Hotline #732

The Senate Appropriations Committee reported out the 1993 DOT appropriations bill yesterday. Amtrak did much better than in the House bill. The Senate bill includes $331 million for Amtrak operations (the same as in the House); $165 million for capital (instead of $74 million); and $204 million for the Northeast Corridor (instead of zero).

The Senate bill also provides $30 million in FTA money for Boston-Portland track improvements, as authorized by ISTEA. Report language encourages Amtrak and the states to work together to use ISTEA flexible funds on intercity rail projects. The full Senate is expected to vote on the bill in the coming week, with a House-Senate conference expected in September.

The 31st Representative to sign on to H.R.4414, Al Swift's (D.-Wash.) Ampenny bill, is John Miller (R.-Wash.).

Maintenance workers have ratified new contracts with Amtrak and Conrail by large margins, except for the Northeast Corridor unit, where it passed by only 138-129. Arbitrators' decisions in other disputes were delivered yesterday and are to become final on August 3 unless vetoed by the President. The Engineers' offer in their Amtrak dispute was selected, meaning they will get higher wages than those offered by Amtrak and that UTU members will get more because of a "me-too" clause in their contract. The management offer was selected in the Machinists' dispute against Amtrak and the other railroads.

Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Richard Taylor on July 29 told a meeting sponsored by the FTA to discuss its Boston rail link study that pro-link pressure has "created a considerable amount of discussion at the governor's level, so a job well done in that respect." Federal Transit Administrator Brian Clymer ended the meeting by saying, "I didn't hear anyone speak against the rail link. I guess that's significant." In a letter to Clymer, the Conservation Law Foundation, an influential Boston-based environmental group that had previously steered clear of the issue, said a rail link could "greatly enhance the value of" planned Boston-area intercity and commuter rail improvements.

A trial program beginning July 18 for weekend service on commuter lines serving Boston South Station will run through Labor Day. North Station lines already have weekend service.

Amtrak train 2, the eastbound Sunset Limited, struck a chemical truck at Crowley, La., on July 28. The train did not derail, but the truck ignited and 25 people were treated for fume inhalation. Yesterday, the Carolinian struck a car near Raleigh, N.C., with multiple fatalities in the car.

Amtrak will lengthen the New York layover for the Silver Meteor by three hours on August 17. The southbound train will leave New York at 6:35 pm and arrive at Florida terminals about 3:30 hours later than present. Also, Empire Corridor schedules will change August 17 due to Metro North track work.

The Senate energy bill is moving forward again, thanks to the resolution of a thorny issue regarding the coal industry. This bill contains the transit and parking benefit language we support.

The French National Railways are studying creating a high-speed rail network for freight in western Europe. Britain, Belgium, and Germany are also participating. High-value-added goods and express would be carried. The Paris-Lyon TGV already carries mail.

The Cuban government is curtailing much of its passenger rail service because of massive fuel and equipment shortages resulting from the cut in flow of aid from the former Soviet Union.