ChrisDante
July 20th, 2000, 04:13 PM
Subject:
Friends of Amtrak Update 7/19/2000
Date:
Wed, 19 Jul 2000 06:08:05 -0700
From:
"Craig S. O'Connell" <crocon@connix.com>
To:
crocon@connix.com
FRIENDS OF AMTRAK UPDATE 7/19/2000 .
Dear Friends of Amtrak:
Joseph Vranich, author of the book "Derailed," a scathing attack on Amtrak,
resigned from the Amtrak Reform Council on July 10th. Vranich, a
frequent and vociferous critic of Amtrak, was originally appointed to
the Council by U.S.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) on the recommendation of
another frequent Amtrak detractor Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
Vranich did not leave without casting more aspersions on Amtrak. In
a bitter letter of resignation to Senator Lott, an often time Amtrak
supporter, Vranich called for the total removal of the Amtrak Board
of Directors, a Congressional investigation into Amtrak practices,
and the removal of the the U.S. Transportation Secretary as the
federal government's ex-officio member on the Amtrak board.
In another parting shot, delivered to the press on July 13, Vranich called
upon President Clinton to "fire" Amtrak Board President Tommy
Thompson for what Vranich called "pork barrel politics." Thompson is
the Republican Governor of Wisconsin.
Vranich accused Thompson of withholding information from the ARC
reform. Thompson said Amtrak gave the council plenty of information,
"but they' re never satisfied."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM A RECENT AMTRAK EMPLOYEE BRIEFING:
_Public Responds to Revitalized Amtrak_
The public heard us loud and clear on July 6, when we officially announced
our Satisfaction Guarantee-we have some facts and figures to prove it:
* Hits to the Amtrak Internet site rose from 82,000 on June 29, to 110,000
on July 6.
* From July 6-9, reservation sales agents received 265,000 calls. That's an
11.8% increase over the same period last year.
* There were $17 million in bookings through the call centers from July 6-9,
a 24% increase over the same time last year.
* From July 6-9, more than $11 million in tickets were issued through all
automated systems (excluding conductors). That's a 17.8% increase over the
same time last year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak's plan to split off the Crescent route west from Meridian, MS to
Fort Worth, TX has sparked some controversy while receiving some
input from representatives of a number of Texas communities who would
like to see the passenger rail routed through their area.
"When Amtrak announced they were going to expand between Fort Worth and
Meridian, it was clear how the train would go from Meridian to
Shreveport," Sulphur Springs representative Nathan Bailey said. "What
was unclear was how they would go westward (into Dallas)."
Representatives from Greenville, Garland, Sulphur Springs, Winnsboro,
Pittsburg and Jefferson would like to persuade Amtrak officials to use
the Kansas City Southern railway for a proposed Shreveport to Dallas
passenger train route.
Amtrak Official Ed Walker told a crowd of nearly 200 people who had
gathered to voice their support for the proposed service that the
Kansas City Southern route would be taken into strong consideration.
Nevertheless, folks from Longview, Marshall and Mineola TX take a
somewhat different view. Longview Assistant City Manager Karen Daly
is quoted as
saying, "We want the line to go through here," she said of Longview and the
other cities along Amtrak's current Texas Eagle line. "I don't think
there's a threat of us losing the Texas Eagle, but the route of the
Crescent through East Texas is yet to be determined. I understand they
(Amtrak officials ) are still in their early stages of studying the
issue."
Connie Ware, executive director of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
said officials in her area also are strongly in favor of seeing the new
route travel through Longview and Marshall.
"They don't need the Kansas City Southern route," Ware said. "We have
the best tracks, the shortest route and have provided Amtrak with the
best passenger service they have."
Daly said she and a number of other officials from the Longview,
Marshall and Mineola areas are participating in a letter-writing
campaign to both elected officials and top Amtrak brass.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A photo of the new Amtrak logo is now on the Friends of Amtrak website...just
click on the "News Update" link on the main menu or hit:
http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html#News
There are also two new photos by Ron Goodenow on the FOA homepage. One shows
a Boston And Maine run from 1962. The other is the Winnipesaukee
Scenic RR train taken this month.
http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html
Look just below the main menu for these new pics.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak's summer schedule now shows another Boston-Washington weekend
Acela Regional (all-electric) round-trip and another
Philadelphia-Harrisburg weekday Keystone round-trip.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) is urging the Federal Railroad
Administration to extend high-speed rail service between Portland and
Auburn, Maine. "With increasingly congested roads and highways,
particularly during the peak summer
tourist season, I believe high-speed rail infrastructure would bring
substantial quality-of-life benefits, as well as economic and
environmental benefits to the entire region," Snowe told a press
conference.
The Boston-to-Portland line has won approval to reach speeds close to 80
mph. That service, which officials estimate will carry up to 125,000
passengers annually, is expected to begin in April 2001 but has been
derailed by roadblocks from Guilford Transportation, which owns that
line.
The Portland-to-Auburn line, however, is owned by St. Lawrence and
Atlantic, which is said to be more receptive to passenger service.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (NJ-D) has created a web site to build
support for S1900 & S1144. It is:
<http://lautenberg.senate.gov/highspeed/>
Go to the section labeled "Support" for sample letters.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGISLATION UPDATE:
H.R.3700, the High Speed Rail Investment Act (HSRIA), is up to 131 sponsors.
More are needed. Please write / e-mail / call your representative in
the House and ask for their support. To reach the Congressional
switchboard call 1-202-224-3121.
On the Senate side, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) became the 49th
sponsor of the Senate HSRIA (S.1900). It's still important for these
non-sponsoring
senators -- whose states have much to gain from the bill -- to hear
strong support for HSRIA from back home: Abraham (R-MI), Collins
(R-ME), Fitzgerald
(R-IL), Gorton (R-WA), Santorum (R-PA), and Voinovich (R-OH).
S.1900, the bill introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), would
allow Amtak to sell $10 Billion in tax free bonds over ten years to
develop high speed
rail corridors throughout the the country.
Cosponsors for the Lautenberg-Jeffords High Speed Rail Investment Act
(S. 1900) now include:
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE),
Boxer (D-CA),
Breaux (D-LA),
Bryan (D-NV),
Byrd (D-WV)
Chafee (R-RI),
Cleland (D-GA),
Daschle (D-SD)
DeWine (R-OH),
Dodd (D-CT),
Dorgan (D-ND),
Durbin (D-IL),
Edwards (D-NC),
Feingold (D-WI),
Feinstein (D-CA),
Graham (D-FL),
Harkin (D-IA)
Helms (R-NC)
Hollings (D-SC)
Hutchison (R-TX),
Jeffords (R-VT),
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA),
Kerrey (D-NEB)
Kerry (D-MA),
Kohl (D-WI),
Landrieu (D-LA),
Lautenberg (D-NJ),
Leahy (D-VT),
Levin (D-MI),
Lieberman (D-CT),
Lugar (D-IN)
Mikulski (D-MD),
Moynihan (D-NY),
Murray (D-WA),
Reed (D-RI),
Reid (D-NV),
Robb (D-VA),
Sarbanes (D-MD),
Schumer (D-NY),
Smith (R-OR),
Snowe (R-ME),
Specter (R-PA),
Torricelli (D-NJ),
Warner (R-VA),
Wellstone (D-MN),
Wyden (D-OR).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is from FOA supporter Gary Farmer:
Dear Craig,
My name is Gary Farmer from Hattiesburg, Miss. I would just like to
inform you and your readers that may be interested, that the
lawsuits stemming from the tragic wreck at Saraland, Ala. on Sept 23,
1993 are winding
down. The last two are scheduled for early August. I was the Asst.
Conductor on the ill- fated Sunset Limited.
Best Regards
Gary
If you would like to contact Gary he can be reached by e-mail at:
<Gary92@webtv.net>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Friends of Amtrak supporter, Pat Fitzhugh, has written an article about the
"City of New Orleans" accident in Illinois last year (a sad but true
account of what happens when people don't obey crossing signals). The
right people saw the article, and Pat ended up winning an "excellence in
journalism" award for it. Hopefully, this will get the article in front of
more people and educate them about railroad crossing safety. The article
is now posted on Themestream, a Web-based publishing company. If you're
interested in reading the article, please visit:
http://www.themestream.com/gspd_browse/browse/view_article.gsp?c_id=62301
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE AVIATION SUBSIDIES:
None to report in this update but you might be interested in the following
statistics:
48,905 domestic airline flights were delayed 15 minutes or more in
the month of June, up 18 per cent from the same period a year earlier
and up 8 per cent from the previous record of 45,162 delays in July
of last year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
June 21, 2000
MAYOR THOMAS CARPER OF MACOMB, ILLINOIS APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE AMTRAK
MAYORS' ADVISORY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, DC - Mayor Thomas Carper of Macomb, IL was appointed
Chair of Amtrak's national Mayors' Advisory Council at the U.S.
Conference of Mayors Summer Meeting last week in Seattle. For the
past year, Mayor Carper has served as the Council's Vice-Chair. The
Council was formed by the Amtrak Board of Directors to bolster local
support for intercity passenger rail, raise awareness of its
important transportation role, and support Amtrak's Strategic
Business Plan through closer partnerships between Amtrak and cities
and towns. The 22-member mayoral body is balanced for geography,
city/town population, and party affiliation.
"I am honored to be chosen as the Chair of the Amtrak Mayors'
Advisory Council, and I look forward to strengthening Amtrak's state
and local partnerships which will help improve our economy and
Amtrak's bottom-line," said Mayor Carper. "As the mayor of a city
that depends on Amtrak, I know that these partnerships will enable
Amtrak to deliver better intercity passenger rail service to meet the
growing transportation needs of our citizens."
"There has been a clamoring for more and better rail service
throughout the U.S., and the Amtrak Mayors' Advisory Council is now
providing a platform for the mayors to collectively raise their
voices to support a stronger Amtrak for their communities," said
Mayor John Robert Smith, Amtrak Board member and mayor of Meridian,
Mississippi. "I know that Mayor Carper's leadership as Chair of the
Council will help achieve an economically stronger Macomb and Amtrak."
As Vice-Chair, Mayor Carper represented the Council at the High-Speed
Ground Transportation Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia
and at the Amtrak Customer Advisory Council in Milwaukee. He will be
a featured speaker at the National Corridors Initiative later this
month in Washington, D.C. Mayor Carper has also been a strong
advocate for a long-term, dedicated source of capital funding for
intercity passenger rail service with the Illinois Congressional
delegation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From Robert Mann, City Council member, Town of Cashion, OKLAHOMA:
If everything goes as scheduled, we will obtain 2 two
of the FLORIDA EAST COAST's camp cars now located in
New Smyrna Beach yard. The cars were bought from the
City of Miami/South Wind pool of the SCL and rebuilt
in the 1980's at Custom Car Company in Northwest
Jacksonville.
As Cashion, Oklahoma, was once the site of a joint
ROCK ISLAND/SANTA FE line extending from Guthrie to
Kingfisher, we want to highlight our railroad
heritage.
The plan calls for a movement from New Smyrna Beach to
Jacksonville to Guthrie, Ok. and hence by truck to
Cashion. At Cashion the cars would be placed on the
original grade with relaid track. They would be the
highlight and anchor of a bike-rail trail system and
Main Street's Depot Square. Also highlighted by a
reconstructed depot, visitors center, trailhead and
micro-museum.
While the plan is conceptual at present, things are
starting to move. Our thanks to the FLORIDA EAST COAST
RY for a great donation. Interested parties may
contact me at: confederatebob@yahoo.com
Robert W. Mann
City Council
Town of Cashion, Oklahoma
e-mail: <confederatebob@yahoo.com>
As an addendum Bob wrote...
This is in the VERY EARLY stages...ie: the mail hasn't even been drafted
at this point. But the towns plans are firm and the cars WERE spoken
for via telephone last week. A hard copy to FEC for verification is
in the works. There ARE MORE cars available, IF someone out there
would help with transportation costs then we might obtain the extras
for preservation purposes. They DO contain some ASBESTOS but it is
pipe wrap under the floors in inside the walls, IF left alone it is
harmless.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry Sutton has posted yet another Friends of Amtrak trip report on Prodigy.
"Three Rivers And The Capital Limited, May 25-27, 2000" by Brad
Newell can be found at:
http://communities.prodigy.net/trains/ttrip055.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak is now in the process of building a new station to serve the
Phoenix, Arizona area. It is located in Maricopa, which is approximately 25
miles from Phoenix. Amtrak's SUNSET LIMITED will service the new station. It
will be the closest station to Phoenix since the passenger carrier detoured
the SUNSET LIMITED four years ago. The parking lot is being graded now and an
old round tail observation, which is currently at Los Angeles Union Station,
will be moved to the site for use as a ticket office and waiting room.
Completion date is expected in two months.
Courtesy: Dave Bowe
------------------------------------------------------------------
The New London (CT) Day reports on July 7 that Amtrak is buying a large
warehouse on Industrial Drive in Groton, CT. This is located near the
entrance to Bluff Point State Park in the Poquonnock Bridge section of
Groton. The 7 acre property will be used as a maintenance base for the New
England stretch of electrified rail along it's high speed corridor. Amtrak
has hired 60 employees for the facility and will transfer 40 more from other
maintenance shops, including one it plans to close in New London by the Shaw
Cove drawbridge according to Amtrak's spokesman Rick Remington. The building
contains 50,000 square feet of work space along with 12,000 square feet of
office space. Remington also stated the shops will run 24 hours a day. This
shop will be responsible for maintaining the newly electrified rail between
New Haven and Boston. The article also stated that they will sell the Shaw
Cove facility to the New London Redevelopment Council which the council has
wanted for some time because it is prime waterfront land.
Courtesy: Dave Bowe
----------------------------------------------------------------
There is a great new photo of Train #175 crossing the bridge at Nan in
Niantic, CT on May 30, 2000 now posted on the Friends of Amtrak website:
http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html
Photo, by Leo King, is noteworthy for its unique vantage point. Don't miss it!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Catch the National Corridors Initiative website at:
http://www.nationalcorridors.org/
------------------------------------------------------------
From: Illinois High Speed Rail
For More Info Contact:
Kevin Brubaker
Environmental Law and Policy Center
312-673-6500; fax 312-795-3730
LEARN MORE ABOUT HIGH-SPEED RAIL --> SIGN UP FOR OUR LIST SERVE
BY SENDING THE MESSAGE "subscribe high-speed-rail" to
majordomo@lists.elpc.org http://www.elpc.org
HIGH-SPEED RAIL NEEDS YOUR HELP! Amtrak and the Illinois Department of
Transportation are working jointly to introduce 110 mph train service
between Chicago and St. Louis. The state is currently seeking public
comment on the proposed draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
project. We need to demonstrate strong public support for this project in
order to keep it moving. Governor Ryan has pledged to have the trains
running by Fall, 2002, but this could easily change if the only people who
comment on high-speed rail are its critics. Details on the proposal can be
seen at http://www.dot.state.il.us/hsrail/highspdinfo.html
PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL IN SUPPORT OF RAIL SERVICE TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION. Just copy the following text and paste it in a new
e-mail message to HSRDEIS@nt.dot.state.il.us Be sure to add your name and
mailing address to the bottom of the letter.
THANK YOU!
Mr. Merrill L. Travis
Chief, Bureau of Railroads
Illinois Department of Transportation
2300 South Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 62764
Dear Mr. Travis,
As a frequent Amtrak rider, I am writing to voice my strong
support for the proposed high-speed rail corridor between Chicago and St.
Louis. Though I don't live in Illinois, I will likely be a user of this new
service once it is available.
As the draft Environmental Impact Statement documents, this
proposal has a number of advantages:
* 2900 new jobs and $20 million in new economic activity;
* a travel alternative 3 times as energy efficient as cars and 6 times
as efficient as planes, resulting in less air pollution
* a 15% reduction in grade-crossing accidents
With 35% lower operating costs than conventional rail,
combined with growing ridership, high-speed Amtrak service will be
self-sufficient along this corridor - an important demonstration of Amtrak's
long-term viability nationwide.
If reliable, comfortable, and convenient rail service were
available, connecting Chicago with St. Louis in just 3 ½ hours, I would take
it when traveling in Illinois. When the entire Midwest high-speed rail
network is finished, this corridor will provide easy connection through
Chicago to virtually every major city in the Midwest. As an Amtrak rider, I
find this option very attractive.
Providing safe high-speed service will require closing some
of the 300+ grade crossings along the corridor. This needs to be done in a
way that meets the needs of both rail and car travelers. I was therefore
pleased to see that you will not be closing any crossings without local
approval.
I look forward to riding the high-speed trains.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
MAILING ADDRESS
------------------------------------------------------------
Honoring
The Honorable Jolene M Molitoris
Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
and
The Honorable Terrence D Mulcahy
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The Honorable Cristine M Klika, Honorary Chair
The Indiana High Speed Rail Association
in partnership with the
High Speed Ground Transportation Association
Midwest High Speed Rail Coalition
Railway Progress Institute
and with generous support from
Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc
United States Steel Corporation
Warmly Invites you to its
Sixth Annual Meeting
and
The Golden Spike Seminar
"In celebration of the
Midwest Regional Rail Initiative"
Friday, September 8, 2000
7:00 am to 3:15 pm
Center for Visual & Performing Arts
1040 Ridge Road
(in the southeast Chicago suburb of)
Munster, Indiana
RSVP
2645 Ridge Road Highland, Indiana 46322
(219) 887-1351 / wdh.indiana@att.net
RESERVATIONS
Seminar, Continental Breakfast & Luncheon - $75.00
College or University Student - $50.00
Day of registration - $100.00
Luncheon Only - $25.00
American Express Card accepted
HOTEL INFORMATION
Courtyard by Marriott
I-94 & Kennedy Avenue
Hammond, Indiana
Reservations to Thursday, August 17 - $99.00
Phone: (219) 845-6350
ID: Indiana High Speed Rail
PASSENGER RAIL INFORMATION
Eastbound Amtrak passenger trains from Chicago and westbound trains
to Chicago stop at Hammond, Indiana
The South Shore Commuter train from South Bend and Chicago stop at
Hammond, Indiana
AIRLINE INFORMATION
The NEW Pan Am Airlines has convenient flights from New England
(Portsmouth, NH), Orlando (Sanford, Florida); Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania and St Louis (Bellevue, Illinois) to the Gary / Chicago
Airport
The Gary / Chicago Airport is just a few minutes to the Courtyard by
Marriott and the Center for Visual & Performing Arts. Downtown
Chicago is just 25 minutes from the Airport.
--------------------------------------------------------------
INDIANA HIGH SPEED RAIL ASSOCIATION
Annual Meeting and
GOLDEN SPIKE SEMINAR on the
Midwest Regional Rail Initiative
Friday, September 8, 2000
SEPTEMBER 7 HOTEL RESERVATIONS: $99.00
to August 17, 2000
Courtyard by Marriott
I-94 & Kennedy Avenue
Hammond, Indiana
(219) 845-6350
"Indiana High Speed Rail"
The Courtyard is a 45 minute drive from
Chicago's Midway and O'Hare Airports
--------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Brown has posted eight new images of the Amtrak Cascades Talgos on his
website at:
http://www.photosbystevenjbrown.com/narp/cascades/talgo.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From Wisconsin ProRAIL:
WISDOT SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON LARGE-RANGE STATE PLAN
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has announced it
is seeking public involvement to help develop a long-range State Rail
Plan that will guide the preservation and enhancement of Wisconsin's
freight and passenger rail systems over the next 20 years.
"This statewide plan will establish a long-term framework guiding the
future of our state rail system and will define the important role
rail fills in Wisconsin's comprehensive transportation network," said
WisDOT Secretary Terry Mulcahy in the July 11 news release.
"Development of this plan will be a two-year process and we’re
counting on public involvement every step of the way."
The rail plan will encompass six major areas: inter-city passenger
rail; freight rail; highway/rail crossing safety; funding rail
improvements; economic impacts of the rail industry; and
environmental considerations.
WisDOT will hold nine public listening sessions around the state
through mid-September. Each session will begin with a brief overview
of the plan, but the major emphasis will be hearing public comments
and concerns, according to the announcement.
Meetings are set for Eau Claire July 17; De Pere July 25; Superior
Aug. 8; Rhinelander Aug. 9; La Crosse Aug. 15; Oshkosh Aug. 22;
Milwaukee Aug. 29; Madison Sept. 14; and Wausau Sept. 19.
Advertisements will be placed in local newspapers prior to each forum
providing the time and location of each meeting along with a contact
phone number.
Currently, 12 railroads operate in Wisconsin on nearly 4,500 miles of
track, WisDOT said. In 1998, these railroads combined to carry 94
million tons of freight. In addition, there are 4,411 public rail
grade crossings in Wisconsin with 1,872 having some type of active
warning device.
The State Rail Plan will be coordinated with the Midwest Regional
Rail Initiative (MRRI). The MRRI proposes a 3,000-mile rail network
through Wisconsin and eight other Midwestern states radiating from
Chicago.
Midwest Rail will utilize modern, high-speed trains operating along
rail corridors already largely in place, providing a transportation
alternative for reaching major Midwest urban centers and smaller
communities along the planned routes.
The plan will also reflect the policy framework established by the
Governor’s Task Force on Passenger Rail.
As part of the rail plan's initial public outreach effort, WisDOT
sponsored a rail symposium this spring that gathered a broad
cross-section of groups representing local government, freight rail
owners, passenger rail interests, transportation planning
associations, private industry and state agencies. Both the
Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers and ProRail were among
those invited to participate, and both sent representatives.
Along with promoting an active discussion of rail issues among
participants, the event helped identify key issues to be addressed in
the rail plan.
WisDOT's State Rail Plan is another in a series of plans emerging
from Translinks 21, Wisconsin's comprehensive multi-modal
transportation blueprint that guides the development of each modal
system. WisDOT has already completed statewide bicycle, airport, and
highway plans and is in the process of forming long-range pedestrian,
rail and transit plans.
Citizens unable to attend an upcoming listening session can send
written comments to: Donna Brown, WisDOT Bureau of Planning, P.O. Box
7913, Madison, WI, 53707-7913.
LIST OF STATE RAIL PLAN PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS
Each meeting runs from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and will begin with a
brief overview of the rail plan development process to be followed by
a listening session to gather public comment.
July 17: Eau Claire, Holiday Inn Campus, 2703 Craig Road.
July 25: De Pere, St. Norbert College, Bemis Center, 100 Grant St.
Aug. 8: Superior, Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Ave.
Aug. 9: Rhinelander, Holiday Inn, 668 W. Kemp St.
Sept. 19: Wausau, Marathon County Commission for the Aging, 212 River Dr.
Aug. 15: La Crosse, Radisson Hotel, 200 Harborview Plaza.
Aug. 22: Oshkosh, UW-Oshkosh, Gruenhagen Conference Center, 208 Osceola St.
Aug. 29: Milwaukee,The Miller Room at O'Donnell Park, 910 E. Michigan St.
Sept. 14: Madison, Alliant Energy Center (formerly Expo Center), 1919 Expo Way.
------------------------------------------------------
Around The Rumor Mill:
No rumors today.
-----------------------------------------------------------
There will be an Amtrak Special running from Portland, OR to Lewiston,
ID on October 6,7 & 8. The trip will include rare miles on the freight
only Camas Prairie RR through the 2,000 ft deep Snake River Canyon
between Riparia and Lewiston. Saturday trips on the dinner train that
operates on a Camas Prairie branch line are also planned. More details,
prices, etc. at <A HREF="http://www.goldenstaterails.com">http://www.goldensta
terails.com</A>
-----------------------------------------------------------
The following is from TEXAS ARP:
AUGUST 19, 2000
Make your plans for the Texas coast
The meeting will be held at the Victorian Condo Hotel & Conference
Center at 6300 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, Texas. Here is some
information:
The meeting will be from 10.00 am to 4:00 pm
Fee: $25.00 per person which includes lunch
25 rooms are blocked at a $75.00 per day rate through July 31 - Make
your reservation early
Check in is at 4:00 pm / checkout time is 11:00 am. The room includes a
parking pass.
If you have to cancel, they require 48 hour notice before 6:00 pm.
You can make your reservation at 800-231-6363; to insure the room
rate be sure to tell them it is for the TXARP meeting on the 19th.
See you in August.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To pre-register, mail your check to:
Texas Association of Rail Passengers
2205 Marvin Gardens
Arlington, TX 76011
------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to submit a trip report please follow the guidelines at
the following site:
http://trainweb.com/crocon/tripreports/send.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------
When in doubt, empty your magazine.
Friends of Amtrak Update 7/19/2000
Date:
Wed, 19 Jul 2000 06:08:05 -0700
From:
"Craig S. O'Connell" <crocon@connix.com>
To:
crocon@connix.com
FRIENDS OF AMTRAK UPDATE 7/19/2000 .
Dear Friends of Amtrak:
Joseph Vranich, author of the book "Derailed," a scathing attack on Amtrak,
resigned from the Amtrak Reform Council on July 10th. Vranich, a
frequent and vociferous critic of Amtrak, was originally appointed to
the Council by U.S.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) on the recommendation of
another frequent Amtrak detractor Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
Vranich did not leave without casting more aspersions on Amtrak. In
a bitter letter of resignation to Senator Lott, an often time Amtrak
supporter, Vranich called for the total removal of the Amtrak Board
of Directors, a Congressional investigation into Amtrak practices,
and the removal of the the U.S. Transportation Secretary as the
federal government's ex-officio member on the Amtrak board.
In another parting shot, delivered to the press on July 13, Vranich called
upon President Clinton to "fire" Amtrak Board President Tommy
Thompson for what Vranich called "pork barrel politics." Thompson is
the Republican Governor of Wisconsin.
Vranich accused Thompson of withholding information from the ARC
reform. Thompson said Amtrak gave the council plenty of information,
"but they' re never satisfied."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM A RECENT AMTRAK EMPLOYEE BRIEFING:
_Public Responds to Revitalized Amtrak_
The public heard us loud and clear on July 6, when we officially announced
our Satisfaction Guarantee-we have some facts and figures to prove it:
* Hits to the Amtrak Internet site rose from 82,000 on June 29, to 110,000
on July 6.
* From July 6-9, reservation sales agents received 265,000 calls. That's an
11.8% increase over the same period last year.
* There were $17 million in bookings through the call centers from July 6-9,
a 24% increase over the same time last year.
* From July 6-9, more than $11 million in tickets were issued through all
automated systems (excluding conductors). That's a 17.8% increase over the
same time last year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak's plan to split off the Crescent route west from Meridian, MS to
Fort Worth, TX has sparked some controversy while receiving some
input from representatives of a number of Texas communities who would
like to see the passenger rail routed through their area.
"When Amtrak announced they were going to expand between Fort Worth and
Meridian, it was clear how the train would go from Meridian to
Shreveport," Sulphur Springs representative Nathan Bailey said. "What
was unclear was how they would go westward (into Dallas)."
Representatives from Greenville, Garland, Sulphur Springs, Winnsboro,
Pittsburg and Jefferson would like to persuade Amtrak officials to use
the Kansas City Southern railway for a proposed Shreveport to Dallas
passenger train route.
Amtrak Official Ed Walker told a crowd of nearly 200 people who had
gathered to voice their support for the proposed service that the
Kansas City Southern route would be taken into strong consideration.
Nevertheless, folks from Longview, Marshall and Mineola TX take a
somewhat different view. Longview Assistant City Manager Karen Daly
is quoted as
saying, "We want the line to go through here," she said of Longview and the
other cities along Amtrak's current Texas Eagle line. "I don't think
there's a threat of us losing the Texas Eagle, but the route of the
Crescent through East Texas is yet to be determined. I understand they
(Amtrak officials ) are still in their early stages of studying the
issue."
Connie Ware, executive director of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
said officials in her area also are strongly in favor of seeing the new
route travel through Longview and Marshall.
"They don't need the Kansas City Southern route," Ware said. "We have
the best tracks, the shortest route and have provided Amtrak with the
best passenger service they have."
Daly said she and a number of other officials from the Longview,
Marshall and Mineola areas are participating in a letter-writing
campaign to both elected officials and top Amtrak brass.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A photo of the new Amtrak logo is now on the Friends of Amtrak website...just
click on the "News Update" link on the main menu or hit:
http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html#News
There are also two new photos by Ron Goodenow on the FOA homepage. One shows
a Boston And Maine run from 1962. The other is the Winnipesaukee
Scenic RR train taken this month.
http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html
Look just below the main menu for these new pics.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak's summer schedule now shows another Boston-Washington weekend
Acela Regional (all-electric) round-trip and another
Philadelphia-Harrisburg weekday Keystone round-trip.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) is urging the Federal Railroad
Administration to extend high-speed rail service between Portland and
Auburn, Maine. "With increasingly congested roads and highways,
particularly during the peak summer
tourist season, I believe high-speed rail infrastructure would bring
substantial quality-of-life benefits, as well as economic and
environmental benefits to the entire region," Snowe told a press
conference.
The Boston-to-Portland line has won approval to reach speeds close to 80
mph. That service, which officials estimate will carry up to 125,000
passengers annually, is expected to begin in April 2001 but has been
derailed by roadblocks from Guilford Transportation, which owns that
line.
The Portland-to-Auburn line, however, is owned by St. Lawrence and
Atlantic, which is said to be more receptive to passenger service.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (NJ-D) has created a web site to build
support for S1900 & S1144. It is:
<http://lautenberg.senate.gov/highspeed/>
Go to the section labeled "Support" for sample letters.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGISLATION UPDATE:
H.R.3700, the High Speed Rail Investment Act (HSRIA), is up to 131 sponsors.
More are needed. Please write / e-mail / call your representative in
the House and ask for their support. To reach the Congressional
switchboard call 1-202-224-3121.
On the Senate side, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) became the 49th
sponsor of the Senate HSRIA (S.1900). It's still important for these
non-sponsoring
senators -- whose states have much to gain from the bill -- to hear
strong support for HSRIA from back home: Abraham (R-MI), Collins
(R-ME), Fitzgerald
(R-IL), Gorton (R-WA), Santorum (R-PA), and Voinovich (R-OH).
S.1900, the bill introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), would
allow Amtak to sell $10 Billion in tax free bonds over ten years to
develop high speed
rail corridors throughout the the country.
Cosponsors for the Lautenberg-Jeffords High Speed Rail Investment Act
(S. 1900) now include:
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE),
Boxer (D-CA),
Breaux (D-LA),
Bryan (D-NV),
Byrd (D-WV)
Chafee (R-RI),
Cleland (D-GA),
Daschle (D-SD)
DeWine (R-OH),
Dodd (D-CT),
Dorgan (D-ND),
Durbin (D-IL),
Edwards (D-NC),
Feingold (D-WI),
Feinstein (D-CA),
Graham (D-FL),
Harkin (D-IA)
Helms (R-NC)
Hollings (D-SC)
Hutchison (R-TX),
Jeffords (R-VT),
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA),
Kerrey (D-NEB)
Kerry (D-MA),
Kohl (D-WI),
Landrieu (D-LA),
Lautenberg (D-NJ),
Leahy (D-VT),
Levin (D-MI),
Lieberman (D-CT),
Lugar (D-IN)
Mikulski (D-MD),
Moynihan (D-NY),
Murray (D-WA),
Reed (D-RI),
Reid (D-NV),
Robb (D-VA),
Sarbanes (D-MD),
Schumer (D-NY),
Smith (R-OR),
Snowe (R-ME),
Specter (R-PA),
Torricelli (D-NJ),
Warner (R-VA),
Wellstone (D-MN),
Wyden (D-OR).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is from FOA supporter Gary Farmer:
Dear Craig,
My name is Gary Farmer from Hattiesburg, Miss. I would just like to
inform you and your readers that may be interested, that the
lawsuits stemming from the tragic wreck at Saraland, Ala. on Sept 23,
1993 are winding
down. The last two are scheduled for early August. I was the Asst.
Conductor on the ill- fated Sunset Limited.
Best Regards
Gary
If you would like to contact Gary he can be reached by e-mail at:
<Gary92@webtv.net>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Friends of Amtrak supporter, Pat Fitzhugh, has written an article about the
"City of New Orleans" accident in Illinois last year (a sad but true
account of what happens when people don't obey crossing signals). The
right people saw the article, and Pat ended up winning an "excellence in
journalism" award for it. Hopefully, this will get the article in front of
more people and educate them about railroad crossing safety. The article
is now posted on Themestream, a Web-based publishing company. If you're
interested in reading the article, please visit:
http://www.themestream.com/gspd_browse/browse/view_article.gsp?c_id=62301
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE AVIATION SUBSIDIES:
None to report in this update but you might be interested in the following
statistics:
48,905 domestic airline flights were delayed 15 minutes or more in
the month of June, up 18 per cent from the same period a year earlier
and up 8 per cent from the previous record of 45,162 delays in July
of last year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
June 21, 2000
MAYOR THOMAS CARPER OF MACOMB, ILLINOIS APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE AMTRAK
MAYORS' ADVISORY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, DC - Mayor Thomas Carper of Macomb, IL was appointed
Chair of Amtrak's national Mayors' Advisory Council at the U.S.
Conference of Mayors Summer Meeting last week in Seattle. For the
past year, Mayor Carper has served as the Council's Vice-Chair. The
Council was formed by the Amtrak Board of Directors to bolster local
support for intercity passenger rail, raise awareness of its
important transportation role, and support Amtrak's Strategic
Business Plan through closer partnerships between Amtrak and cities
and towns. The 22-member mayoral body is balanced for geography,
city/town population, and party affiliation.
"I am honored to be chosen as the Chair of the Amtrak Mayors'
Advisory Council, and I look forward to strengthening Amtrak's state
and local partnerships which will help improve our economy and
Amtrak's bottom-line," said Mayor Carper. "As the mayor of a city
that depends on Amtrak, I know that these partnerships will enable
Amtrak to deliver better intercity passenger rail service to meet the
growing transportation needs of our citizens."
"There has been a clamoring for more and better rail service
throughout the U.S., and the Amtrak Mayors' Advisory Council is now
providing a platform for the mayors to collectively raise their
voices to support a stronger Amtrak for their communities," said
Mayor John Robert Smith, Amtrak Board member and mayor of Meridian,
Mississippi. "I know that Mayor Carper's leadership as Chair of the
Council will help achieve an economically stronger Macomb and Amtrak."
As Vice-Chair, Mayor Carper represented the Council at the High-Speed
Ground Transportation Association Annual Conference in Philadelphia
and at the Amtrak Customer Advisory Council in Milwaukee. He will be
a featured speaker at the National Corridors Initiative later this
month in Washington, D.C. Mayor Carper has also been a strong
advocate for a long-term, dedicated source of capital funding for
intercity passenger rail service with the Illinois Congressional
delegation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
From Robert Mann, City Council member, Town of Cashion, OKLAHOMA:
If everything goes as scheduled, we will obtain 2 two
of the FLORIDA EAST COAST's camp cars now located in
New Smyrna Beach yard. The cars were bought from the
City of Miami/South Wind pool of the SCL and rebuilt
in the 1980's at Custom Car Company in Northwest
Jacksonville.
As Cashion, Oklahoma, was once the site of a joint
ROCK ISLAND/SANTA FE line extending from Guthrie to
Kingfisher, we want to highlight our railroad
heritage.
The plan calls for a movement from New Smyrna Beach to
Jacksonville to Guthrie, Ok. and hence by truck to
Cashion. At Cashion the cars would be placed on the
original grade with relaid track. They would be the
highlight and anchor of a bike-rail trail system and
Main Street's Depot Square. Also highlighted by a
reconstructed depot, visitors center, trailhead and
micro-museum.
While the plan is conceptual at present, things are
starting to move. Our thanks to the FLORIDA EAST COAST
RY for a great donation. Interested parties may
contact me at: confederatebob@yahoo.com
Robert W. Mann
City Council
Town of Cashion, Oklahoma
e-mail: <confederatebob@yahoo.com>
As an addendum Bob wrote...
This is in the VERY EARLY stages...ie: the mail hasn't even been drafted
at this point. But the towns plans are firm and the cars WERE spoken
for via telephone last week. A hard copy to FEC for verification is
in the works. There ARE MORE cars available, IF someone out there
would help with transportation costs then we might obtain the extras
for preservation purposes. They DO contain some ASBESTOS but it is
pipe wrap under the floors in inside the walls, IF left alone it is
harmless.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry Sutton has posted yet another Friends of Amtrak trip report on Prodigy.
"Three Rivers And The Capital Limited, May 25-27, 2000" by Brad
Newell can be found at:
http://communities.prodigy.net/trains/ttrip055.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Amtrak is now in the process of building a new station to serve the
Phoenix, Arizona area. It is located in Maricopa, which is approximately 25
miles from Phoenix. Amtrak's SUNSET LIMITED will service the new station. It
will be the closest station to Phoenix since the passenger carrier detoured
the SUNSET LIMITED four years ago. The parking lot is being graded now and an
old round tail observation, which is currently at Los Angeles Union Station,
will be moved to the site for use as a ticket office and waiting room.
Completion date is expected in two months.
Courtesy: Dave Bowe
------------------------------------------------------------------
The New London (CT) Day reports on July 7 that Amtrak is buying a large
warehouse on Industrial Drive in Groton, CT. This is located near the
entrance to Bluff Point State Park in the Poquonnock Bridge section of
Groton. The 7 acre property will be used as a maintenance base for the New
England stretch of electrified rail along it's high speed corridor. Amtrak
has hired 60 employees for the facility and will transfer 40 more from other
maintenance shops, including one it plans to close in New London by the Shaw
Cove drawbridge according to Amtrak's spokesman Rick Remington. The building
contains 50,000 square feet of work space along with 12,000 square feet of
office space. Remington also stated the shops will run 24 hours a day. This
shop will be responsible for maintaining the newly electrified rail between
New Haven and Boston. The article also stated that they will sell the Shaw
Cove facility to the New London Redevelopment Council which the council has
wanted for some time because it is prime waterfront land.
Courtesy: Dave Bowe
----------------------------------------------------------------
There is a great new photo of Train #175 crossing the bridge at Nan in
Niantic, CT on May 30, 2000 now posted on the Friends of Amtrak website:
http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html
Photo, by Leo King, is noteworthy for its unique vantage point. Don't miss it!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Catch the National Corridors Initiative website at:
http://www.nationalcorridors.org/
------------------------------------------------------------
From: Illinois High Speed Rail
For More Info Contact:
Kevin Brubaker
Environmental Law and Policy Center
312-673-6500; fax 312-795-3730
LEARN MORE ABOUT HIGH-SPEED RAIL --> SIGN UP FOR OUR LIST SERVE
BY SENDING THE MESSAGE "subscribe high-speed-rail" to
majordomo@lists.elpc.org http://www.elpc.org
HIGH-SPEED RAIL NEEDS YOUR HELP! Amtrak and the Illinois Department of
Transportation are working jointly to introduce 110 mph train service
between Chicago and St. Louis. The state is currently seeking public
comment on the proposed draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
project. We need to demonstrate strong public support for this project in
order to keep it moving. Governor Ryan has pledged to have the trains
running by Fall, 2002, but this could easily change if the only people who
comment on high-speed rail are its critics. Details on the proposal can be
seen at http://www.dot.state.il.us/hsrail/highspdinfo.html
PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL IN SUPPORT OF RAIL SERVICE TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION. Just copy the following text and paste it in a new
e-mail message to HSRDEIS@nt.dot.state.il.us Be sure to add your name and
mailing address to the bottom of the letter.
THANK YOU!
Mr. Merrill L. Travis
Chief, Bureau of Railroads
Illinois Department of Transportation
2300 South Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 62764
Dear Mr. Travis,
As a frequent Amtrak rider, I am writing to voice my strong
support for the proposed high-speed rail corridor between Chicago and St.
Louis. Though I don't live in Illinois, I will likely be a user of this new
service once it is available.
As the draft Environmental Impact Statement documents, this
proposal has a number of advantages:
* 2900 new jobs and $20 million in new economic activity;
* a travel alternative 3 times as energy efficient as cars and 6 times
as efficient as planes, resulting in less air pollution
* a 15% reduction in grade-crossing accidents
With 35% lower operating costs than conventional rail,
combined with growing ridership, high-speed Amtrak service will be
self-sufficient along this corridor - an important demonstration of Amtrak's
long-term viability nationwide.
If reliable, comfortable, and convenient rail service were
available, connecting Chicago with St. Louis in just 3 ½ hours, I would take
it when traveling in Illinois. When the entire Midwest high-speed rail
network is finished, this corridor will provide easy connection through
Chicago to virtually every major city in the Midwest. As an Amtrak rider, I
find this option very attractive.
Providing safe high-speed service will require closing some
of the 300+ grade crossings along the corridor. This needs to be done in a
way that meets the needs of both rail and car travelers. I was therefore
pleased to see that you will not be closing any crossings without local
approval.
I look forward to riding the high-speed trains.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
MAILING ADDRESS
------------------------------------------------------------
Honoring
The Honorable Jolene M Molitoris
Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
and
The Honorable Terrence D Mulcahy
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The Honorable Cristine M Klika, Honorary Chair
The Indiana High Speed Rail Association
in partnership with the
High Speed Ground Transportation Association
Midwest High Speed Rail Coalition
Railway Progress Institute
and with generous support from
Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc
United States Steel Corporation
Warmly Invites you to its
Sixth Annual Meeting
and
The Golden Spike Seminar
"In celebration of the
Midwest Regional Rail Initiative"
Friday, September 8, 2000
7:00 am to 3:15 pm
Center for Visual & Performing Arts
1040 Ridge Road
(in the southeast Chicago suburb of)
Munster, Indiana
RSVP
2645 Ridge Road Highland, Indiana 46322
(219) 887-1351 / wdh.indiana@att.net
RESERVATIONS
Seminar, Continental Breakfast & Luncheon - $75.00
College or University Student - $50.00
Day of registration - $100.00
Luncheon Only - $25.00
American Express Card accepted
HOTEL INFORMATION
Courtyard by Marriott
I-94 & Kennedy Avenue
Hammond, Indiana
Reservations to Thursday, August 17 - $99.00
Phone: (219) 845-6350
ID: Indiana High Speed Rail
PASSENGER RAIL INFORMATION
Eastbound Amtrak passenger trains from Chicago and westbound trains
to Chicago stop at Hammond, Indiana
The South Shore Commuter train from South Bend and Chicago stop at
Hammond, Indiana
AIRLINE INFORMATION
The NEW Pan Am Airlines has convenient flights from New England
(Portsmouth, NH), Orlando (Sanford, Florida); Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania and St Louis (Bellevue, Illinois) to the Gary / Chicago
Airport
The Gary / Chicago Airport is just a few minutes to the Courtyard by
Marriott and the Center for Visual & Performing Arts. Downtown
Chicago is just 25 minutes from the Airport.
--------------------------------------------------------------
INDIANA HIGH SPEED RAIL ASSOCIATION
Annual Meeting and
GOLDEN SPIKE SEMINAR on the
Midwest Regional Rail Initiative
Friday, September 8, 2000
SEPTEMBER 7 HOTEL RESERVATIONS: $99.00
to August 17, 2000
Courtyard by Marriott
I-94 & Kennedy Avenue
Hammond, Indiana
(219) 845-6350
"Indiana High Speed Rail"
The Courtyard is a 45 minute drive from
Chicago's Midway and O'Hare Airports
--------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Brown has posted eight new images of the Amtrak Cascades Talgos on his
website at:
http://www.photosbystevenjbrown.com/narp/cascades/talgo.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------
From Wisconsin ProRAIL:
WISDOT SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON LARGE-RANGE STATE PLAN
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has announced it
is seeking public involvement to help develop a long-range State Rail
Plan that will guide the preservation and enhancement of Wisconsin's
freight and passenger rail systems over the next 20 years.
"This statewide plan will establish a long-term framework guiding the
future of our state rail system and will define the important role
rail fills in Wisconsin's comprehensive transportation network," said
WisDOT Secretary Terry Mulcahy in the July 11 news release.
"Development of this plan will be a two-year process and we’re
counting on public involvement every step of the way."
The rail plan will encompass six major areas: inter-city passenger
rail; freight rail; highway/rail crossing safety; funding rail
improvements; economic impacts of the rail industry; and
environmental considerations.
WisDOT will hold nine public listening sessions around the state
through mid-September. Each session will begin with a brief overview
of the plan, but the major emphasis will be hearing public comments
and concerns, according to the announcement.
Meetings are set for Eau Claire July 17; De Pere July 25; Superior
Aug. 8; Rhinelander Aug. 9; La Crosse Aug. 15; Oshkosh Aug. 22;
Milwaukee Aug. 29; Madison Sept. 14; and Wausau Sept. 19.
Advertisements will be placed in local newspapers prior to each forum
providing the time and location of each meeting along with a contact
phone number.
Currently, 12 railroads operate in Wisconsin on nearly 4,500 miles of
track, WisDOT said. In 1998, these railroads combined to carry 94
million tons of freight. In addition, there are 4,411 public rail
grade crossings in Wisconsin with 1,872 having some type of active
warning device.
The State Rail Plan will be coordinated with the Midwest Regional
Rail Initiative (MRRI). The MRRI proposes a 3,000-mile rail network
through Wisconsin and eight other Midwestern states radiating from
Chicago.
Midwest Rail will utilize modern, high-speed trains operating along
rail corridors already largely in place, providing a transportation
alternative for reaching major Midwest urban centers and smaller
communities along the planned routes.
The plan will also reflect the policy framework established by the
Governor’s Task Force on Passenger Rail.
As part of the rail plan's initial public outreach effort, WisDOT
sponsored a rail symposium this spring that gathered a broad
cross-section of groups representing local government, freight rail
owners, passenger rail interests, transportation planning
associations, private industry and state agencies. Both the
Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers and ProRail were among
those invited to participate, and both sent representatives.
Along with promoting an active discussion of rail issues among
participants, the event helped identify key issues to be addressed in
the rail plan.
WisDOT's State Rail Plan is another in a series of plans emerging
from Translinks 21, Wisconsin's comprehensive multi-modal
transportation blueprint that guides the development of each modal
system. WisDOT has already completed statewide bicycle, airport, and
highway plans and is in the process of forming long-range pedestrian,
rail and transit plans.
Citizens unable to attend an upcoming listening session can send
written comments to: Donna Brown, WisDOT Bureau of Planning, P.O. Box
7913, Madison, WI, 53707-7913.
LIST OF STATE RAIL PLAN PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS
Each meeting runs from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and will begin with a
brief overview of the rail plan development process to be followed by
a listening session to gather public comment.
July 17: Eau Claire, Holiday Inn Campus, 2703 Craig Road.
July 25: De Pere, St. Norbert College, Bemis Center, 100 Grant St.
Aug. 8: Superior, Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Ave.
Aug. 9: Rhinelander, Holiday Inn, 668 W. Kemp St.
Sept. 19: Wausau, Marathon County Commission for the Aging, 212 River Dr.
Aug. 15: La Crosse, Radisson Hotel, 200 Harborview Plaza.
Aug. 22: Oshkosh, UW-Oshkosh, Gruenhagen Conference Center, 208 Osceola St.
Aug. 29: Milwaukee,The Miller Room at O'Donnell Park, 910 E. Michigan St.
Sept. 14: Madison, Alliant Energy Center (formerly Expo Center), 1919 Expo Way.
------------------------------------------------------
Around The Rumor Mill:
No rumors today.
-----------------------------------------------------------
There will be an Amtrak Special running from Portland, OR to Lewiston,
ID on October 6,7 & 8. The trip will include rare miles on the freight
only Camas Prairie RR through the 2,000 ft deep Snake River Canyon
between Riparia and Lewiston. Saturday trips on the dinner train that
operates on a Camas Prairie branch line are also planned. More details,
prices, etc. at <A HREF="http://www.goldenstaterails.com">http://www.goldensta
terails.com</A>
-----------------------------------------------------------
The following is from TEXAS ARP:
AUGUST 19, 2000
Make your plans for the Texas coast
The meeting will be held at the Victorian Condo Hotel & Conference
Center at 6300 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, Texas. Here is some
information:
The meeting will be from 10.00 am to 4:00 pm
Fee: $25.00 per person which includes lunch
25 rooms are blocked at a $75.00 per day rate through July 31 - Make
your reservation early
Check in is at 4:00 pm / checkout time is 11:00 am. The room includes a
parking pass.
If you have to cancel, they require 48 hour notice before 6:00 pm.
You can make your reservation at 800-231-6363; to insure the room
rate be sure to tell them it is for the TXARP meeting on the 19th.
See you in August.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To pre-register, mail your check to:
Texas Association of Rail Passengers
2205 Marvin Gardens
Arlington, TX 76011
------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to submit a trip report please follow the guidelines at
the following site:
http://trainweb.com/crocon/tripreports/send.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------
When in doubt, empty your magazine.