Volume 1, No.7 July IS, 1974 's Future Plans Include Four New Routes

Amtrak is planning major route route via the Delaware & Hudson expansions by restoring service on four Railroad. The Proposal calls for service lines presently without passenger . to be restored under the auspices of Two of the routes are being established Governor Malcolm Wilson's Transpor­ under authority issued to the Secretary tation Program, adopted earlier this of Transportation, and two lines are the year by the New York Legislature. The result of State Government cooperation program is to be administered by the with Amtrak. State Department of Transportation in conjunction with Amtrak under Section Advance Bookings Boston - Cleveland - 403(b) of the Amtrak law. Section 403(b) permits a State to seek Up This Year On June 27, U.S. Secretary of additional Amtrak service by contract­ Transportation Claude S. Brinegar The number of advanced summer ing with Amtrak to pay two-thirds of announced the selection of the Boston­ bookings on Amtrak trains is running any operating losses. Chicago route for a well ahead of the same period last year. Carl B. Sterzing, Jr., President of the two-year experimental rail passenger Amtrak currently has 170,000 active Delaware & Hudson, welcomed the service. Passenger Name Records (PNR's) on opportunity to cooperate with Amtrak, The route will connect Boston and file in its computers. System advance and said the train "will once again Chicago by way of Albany, Buffalo, bookings are a healthy 12 to 15 percent enable national and international Erie, Cleveland and South Bend. ahead oflast year. travelers to enjoy the scenic D&H route Selection of the route was authorized by along Lake Champlain and through "The reason advance bookings are so the Amtrak Improvement Act of 1973. New York's historic North Country on a healthy is that Amtrak is in a strong In announcing the Boston-Chicago daily basis." position to better serve the public this route selection, Secretary Brinegar year," said Roger Brown, Director - commented that "of the many alterna­ Sales. "We've become more efficient in tives considered, the Boston-Chicago Chicago - Lansing - Port Huron answering customer telephone in­ route serves the largest potential quiries; we're offering a record number market that does not now have The State of Michigan is proceeding of tour packages, and we've added connective Amtrak service." In addi­ with a plan, under the direction of routes to our system. All of this has tion, "this interstate route offers Governor William G. Milliken, to improved our ability to market our excellent system connectivity at Chicago restore passenger service between services. " to other major popUlation centers." Chicago, Lansing and Port Huron over the lines of the Penn Central and Grand Phil Held, Manager - Reservations Norfolk - Roanoke - Cincinnati Trunk Western. Control, said "While these programs James C. Kellogg, Michigan's Deputy have helped to cause a surge in Secretary Brinegar also announced Director of Urban and Public Trans­ business, there are trains with space that a route between Norfolk and portation, has submitted a Section available for sale by Amtrak reserva­ Cincinnati would be designated for a 403(b) proposal to Amtrak. tions, ticketing and sales personnel. two-year experimental passenger service Specific details of both 403(b) Trains which have good-to-excellent in response to provisions of the Second proposals are under study by Amtrak's space availability are the North Coast Supplemental Appropriations Act of David A. Watts, Director - State & Hiawatha, National Limited, San 1974. Local Affairs, and William Tucci, State Francisco Zephyr, James Whitcomb Albany - Montreal & Local Research Assistant. Riley, , Panama Limited, At a later date, Amtrak will Expo '74, and Inter-American. Ofthese Plans are going forward for a service announce schedules, intermediate ser­ trains, the Montrealer and Zephyr have to be operated in conjunction with New vice points, and the date for inaugurat­ Continued on page 2, col. 1 York State on the Albany - Montreal ing service over these four routes. SUMMER - continued from page 1 Ridership Up 25%

heavy booking activity close to the "By doing a conscientious job in Amtrak's system-wide ridership has departure date." ferreting out no-shows, and by encour­ risen again, increasing by 25 percent There are also several trains where aging passengers to reserve space on during May over the same month in space is very tight this summer due to alternate routes and days, Amtrak 1973. route popularity and advanced reserva­ personnel will insure that as many The number of passengers was up on tions. They are the , travelers as possible find the space they virtuaIly all of Amtrak's 34 routes, Southwest Limited, and need for summer travel. By doing so, totalling 1,475,668; about 300,000 more Silver Star. employees will be performing a great persons than were carried in May of "With so many reservations in the service for the traveling public," 1973. system. we will frequently find trains concluded Brown. The highest percentage of gain was which appear to be completely booked. recorded by Amtrak's Chicago-Florida The important thing to realize is that Makes route, up 138 percent over last year. we must keep a positive attitude and Other long-haul routes which showed open mind about this because, quite significant increases were Los Angeles­ often. space will open up on a Special Stop for Seattle up 65 percent; Chicago-Seattle completely-booked train," said Held. via Wenatchee and Billings up 41 When space IS not available, Amtrak Town's Anniversary- percent, New York/ Washi-ngtoH-e hi­ reservation and ticketing employees cago up 47 percent; Chicago-Oakland encourage travelers to reserve space on Residents of Dexter, Michigan want up 60 percent; Chicago-Houston up 37 alternate trains or dates. A case in point to thank Amtrak for superb perfor­ percent; -Los Angeles up is the Empire Builder and the North mance in carrying over 1,300 passen­ 35 percent; Chicago-New Orleans up 32 Coast Hiawatha. Through July, the gers to the town's Sesquicentennial percent; and Chicago-Los Angeles up Empire Builder is completely booked (1 SO-year anniversary). 30 percent. on many dates. The North Coast Washington-Cumberland continued Hiawatha, except for a few key dates, According to Dave DeVries, Amtrak to lead the short-distance routes with a has space available and is an attractive Manager of Sales -Detroit, a special 192 percent increase. New York alternative. Furthermore, family plan stop was made in Dexter on Trains 361 City-Springfield was up 61 percent; dates on many services are difficult to and 360, the Wolverine, on June 25 and (New York-Albany-Buf­ reserve. If travel can be encouraged on 26 to carry passengers from Detroit and falo) up 52 percent; and Chicago-De­ non-family dates, space is usually Ann Arbor to the celebration. troit up 38 percent. available. On the two routes which carry the Dexter citizens rode the trains in most passengers -- New York-Washing­ Amtrak personnel continually purge period costumes, carried picnic baskets, ton and New Y ork-Boston -- ridership reservations to open up space on trains and passed out cookies to passengers was up 12 percent and 47 percent by weeding out "no-shows" -- people while explaining the Sesquicentennial. respectively. Nearly 800,000 persons who make reservations but never They also distributed a brochure to all traveled by Amtrak trains in the actually ride. The no-show problem has passengers, stating: "There will be a Boston-Washington corridor during plagued the travel industry for many slight delay in your trip today because May. years. By holding reservations for seats of a special event in Dexter .... We hope not use ,no-s ows cause otner-p-assen-=­ this brief stop won't inconvenience gers to be inconvenienced and a anyone." considerable loss of revenue for the company. The Ann Arbor News, in an editorial, AMTRAK NEWS This no-show problem is eased by congratulated Amtrak for cooperating Amtrak's policy of applying a hold limit with Dexter officials. It said, "Amtrak to a reservation. Customers who have has scored a public relations triumph" Amtrak News is published twice a not purchased tickets for their reserva­ and proclaimed Amtrak "The People's tions by a certain date are telephoned Train!" month for Amtrak employees and by Amtrak reservations personnel. The employees of participating railroads customer is asked to pick up his ticket " Over 650 of the Dexter-bound who are engaged in passenger or to cancel his reservations. passengers were children and they loved service. It is published by: If the customer had changed his the trains. Many of them hadn't been plans and will not travel on Amtrak, his on one before," said DeVries. space is immediately made available for The town officials loved the trains, National Railroad Passenger Corp. use by another customer. The most too. Dexter, with a population of 1,800, Public Relations Dept. reliable customer is one who has could not have easily accommodated 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, S.W. actually purchased his ticket. He is less the guests if all of the families had Washington, D.C. 20024 likely to become a no-show. arrived in their private automobiles.

-2- A passenger is the most important person in our business. A passenger is not an interruption of our work .. he is the purpose of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him .. he is doing us a favor by giving us the opportunity to do so. A passenger is not dependent upon us .. we are dependent upon him. A passenger is not an outsider to our business .. he is a part of it. A passenger is not a cold statistic .. he is a flesh and blood human being with feelings and emotions. biases and prejudices. A passenger is not someone with whom to argue or match wits. Nobody ever won an argument with a passenger. A passenger is a person who brings us his wants. It is our job to handle them profitably to him and to ourselves.

[Exerpt from a training manual produced under the guidance of Earle Adamson, Manager of Training.)

-3- Contract Provides Amtrak's Operations Center Control Base for Nationwide Train Operations Direct Ticketing Tommy Thompson, Supervisor - Sched­ sen, Manager - Car Control. Andreasen of Gov't. Employees determining day-to-day changes in ~ ~ .\ trq 1] l±J ules, is a fine example of how Amtrak conducts car availability studies and, consists," said Wahmann. "Sometimes personnel work with both groups. working closely with Marketing, plans there are changes in traffic patterns Thompson prepares schedules which consists to meet capacity and revenue In the year 1951, eighty-four percent caused by heavy bookings or group are developed from Marketing require­ requirements. By monitoring car avail­ of all government commerical passen­ · 0~ moves, creating a need for more cars." ments and approved by the Schedule ability and utilization along with ger travel in the United States was and Consist Committee. To coordinate Marketing personnel, he determines performed by rail. By 1969, the Primarily involved with these day-to­ schedule changes with the railroads, when and where to add cars to crowded railroad's share of this passenger day changes is Harry Shepler, Super­ Thompson must be totally familiar with trains and remove cars from trains transportation load had dropped to B ~ visor - Car Distribution. Shepler the adequacy of Amtrak scheduling. running with light loads. He also works four percent, and by the time Amtrak implements changes in consists that This requires on-time performance closely with the Mechanical Depart­ came into being, it had dropped to less Andreasen has planned in conjunction information from the Operations ment in the assignment of cars to the than one percent. Since that time with the Schedule& Consist Committee. Center. maintenance pools. Amtrak has been working to regain In addition, Shepler fulfills "car Another person with responsibilities some of that highly prized, approxi­ overflow requests" received from Phil that are intertwined with the Opera­ mately $400,000,000 per year govern- "Not only do we implement consist Held, Manager - Reservations Control. tions Center and the Schedules & m ent marKer. changes as established by the commit­ This overflow request is made, anytime Consist Committee is Morrie Andrea- tee, but we are kept very busy in A major milestone along the way to from three months to three days before reversing this trend and to rebuilding departure, when additional space is this traffic was reached recently when needed on a train already sold out. senior officials of the General Services The traveling public wants to ride well-scheduled passenger trains that offer a When this happens, and a car is added, Administration (GSA) and Amtrak variety of accommodations. To insure that Amtrak services and schedules are the action must be coordinated by signed a Master Contract to enable the Louis Maxberry, Manager - Operations Center (above left) and Morrie Andreasen, Manager­ designed with public convenience in mind, Amtrak has established a "Schedule and Shepler among the railroads, yard Car Control check the Operations Center's Car Board while Car Clerk Chris Hanlon re- government's travel offices to acquire Consist Committee" that meets weekly, made up of representativ.es of four forces, Amtrak regional operating and ceives the latest operating information. R. DALY PHOTO Amtrak food service personnel. Amtrak ticket stock. There's one Amtrak Office in arranged instructions to replace them departments. Their job is to assure top level approval for all schedule and consist Michael J. Timbers, Commissioner of Washington staffed around-the-clock, in trains being made up in yards. changes and to coordinate Amtrak interests. GSA's Federal Supply Service ( FSS) which coordinates passenger train There's something going on here every The committee was established in December, 1973. Its members include Chris A short-term consist change requires and Harold L. Graham, Amtrak's movements throughout the nation; minute." Wahmann, Operations; Doug Willmott, Marketing; Eric von Schilgen, Services, careful examination by Operations and VP-Marketing signed the contract arranges orders for movement of cars and Martin Kuhn, Government Affairs. Reservations personnel. Reservations creating this system which will enable and locomotives from one location to The staff of the Operations Center To function effectively, the committee must be appraised of the operating Control may identify a car that is not participating federal offices to issue another; monitors on-time perfor­ has had significant railroad experience, condition ofthe railroads over which trains operate. It is the job of Chris Wahmann, needed on a particular trip because tickets directly to government em­ mance; sets up detours when floods or which Wahmann and Maxberry con­ Operations representative and chairman of the committee, to inform members traffic has not developed to a point ployees for official travel. Most derailments block lines, and prepares sider absolutely necessary. All the about track conditions, length of station platforms, running times, servicing where the car will be adequately government travel offices are equipped highly detailed reports that outline the personnel have come from major roads, requirements, crew districts -- anything that will affect the operating cost, schedule, utilized. For example, even though a with Teleticketing printers for the operational status of the railroad. resulting in a mix of people with and consist limitation of a train. Also Wahmann handles all the negotiations for sleeper may not be needed on the preparation of airline tickets. As a different types of railroad experience. schedules and consists with the individual railroads. southbound because of an result, the requirement to draw up a Doug Willmott represents the Marketing Department. His role is to request new unusually light load, that does not Transportation Request (GTR), send it The location of all this activity is the "This center is an important part of schedules, consists, or station stops based on changing market needs. He provides mean it is automatically cut from that to toRe-Amtrak t-ie-ke-t-et:fiGe for a ticket, --.9ReratiQns.J:;enter, an integral part of Train Operations," said W ahmann. other committee members with ridership figures, revenue reports, and other day's consist. The number of advance have the ticket returned and then issue the Train Operations section of the 'Tn this office we also have supervisors back-up data to substantiate marketing requirements. reservations on the day when the same it to the passenger was so obviously Operations Department. It is the job of for scheduling, car control and car The Service representative, Eric von Schilgen, recommends changes in on-board consist returns north must be exam­ complicated and time consuming that Chris Wahmann, Superintendent - distribution who work closely with the services and solicits comment from committee members. He acts as liaison to advise ined. If the car is needed on the return few would even bother to respond to Train Operations, and Lou Maxberry, staff of the center and the Amtrak his department on proposals which utilize Service's manpower and materials. He trip, it must be operated both ways. requests for rail passenger travel. Manager - Operations Center, to insure Schedule and Consist Committee." also evaluates staffing levels for station and on-board services in the context of Almost two years ago, the Manager, that the railroad is operated properly proposed changes in schedules and consists. Compared to Amtrak's start-up in The committee is made up of Chris Government Marketing--then Fletcher and that key Amtrak officials are kept Government Affairs, represented by Martin Kuhn, studies schedule and consist 1971, the company now has far more Wahmann, Operations Department; Prouty, opened discussions with Robert abreast of all developments. proposals to determine if changes will create undue complaints from local control over its own operations. In 1971, Doug Willmott, Marketing; Eric von Chandler, of FSS' Passenger governments and communities affected. In the event a scheduling decision will not for example, Amtrak did not schedule Schilgen, Services, and Martin Kuhn, Transportation Services Branch to see "The Operations Center provides meet the requirement of a particular locality, Kuhn is in a position to gather data and assign passenger locomotives; this Government Affairs. It was established what might be done to solve this Amtrak officials with a complete and explain the decision to government officials. was done by railroads. Now Amtrak has to coordinate the interests of these four problem. The first task was to find a picture of its operations," said Wah­ At times, a train's schedule and consist is "planned from scratch" by the departments at Amtrak. (See story in tight control over every locomotive in its way to permit the government to accept mann. "Right now, for example, we committee. This usually happens when Amtrak is inaugurating service over a new box.) fleet. Further, all car assignments are the custodial responsibilities involved in know which trains are on-time and route, such as Boston - Cleveland - Chicago, or Norfolk - Roanoke - Cincinnati. The now planned by Amtrak. Increasingly the offer of ticket stock. Two trial which are running late. We know that The personnel in Train Operations committee will design a train operation which will best serve the needs of the direct control over assignments of cars offices were set up in Washington and certain lines are blocked and we've receive guidance from the Schedule and traveling public while taking into account the physical constraints of the railroad to trains at yards and terminals is being detoured trains. We know what cars Consist Committee and daily informa­ over which the train will run. exercised so that consists will conform Continued page 8, col. 1 have been bad-ordered and have tion from the Operations Center. to precise Amtrak requirements.

-4- -5- Overseas Tour Packages About Amtrak Prove Popular Profitable An editorial in The Miami Herald: & "The focus for improved rail passenger service should be nationwide Amtrak's first "Visit USA" tour they are here for ways to really see the and the commitment as ambitious and packages designed exclusively for U.S. And the entire sale is confirmed at aggressive as that made in the 50s overseas sales are proving a success. a fixed price in their own currency" toward the building of the Interstate Since March when they were first Lawrence said. Highway System. That program ... has introduced in Germany and Switzer­ cost the government $54 billion. It was land, the five tours have more than paid Amtrak's advertising has gone money well spent ... The nation would for their production costs to Amtrak. international. Specially designed ads do well to turn its attention now to Alfred Lawrence, Chief of International have appeared in publications in building a national railway system for Sales, expects profits from the tours to Western Europe, Mexico, Canada the same reasons it built the interstate-­ increase steadily over the summer and Japan and Amtrak also is its own best interest." season and is planning to expand the beginning to design ads for the program for the 1975 season with non-English speaking residents of Edward J. Wojtas in The Chicago French and English versions of the tour the U.S. Tribune: brochures. In April and May Readers Digest "Chicagoans heading for Expo '74 Lawrence explains that the tours are International ran an Amtrak travel certainly can get there by flying or unique because they are designed ad in their German, French, driving, but for a relaxing escape try specially for European travelers. Tours Mexican, Japanese and British Amtrak .. . The dome cars particul arly begin at the three major points for editions. The copy, headed "All over are suited for watching the mountains German/ Swiss originated advanced America there's an America you can ... Meals are excellent and the prices booking chartered flights: New York, still see without driving--Amtrak's moderate ... " Chicago, and Los Angeles. Length of America" , was a general advertise­ Clyde Hostetter in the Los Angeles the tours varies from seven to 13 days ment for the advantages of rail Times: and optional extra nights may be passenger service. included at every stop for additional This Spring Amtrak also Adver­ "Note to oldtime train travelers: The flexability. Visitors have a choice of first tised in German trade travel fresh roses on every table are still there class or coach travel. newspapers in support of the " Visit All five packages include accommo­ USA" program, Amtrak's first tours Maureen Reardon in the Dayton [0.] dations, primarily at Hilton Hotels, rail designed exclusively for German and News: transportation and daily American style Swiss visitors to the U.S. " ... trains are friendly places ... " breakfasts. In addition, comprehensive An Amtrak ad is appearing in sightseeing tours are included at each Industria Turistica, a special publi­ stopover city. cation for travel agents, hotel F.S. King, Vice President Lawrence explains that he was able to managers, transportation companies Operations, has established a "Sup­ keep tour costs low and within reach of and government tour departments in erintendent - Operations" in four most European travelers because South America and the Carribean. regions to work closely with local Amtrak is operating the tours itself and And Amtrak continues to place railroad operating personnel, region­ because rail tratfsportation includes the Montrealer advertisements in Mon­ al Amtrak service personnel, and the Amerail discount (the standard 25% treal's French newspapers. Amtrak Operations Center in Wash­ discount on basic one-way passage A Spanish version of the" All over ington. tickets between all points on the America ... " ad designed for Readers The Regional Superintendents, Amtrak system available to permanent Digest International was added to home bases, and jurisdictions are as residents of most foreign countries). the May 19 All America Schedules. follows: Tour brochures are printed in German In addition, Amtrak ran a thirteen Charles A. Lockwood, Miami, and tour prices are quoted in German week radio campaign on Los Southeastern Region and Swiss currency. These prices will be Angeles' two main Spanish stations. Robert A. Herman, New York, kept stable for the duration of the tour James Mariner, Manager of Adver­ Eastern Region since provisions have been made to tising and Sales Promotion said that John S. Piet, Los Angeles, compensate for any currency fluctua­ this was a test case to measure the Western Region tions. ability of radio to attract a specific John R. Canfield, Chicago, "This makes the tours particularly segment of the traveling public to the Central Region convenient to a foreign visitor to the train. He feels that the ads did The Operations Center in Wash­ U.S. They have a confirmed ticket and contribute to the recently increased ington is under Christopher P. tour before they leave their country. volume of business at Los Angeles' Wahmann, Superintendent - Train They don't have to shop around once station and city ticket offices. Operations.

-6- Terminal Operations Subject of Lawsuits

Amtrak recently filed one lawsuit in subsidiary corporations. (As explained veyed ownership of Union Station land Washington, D.C., and settled another by Amtrak's attorneys, Penn Central to the B&O and Penn Central and then in Kansas City, in matters relating to and the PB& W will not become parties arranged for the federal government to operations in terminal companies. without permission from the courts take over mortgages for the National Amtrak filed a civil action in U.S. overseeing their bankruptcy proceed­ Visitors Center amounting to about $43 District Court in Washington, D.C. ings, to the extent this permission may million. against the Washington Terminal be necessary.) Since the ceiling cost of building the Company and its railroad owners on The lawsuit notes that Union Station Visitors Center and parking facility June 28. The suit charged the company and the land connected with it which is the responsibility of the with taking a $27 million windfall profit amounted to an $8 million dollar gift to railroads is only $16 million, the effect from land transactions growing out of the railroads from Congress and the will be that the two railroads will be the Capital Visitors Center project District of Columbia back in 1903 when selling the present station to the while, at the same time, defaulting on a the station was new. Then in 1968 government for a $27 million profit. commitment to build a replacement for Congress passed an act providing for a Union Station. The suit asks the court National Visitors Center on the Union It points out that the government still to· require the defendants to provide an Station site and specifying the construc­ may have to pay an additional $24.6 adequate terminal for Amtrak's passen­ tion of a new passenger terminal on or million to build the Visitors Center and gers. near the site. parking area, but despite a statutory The railroads named are the obligation to build a new station the Baltimore & Ohio, the Penn Central Amtrak alleges that after the passage Terminal Company hasn't started and the Philadelphia, Baltimore & of the Visitors Center Act the construction and insists it will spend no Washington Railroad as well as Washington Terminal Company con- more than $3 million when it does. Amtrak's suit alleges that the PSRs Complete Training defendants' actions were illegal and in violation ofthe National Visitors Center said. "In the first phase, Amtrak Thirty-three new Passenger Service Act. One of six counts alleges that the wanted to get people out in distinctive Representatives (PSR's) have completed­ conveyance of the property in question uniforms to be seen by passengers, to let a one-week training session and are now by the Terminal Company to the them know that something new had based in Chicago, Los Angeles and railroads was in violation of the been started. This was tied into our Miami. The PSR's received a compre­ District's Fraudulent Conveyances Act. pu blic relations and advertising pro­ hensive overview of Amtrak, and Another count seeks relief under grams. In our second phase, we began instruction in methods of serving the federal antitrust laws. to issue reports about the equipment traveling public. The training was con­ Separately, Amtrak's lawsuit against and general operation ofthe trains." ducted at the Manpower Development the Kansas City Terminal and its Center in Silver Spring, MD. Now that Amtrak is more widely railroad operators has been settled out The training sessions "went known by the public, and Service of court after the Terminal Company smoothly" and were under the direction Directors inspect trains and report agreed to pay Amtrak $1,950,000 and of Earle Adamson, Manager - Training, malfunctions, the PSR program has set a new schedule of charges for and Dick Sears, Coordinator of been moved into its third phase -- that Amtrak's use of the Station. On-Board Service Training. of implementing special on-board The new cost schedule will reduce the The PSR's were introduced to programs. Now PSR's help to break up amount Amtrak pays for its use of the Amtrak ticketing and reservations pro­ the tedium of long-haul trips by Kansas City station by no less than cedures, fares and tariffs, consists, providing some diversionary entertain­ $150,000 a month. Additionally, it was diagrams, accommodations, reporting ment. This is a big selling feature that is agreed that future controversies be­ methods aboard trains and first aid. appreciated by many passengers. tween Amtrak and the Terminal Representatives from American Air­ Company will be resolved before an lines gave instruction on proper "We have to do a good job making independent arbitration panel. grooming and posture, and several the passengers feel as if their vacation The railroads involved in the lawsuit, Amtrak departments outlined their started the minute they board the in addition to the Kansas City Terminal programs and responsibilities. train," continued Christie. "Your job Railway, were the Santa Fe; Missouri Christie Koontz, General Supervisor isn't just to implement the special Pacific; Burlington Northern; Mil­ - Special Services, thoroughly explained programs, but to gauge opinion on our waukee Road; Chicago & Northwes­ the PSR program from its beginning in special events, such as Happy Hour, tern; Illinois Central Gulf; Norfolk and 1971 to the responsibilities that each Early Bird Dinners, Bingo and so forth. Western; and Union Pacific. PSR has today. Your review and input into head­ The settlement agreement was filed "The PSR program has been quarters is important as to whether we with the federal district court in Kansas developed in several stages," Christie continue certain programs." City.

-7- GSA - Continued from page 4 payment of all the tickets at one time. A The procedures and methods for the response, primarily for listing of the entire transaction will carrying out the above agreements are travel, was encouraging. accompany the check for audit being fin alized and will be processed purposes and for verification of all through normal Amtrak channels soon. A draft contract was drawn and transactions. Once in effect, the new system will approved by Amtrak. GSA, acting in its During this period, the government provide a major opportunity for amtrak role as the government's transportation had been moving ahead with a new to win a fairer share of the government manager, referred the draft agreement GTR of its own. The venerable GTR traveler market. to other government agencies and dates back to 1881, when a "Request transmitted the final proposal to the for Transportation, Form No. 15," was Trudeau Proposes General Accounting Office for its used for troops and officers of the U.S. approval. Army traveling at government expense. The present GTR green card form No. Amtrak-like Corp. Concurrently, studies were being 1169 was adopted May 1, 1955. A new made of GSA's Automatic Payment form will come into use sometime early Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Tru­ Procedure. APP permits the govern­ next year. With this in mind, deau has promised to form a Canadian ment travel office to prepare one GTR discussions centered on more simplifi­ Passenger Transportation Corporation, at the beginning of an agreed upon cation: using the GTR as a ticket. In a similar to Amtrak, that would assume period of time (one month, two weeks, sense, the GTR is the original "credit responsibility for operating all intercity etc.) and to use that same GTR for all card" -and is the government's promise passenger train service-in-CanMla. tickets purchased under a single fund to pay for travel received. It's use has citation during. that time. The govern­ The Canadian federal government been dictated by the fact that a very old ment processes more than 3,000,000 presently issues a subsidy covering 80 federal Statute (31 U. S.c., 529, 1823) GTR's per year and anything that can percent of the costs of unprofitable provides that "no public money shall be be done to reduce the time and cost passenger services on the Canadian advanced or paid to a contractor before involved in their preparation is National and Canadian Pacific Rail­ the performance of any service". Today beneficial. This feature, the single GTR roads. The government would like to it is clear that this requirement has and APP, has been written into this new gain further control over passenger been eroded as a result of procedures agreement and will be utilized wherever operations, and an Amtrak-type corp­ and practices; but the Comptroller it will save time. oration is the recommended solution. General of the United States has All of these plans were designed to construed this to apply to the The Wall StreetJournal, on June 19, prepare Amtrak for the day when its pre-payment of transportation charges. said "As one of its first priorities, the own computers and ticketing machines So we still must use the GTR; but there new corporation, which appears similar would be available. With this in mind, is no reason why it cannot be used in the in concept to the U.S. Amtrak, would the APP has been carried one step APP process or as a ticket itself. As a plan on introducing high-speed passen­ further. At the end ofthe approved time result, the fed eral government has now ger rail service. Primary target areas for period, the government travel office will been informed by Amtrak that the GTR such service would be the corridor from total up all of the tickets issued and may be used in lieu of a ticket for Quebec City to Windsor, Ontario, issue one check, without any billing Amtrak travel. In actllal practice, this through Montreal and Toronto; the from Amtrak (another time saver), void new facility complements and may Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto route, and the GTR and mail the check in ovt:irake the ticket stock idea. the Edmonton-Calgary link."

Firs t Class Mail U.S. POSTAGE PA ID 1 oz. Permi t 4465 1 Was hingto n, D.C. »IiiPassenger Corporation 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20024

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED