I Tackles Local Seattle Problems I Methods
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Volume 1, No. 16 December 1 , 1974 Holiday Train __ Added to Florida Fleet Amtrak's winter Florida schedules will include an extra New York-Miami train which will operate over the Christ mas/N ew Years holiday period. The additional daily train, the Miamian, will begin service southbound from New York on Dec. 13 and north bound from Miami on Dec. 15 . It will operate until January 10. daily Florida trains only. Additional morning and ending at mid-afternoon In the past, this extra train was cars will ' be added to these trains as and arrive in Miami the following after designed to handle seasonal overflow needed. noon. Amtrak's crack Silver Meteor traffic between December and April Amtrak operates a four-train Florida follows the direct inland route to from the three regular New York Fleet year round. The Floridian con Miami. The Champion goes to St. Florida trains- the Champion, Silver nects Chicago and Miami and St. Peters Petersburg via Orlando and Walt Disney Star and Silver Meteor. This year, due to burg. The three east coast Florida trains World and the Silver Star has sections reduced ridership projections after the leave New York at convenient times which serve both Orlando and St. holidays, Amtrak will operate regular through the day, beginning at mid- Petersburg and Miami. problems, commissary security, lack of Nine-Man "Northwest Group')_') __ signs in certain stations, dining car problems, and revised operating I Tackles Local Seattle Problems I methods. "The meetings are essential," said Jim Burton of On-board Services. "Our Problems in the Seattle area are being Officials participating in the "North number one goal is that Amtrak suc solved by nine Amtrak officials who west Group" meetings include Jim Cira, ceed. We believe that by sitting down meet regularly to exchange ideas and Transportation Supervisor ; Bill Ritten together we could accomplish much propose improvements in Amtrak ser house, District Sales Manager; Jim Bur more collectively than independently." vice. ton, Manager On-board Services; Mike One example of the group's success is It's an idea that may well catch on in Mullin, Commissary Manager; L. Kirk the improvement'in the "pull-time" of other cities which are terminal points patrick, Resident Mechanical Repre Amtrak trains. Pull-time is the time for Amtrak. sentative- Locomotives; Clint Christine, designated to move a fully-stocked train According to Ken Clauson, Manager Material Control Manager; Jack Farr, from the yards to the station for loading Stations- Seattle, the representatives Resident Mechanical Representative of passengers. from different departments "meet as a Cars; Roger Murrey, senior Buyer; and "Our initial goal was to have on-time unit" to discuss individual department Clauson. train departures from Seattle," said Jim functions, improve communications be Items that have been discussed at the Cira in Operations. "So we worked tween departments, and foster programs meetings include revenue figures for that aid Amtrak locally. long and short haul trains, maintenance (Continued on page 2, column 1) GROUP continued from page J with Burlington Northern personnel and set time criteria which would insure a high degree of on-time train makeup and departure." "This gives each department enough time to complete all the necessary tasks required to operate a clean, com fortable, on-time train," declared Cira. To illustrate, the time criteria for the eastbound Empire Builder is as follows: Enginemen report on duty at 11:45 a.m.; train pulled out of yard at 12:05 p.m.; train spotted in station, 12 :20 p.m.; power attached, 12:30 p.m.; at tendants board, 12:45 p.m.; boarding of passengers begins, 12: 50 p.m. ; departure at 1: 15 p.m. as per schedule. "The new system is working well, The Coast Starlight waits for boarding passengers in Seattle's King Street Station. The train is with every train departing properly spanking-clean and fully-provisioned as a result of planning by the " Northwest Group." Bob manned and stocked," agreed Clauson. Sterns photo "This is important because Seattle's facilities originate or terminate 76 trains per week. "It is a terminal point for three long movement and can schedule our work tive . If another official finds a train distance routes, the Coast Starlight, accordingly. In effect, we've solved our unnecessarily delayed, Cira will receive a Empire Builder and the tri-weekly once serious problem of late stocking of report. North Coast Hiawatha (daily during trains," continued Mullin. District Sales Manager Bill Ritten summers and Christmas and Thanks "These exchanges of information house said , "The inter-departmental giving holidays). We also handle two kee p us from stepping on each other's meetings are not bitch sessions. They're Seattle-Portland turn-arounds, the Puget toes. Through coordination and com very constructive. As a management Sound and Mount Rainier, and the munication, we're getting the job group, we're trying to boost ridership. Pacific International to Vancouver, done," he said. To do that we need good trains and we B.C ., Canada," continued Clauson. Jim Burton agreed: "The re freshing do all we can locally to have good There are times when the Northwest thing is that these discussions open up trains. " Group determines that a problem avenues of communication so that each The potential exists for the North cannot be solved through local action of us understand the problems of the west Group to create many satisfied alone. Then, a report which outlines the other guy. We gain a better perspective. Amtrak customers. Seattle's King Street problem and recommends a solution is "We can't just sit behind our desks Station is the 13th busiest in Amtrak's made to Amtrak Regional Headquarters and issue procedures to our employees. system, with 27,512 travelers passing in Los Angeles. We have to be involved. We get onto the through the station in September. "But we've managed to work out station platforms and on the trains and Of course, good trains operating out most problems," said Commissary Man relate to each employee the responsi of that terminal please additional pas ager Mike Mullin. "For example, there bility that he has to the passengers. By sengers up and down the routes over are occasions when Operations must making him feel responsible, we make which the trains operate. move a car away from our stocking area him feel more of a part of Amtrak's The Northwest Group meets twice a to receive servicing or minor repair team," declared Burton. month. The initial gathering, an in work. To avoid having the car im Amtrak officials in the area also formal one, was held on May 31 to properly provisioned, I would have to assist each other by completing a report discuss the potential for such meetings. send my men to another location which each time one rides a train. Jim Cira said Its first formal session was held on June entailed more time and extra work. if any member finds a porter violating 27. "N ow, through mutual under safety standards by leaving a vestibule The group's chairmanship rotates standing developed in these meetings, door open, a report will be made to Mr. each month, giving each official an we are given advance notice of a car Burton, Amtrak's Onboard representa- opportunity to chair a session. 2 Legislation Ultimate Solution to ______---, Track Problems Amtrak called for legislation to deal areas of investigation: present track effort in highway rather than roadway with the "national problem" of deterio conditions; technological advances in building, cheap gasoline prices and the rating U.S. railroad track in a report the rail industry; time and expenditures resulting overall unprofitability of many submitted recently to the Interstate which would be required were rail lines railroad services," the report said. Commerce Commission (ICC). to be restored to their May 1971 level The problem can be dealt with The ICC is investigating the adequacy of utility; the effect upgrading track effiCiently only if it is attacked at its of the 24,000 miles of track over which might have on rail passenger pa root- "the overall un profitability of the Amtrak trains operate to provide tronage; a cost-benefit analysis of operations of the railroads without quality rail passenger service. Section providing improved trackage be access to the enormous funds now 801 of the Amtrak Improvement Act of tween various locales, and the physi available to highways and commerce." 1973 authorized the ICC to "promul cal problems inherent in dual freight The Amtrak report said that existing gate and, from time to time, revise such and passenger usage of some 24,000 track conditions were a result of de regulations· as it considers necessary to miles of track. ferred track maintenance for protracted provide adequate service, equipment, "Amtrak has in recent years been periods and that "a continuing period of tracks and other facilities for quality caught up in an emerging national trans this deferred maintenance policy can't in terCi ty rail passenger service." portation problem of nationwide ra il help but have critical implications to Amtrak had been asked to provide lines deterioration partially brought Amtrak." the Commission with information on six about by a concentration of national It also will have a critical implication to the quality of the nation's economy, Amtrak said. "The fuel crisis, the en vironmental issue and the competitive Amtrak trains could attract as many as 75 % of all motorists who normally position of the United States in the would drive on their next 200-mile trip , if tracks were restored at least to May 1, international marketplace all require an 1971 conditions and ride comfort was at least "fair." When comfort increases to overall railroad system that is an effi "good" or on longer journeys, 90% might switch, according to a study made by Cien t and effective operation." Amtrak stressed in its report that the Robinson Associates, Inc.