with LSSAE, $1.00 for each
additional. Quantities of 100 available for 24.00 postage paid to
organizations and individuals.
For your bumper sticker send to:
Jim Norton
153 Rebecca Pines
Madison, Alabama 35758
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wednesday, June 07 in Bay Minette, AL, Amtrak #2, the westbound Sunset
Limited hit a logging truck when the truck driver apparently tried to beat
the train through a grade crossing.
The 10:30am accident broke the truck in two but caused no injuries. Driver
Earnest D. Allen, driving the empty truck for Deep South Trucking, wanted to
cross the tracks at one crossing but the gates were down, so he went to the
next one at Hand Avenue, which has flashing lights but no gates. The train,
traveling at 44mph, smashed into his trailer and split it in two.
Said Bay Minette police chief Terry Sanders, "It appeared he knew a train
was coming and he attempted to cross anyway."
Already 3h53m late at Atmore, the train was held an hour for investigation.
Currently (5pm PDT) the latest report is 5h25m late out of San Antonio.
courtesy: Ray Dunbar, All-Aboard
----------------------------------------------------------------------
INDIANA HIGH SPEED RAIL ASSOCIATION
Board of Directors
Friends of the Association
Please mark your calendar
SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING & SEMINAR
Friday, September 8, 2000
7:30 am to 4:00 PM
At the beautiful
CENTER FOR VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
1040 Ridge Road
(in the southeast Chicago suburb of)
Munster, Indiana
MORE INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW
------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to submit a trip report please follow the guidelines at
the following site:
http://trainweb.com/crocon/tripreports/send.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Passenger service slated for Guilford Rail System, between Boston,
Massachusetts and Portland, Maine, will be pushed back past the January 2001
start date. While some blamed Guilford for earlier delays, this delay is
being caused by the 'Big Dig construction project at North Station in Boston.
April 13, 2001 has been established as the new start date, according to
Michael Murray, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail
Authority.
Courtesy: Dave Bowe
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thirteen cities will receive $10,000-$25,000 each from the Great American
Station Foundation to preserve, restore, and improve local rail transit
stations. The winners--Fremont, Calif.; Raton, N.Mex.; Waterbury, Vt.;
Hamlet, N.C.; Burlington, Iowa; Hastings, Nebr.; Elizabethtown, Pa.; Oakland,
Calif.; Rome, N.Y., Sanderson, Tex.; Jesup, Ga.; Hamilton, Ohio; and Macon,
Ga.--were selected from 42 applications submitted by communities in 22
states. Grant funding has been provided primarily by Amtrak, one of the
Foundation's founders; Amtrak contributed $950,000 to the Foundation in FY
2000 in support of its activities.
Courtesy: Dave Bowe
-------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak's Mid-Atlantic Division Safety Council has a new web site
dedicated to the safety of its employees and guests:
http://www.safetycouncil-amtrak.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ohio residents...Don't forget the OARP's 24 hour hotline:
OARP's 24-hour hotline: (614) 470-0334
-------------------------------------------------------------------
AMTRAK PRESS RELEASE:
THE FLOODS ARE GONE AND AMTRAK IS BACK IN MISSOURI WITH HALF-PRICE
COMPANION FARES
CHICAGO - To celebrate the resumption of regularly scheduled rail
passenger service in Missouri, Amtrak is offering a special
half-price companion fare. Between May 30 and June 30, when one
person travels for full fare between any two points within the State
of Missouri, a companion rides for half price.
Companion fares are valid within the State of Missouri on the
Missouri Mules and the Ann Rutledge between St. Louis and Kansas City
Mo., the Texas Eagle between St. Louis and Poplar Bluff, Mo., and the
Southwest Chief between La Plata, and Kansas City, Mo.
Regularly scheduled Amtrak service between St. Louis and Kansas City
was disrupted because of flood conditions for nearly two weeks from
May 7 to May 20.
Source: Amtrak
================================================== =====================
AMTRAK PRESS RELEASE:
June 1, 2000
TRACK WORK CAUSES TEMPORARY SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR AMTRAK'S HIAWATHA
SERVICE TRAINS --
One-day service changes also planned for Sunday, June
4, for Hiawatha Service and Lake Country Limited--
CHICAGO - Due to extensive construction on track owned by the Canadian
Pacific Railway and Metra (the Chicago commuter rail system) north of
Chicago, Amtrak will be adjusting the schedule of its Hiawatha Service
trains, which operate between Chicago and Milwaukee. These changes are
effective May 30 and will last approximately six weeks or until the work
is completed.
"We regret the inconvenience this track work may cause our guests, "
said Amtrak Intercity President Edward V. Walker. "However, once
completed, this work will improve ride quality and reduce maintenance
costs."
Hiawatha Service trains operating from Milwaukee to Chicago will have 15
minutes added to the schedule between Glenview and Chicago with the
exception of the train departing Milwaukee at 6:20 a.m., which will only
have 10 minutes added between Glenview and Chicago.
Hiawatha Service trains operating from Chicago to Milwaukee will have 15
minutes added to the schedule between Sturtevant, Wis., and Milwaukee,
with the exception of the train leaving Chicago at 5:08 p.m., which will
have only 10 minutes added between Sturtevant and Milwaukee.
In addition, there will be some service changes effective for Sunday,
June 4 only for both the Hiawatha Service and the Lake Country Limited,
which operates between Chicago and Janesville, Wis.
On June 4 only, the Hiawatha Service train that is scheduled to depart
Milwaukee at 10:40 a.m. will not operate. Guests for this train will be
provided alternate transportation. The Hiawatha Service train scheduled
to depart Chicago at 1:00 p.m. will not operate on June 4. Guests for
this train will be accommodated on Amtrak's Empire Builder, which
provides service between Chicago and Seattle via Milwaukee. The Empire
Builder is scheduled to leave Chicago at 2:15 p.m. and arrive in
Milwaukee at 3:50 p.m.
On June 4 only, the Lake Country Limited, which provides service between
Janesville, Wis., and Chicago, will depart Janesville at 6:35 a.m., 20
minutes later than its regularly scheduled departure time of 6:15 a.m.
That same train is scheduled to depart Glenview at 8:50 a.m. and is
scheduled to arrive at Chicago Union Station at 9:50 a.m., 45 minutes
later than usual.
Guests will be notified of these changes through flyers placed on seats
on the trains and posters at both Amtrak stations in Milwaukee and
Chicago. Amtrak Reservation Service Agents will also place phone calls
to guests who have previously made reservations for trains affected by
the construction work. Guests can also call 1-800-USA-RAIL for
information on these changes.
Source: Amtrak
-----------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to change your e-mail address for this distribution list
please fill out the form found at:
http://www.connix.com/~crocon/form2.html
If you would like to UNSUBSCRIBE from this mailing list go to:
http://www.connix.com/~crocon/form3.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Regards,
Craig S. O'Connell
Friends of Amtrak http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html
------------------
When in doubt, empty your magazine.
Subject:
Friends of Amtrak Update 6/11/2000
Date:
Mon, 12 Jun 2000 01:24:47 -0700
From:
"Craig S. O'Connell" <crocon@connix.com>
To:
crocon@connix.com
Dear Friends of Amtrak:
Amtrak has reportedly established a new "Right And Ready" policy, an
ongoing pilot program where terminal inspectors are given more
detailed checklists and wider latitude to declare a car, or a train,
unfit. All "Right And
Ready" inspections are being done and have been going on for a few
months now but Amtrak may make a major announcement of this on July 4th.
Reportedly, this has already done a lot to make sure that the onboard crews
have good equipment at the start of their runs. However, the issue
remains that if you don't have a large enough reserve of cars, and
Amtrak does not, then trains will still depart occasionally with
equipment that is substandard.
This is one important reason why we, as Amtrak supporters, need to led our
representatives in Washington know that Amtrak is a high priority item for us.
Presumably, the goal of the program is to force the product lines to
be accountable and at the same time enable them to identify what
problems come from poor terminal servicing whether it be at Ivy City,
Sunnyside, Boston, or Philadelphia, and what problems crop up en
route.
Reportedly, financial awards have been offered in several rounds as
incentive to the right and ready teams. Early numbers show terminal
readiness to be
improving in line with management expectations.
I am told that the "Right And Ready" policy announcement will be
coupled with a Service Guarantee that Amtrak will tout as
unprecedented in the transportation industry. According to sources,
Amtrak will guarantee a satisfactory trip or issue vouchers or
adjustments to tickets, refunds or other compensation. The new
Service Guarantee program is due to begin on July 4.
Implementation of such a Service Guarantee program could be a nightmare
for those responsible for administering it but Amtrak is attempting to
drive some accountability down to the product lines, station, and train
crews who might be able to find more ways to welcome new riders onto the
system.
This information is unofficial and has not been provided to me by Amtrak
so you, the reader, will have to judge for yourself and time will tell.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak will be starting Acela Regional Service trains #134 & 135 (old
170 & 163 time slots with quicker times) within a month or so. All
tracks in South Station and Southampton Street yard will be energized
as of 12:01 a.m. tonight, Sunday, July 11.
------------------------------------------------------
Around The Rumor Mill:
Reportedly Amtrak is planning to make some marketing changes in the very
near future. About a year and a half ago I reported that serious
discussions were underway to replace Amtrak's "pointless arrow" logo.
There have been rumors ever since but thus far nothing has come of them.
More rumors are now in the air as July 4 approaches and again the
"pointless arrow" seems to be making the extinct list.
As far as I know, Amtrak will have new uniforms on July 1, 2000. I'm not
sure if this will be a system wide change or just a Northeast Corridor
change but the new uniforms will most likely be teal/grey in color, like
the new Acela colors. The name Amtrak will stay but the Acela logo may
replace the "pointless arrow" or an altogether new logo may appear. July
4th could be the date for this announcement as well but I have nothing
firm on that now, just more rumors...
Sources tell me that long-distance services are to be rebranded and
possibly renamed this fall. Does this mean that Amtrak will shed the
names and images of the glory days of railroading that had been
retained? Will names like the "Empire Builder" or "The Crescent", icons
in the railroading world, be abandoned for something more upbeat and
mod? Stay tuned.
-----------------------------------------------------------
From NARP...Legislative Update:
The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by
Richard Shelby (R.-Ala.), has postponed its work on a fiscal 2001
transportation funding until June 13. Full committee action could
come within a couple days of that, with a floor vote as soon as an
opening for it occurs.
Progress on getting S.1144 (flexibility for states to spend TEA-21
funds on passenger rail) to a Senate floor vote continues to be
blocked by a hold on the bill by Senator Bond (R.-Mo.). Bond opposes
any form of Highway Trust Fund money going to passenger rail (even if
states want this flexibility and even if such money already goes to
other, non-highway modes) and apparently does not want his colleagues
to have the opportunity to vote on it. There is a possibility that
some "flexibility" language will be attached to the appropriations
bill.
For more info go to the NARP HOTLINE AT:
http://www.narprail.org/hot142.htm
----------------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release June 9, 2000
SHUSTER ANNOUNCES HEARING ON AMTRAK FUNDING PROPOSALS
Representative Bud Shuster, Chairman of the Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee, announced today that the Committee
will hold a hearing on current proposals to meet future inter-city
rail capital needs.
The hearing will focus on three proposals.
First, the hearing will look at an innovative financing
proposal sponsored by Representatives Houghton and Oberstar to
allow Amtrak and the States to issue bonds for capital projects. The
proposal could provide an alternative method for intercity rail
capital investments.
Shuster noted that the Committee has supported other innovative
financing mechanisms for transportation projects in the past, and
that the Houghton/Oberstar proposal deserves serious consideration.
Second, the hearing will look at a Senate proposal to allow
Amtrak funding out of the Highway Trust Fund.
And third, the hearing will look at whether Amtrak funding
should be allowed out of the Mass Transit Account of the Highway
Trust Fund.
The date and location of the hearing will be announced
shortly.
------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE ON LA - VEGAS SERVICE
The Las Vegas Service is currently scheduled to debut in Late January,
assuming that Amtrak's and the Union Pacific's attorneys are able to
mitigate the Fish and Game Department's insistence that an environmental
impact report needs to be made for the "Desert Tortoise". They feel the
tortoise will be adversely affected by the construction of the 2nd track
between Kelso and Cima which has to occur prior to start up of the
Vegas service. Amtrak West has enlisted the help of Governor Gray Davis
(CA-D) to also assist in this regard.
Meanwhile Amtrak ran a demonstration train between Phoenix and Tucson
for ADOT secretary Mary Peters using the Las Vegas Talgo equipment. It
reportedly was a huge success and grass roots support for the service is
growing exponentially.
------------------------------------------------------
PIONEER SERVICE UPDATE:
Amtrak has reportedly been working with the state of Oregon, and to a
lesser extent Idaho, to identify ways to supplement revenue on the
proposed resurrection of the Pioneer train. The current population base
in the area will make ridership too low to meet operating expenses.
Amtrak is seriously pursuing mail & express freight shipments to help
support a revenue base. However, the problem is that most of the market
for mail and express is beyond Boise and the Union Pacific RR has
opposed taking trains beyond Portland to Boise without significant
infrastructure improvements. Nevertheless, it appears that the PDX-BOI
(Portland to Boise) portion of the Pioneer will happen in the near future.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific Surfliner Attendant
With the start-up of the Surfliners, six Pacific Surfliner Attendant
(P.S.A) jobs will be put on. three will work out of a San Diego base,
three will work out of a LAX base. Their responsibility will be to
provide maintenance (cleaning) service to Pacific Business car and
service to its guests. Secondary to that, the attendant will assist the
Lounge car Lead Service attendant, maintain a trash free environment and
clean restrooms throughout the train consist. The attendant shall
perform outlined standard duty during his/her scheduled hours on board
the equipment but from time to time he/she may be directed to assist or
to perform additional duties.
LAX works LAX-Santa Ana and return SAN crew works SAN-San Juan
Capistrano and return. This way no overnight hotels to pay for.
courtesy: Ed Von Nordeck
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
AMTRAK CONTRACTOR RAIDED BY FEDS -- On June 7, federal
agents, armed with subpoenas, raided the joint Old Saybrook, Connecticut
offices of Balfour Beatty Construction Inc. and Massachusetts Electric
Construction Co., a contractor for Amtrak's high speed electrification
project between New Haven, CT and Boston. The contractors are being
investigated for alleged misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of
dollars and alleged fraudulent overbilling of Amtrak. The agents
arrived with rented trucks and hauled away computers and file cabinets
from the company's offices. For its part, Amtrak has often questioned
the company's money claims, although the quality of the work has never
been in dispute, with electric trains now running that route since
January.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Support An Expanded Amtrak" bumper stickers are still available from Jim
Norton. These are four color, peel and stick variety, sized to fit
inside a legal sized envelope. FREE with LSSAE, $1.00 for each
additional. Quantities of 100 available for 24.00 postage paid to
organizations and individuals.
For your bumper sticker send to:
Jim Norton
153 Rebecca Pines
Madison, Alabama 35758
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wednesday, June 07 in Bay Minette, AL, Amtrak #2, the westbound Sunset
Limited hit a logging truck when the truck driver apparently tried to beat
the train through a grade crossing.
The 10:30am accident broke the truck in two but caused no injuries. Driver
Earnest D. Allen, driving the empty truck for Deep South Trucking, wanted to
cross the tracks at one crossing but the gates were down, so he went to the
next one at Hand Avenue, which has flashing lights but no gates. The train,
traveling at 44mph, smashed into his trailer and split it in two.
Said Bay Minette police chief Terry Sanders, "It appeared he knew a train
was coming and he attempted to cross anyway."
Already 3h53m late at Atmore, the train was held an hour for investigation.
Currently (5pm PDT) the latest report is 5h25m late out of San Antonio.
courtesy: Ray Dunbar, All-Aboard
----------------------------------------------------------------------
INDIANA HIGH SPEED RAIL ASSOCIATION
Board of Directors
Friends of the Association
Please mark your calendar
SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING & SEMINAR
Friday, September 8, 2000
7:30 am to 4:00 PM
At the beautiful
CENTER FOR VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
1040 Ridge Road
(in the southeast Chicago suburb of)
Munster, Indiana
MORE INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW
------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to submit a trip report please follow the guidelines at
the following site:
http://trainweb.com/crocon/tripreports/send.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Passenger service slated for Guilford Rail System, between Boston,
Massachusetts and Portland, Maine, will be pushed back past the January 2001
start date. While some blamed Guilford for earlier delays, this delay is
being caused by the 'Big Dig construction project at North Station in Boston.
April 13, 2001 has been established as the new start date, according to
Michael Murray, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail
Authority.
Courtesy: Dave Bowe
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thirteen cities will receive $10,000-$25,000 each from the Great American
Station Foundation to preserve, restore, and improve local rail transit
stations. The winners--Fremont, Calif.; Raton, N.Mex.; Waterbury, Vt.;
Hamlet, N.C.; Burlington, Iowa; Hastings, Nebr.; Elizabethtown, Pa.; Oakland,
Calif.; Rome, N.Y., Sanderson, Tex.; Jesup, Ga.; Hamilton, Ohio; and Macon,
Ga.--were selected from 42 applications submitted by communities in 22
states. Grant funding has been provided primarily by Amtrak, one of the
Foundation's founders; Amtrak contributed $950,000 to the Foundation in FY
2000 in support of its activities.
Courtesy: Dave Bowe
-------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak's Mid-Atlantic Division Safety Council has a new web site
dedicated to the safety of its employees and guests:
http://www.safetycouncil-amtrak.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ohio residents...Don't forget the OARP's 24 hour hotline:
OARP's 24-hour hotline: (614) 470-0334
-------------------------------------------------------------------
AMTRAK PRESS RELEASE:
THE FLOODS ARE GONE AND AMTRAK IS BACK IN MISSOURI WITH HALF-PRICE
COMPANION FARES
CHICAGO - To celebrate the resumption of regularly scheduled rail
passenger service in Missouri, Amtrak is offering a special
half-price companion fare. Between May 30 and June 30, when one
person travels for full fare between any two points within the State
of Missouri, a companion rides for half price.
Companion fares are valid within the State of Missouri on the
Missouri Mules and the Ann Rutledge between St. Louis and Kansas City
Mo., the Texas Eagle between St. Louis and Poplar Bluff, Mo., and the
Southwest Chief between La Plata, and Kansas City, Mo.
Regularly scheduled Amtrak service between St. Louis and Kansas City
was disrupted because of flood conditions for nearly two weeks from
May 7 to May 20.
Source: Amtrak
================================================== =====================
AMTRAK PRESS RELEASE:
June 1, 2000
TRACK WORK CAUSES TEMPORARY SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR AMTRAK'S HIAWATHA
SERVICE TRAINS --
One-day service changes also planned for Sunday, June
4, for Hiawatha Service and Lake Country Limited--
CHICAGO - Due to extensive construction on track owned by the Canadian
Pacific Railway and Metra (the Chicago commuter rail system) north of
Chicago, Amtrak will be adjusting the schedule of its Hiawatha Service
trains, which operate between Chicago and Milwaukee. These changes are
effective May 30 and will last approximately six weeks or until the work
is completed.
"We regret the inconvenience this track work may cause our guests, "
said Amtrak Intercity President Edward V. Walker. "However, once
completed, this work will improve ride quality and reduce maintenance
costs."
Hiawatha Service trains operating from Milwaukee to Chicago will have 15
minutes added to the schedule between Glenview and Chicago with the
exception of the train departing Milwaukee at 6:20 a.m., which will only
have 10 minutes added between Glenview and Chicago.
Hiawatha Service trains operating from Chicago to Milwaukee will have 15
minutes added to the schedule between Sturtevant, Wis., and Milwaukee,
with the exception of the train leaving Chicago at 5:08 p.m., which will
have only 10 minutes added between Sturtevant and Milwaukee.
In addition, there will be some service changes effective for Sunday,
June 4 only for both the Hiawatha Service and the Lake Country Limited,
which operates between Chicago and Janesville, Wis.
On June 4 only, the Hiawatha Service train that is scheduled to depart
Milwaukee at 10:40 a.m. will not operate. Guests for this train will be
provided alternate transportation. The Hiawatha Service train scheduled
to depart Chicago at 1:00 p.m. will not operate on June 4. Guests for
this train will be accommodated on Amtrak's Empire Builder, which
provides service between Chicago and Seattle via Milwaukee. The Empire
Builder is scheduled to leave Chicago at 2:15 p.m. and arrive in
Milwaukee at 3:50 p.m.
On June 4 only, the Lake Country Limited, which provides service between
Janesville, Wis., and Chicago, will depart Janesville at 6:35 a.m., 20
minutes later than its regularly scheduled departure time of 6:15 a.m.
That same train is scheduled to depart Glenview at 8:50 a.m. and is
scheduled to arrive at Chicago Union Station at 9:50 a.m., 45 minutes
later than usual.
Guests will be notified of these changes through flyers placed on seats
on the trains and posters at both Amtrak stations in Milwaukee and
Chicago. Amtrak Reservation Service Agents will also place phone calls
to guests who have previously made reservations for trains affected by
the construction work. Guests can also call 1-800-USA-RAIL for
information on these changes.
Source: Amtrak
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Regards,
Craig S. O'Connell
Friends of Amtrak http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html
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When in doubt, empty your magazine.