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Volume 1 No.4 June 1, 1974 Final 3 Nominees Added to Board President Nixon has announced the final nominations of three persons to the Board of Directors. They are: Donald P. Jacobs, Evanston, Ill., Chairman of the Finance Department, Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, for a term of three years. Gerald D. Morgan, Burkittsville, Md., partner in the law firm of Hamel, Park, McGabe and Saunders, Wash­ ington, D.C., for a term of four years. Mr. Morgan previously served Amtrak as Vice President - Government Affairs. Robert Galbraith Dunlop, Bryn Mawr, Pa., Chairman of the Board, Sun Oil Co., Philadelphia, also for a term of four years. The Board consists of 17 members as follows: The Secretary of Transporta­ Boats & !!! tion, ex officio; nine members nomi­ Harold L. Graham, Amtrak's Vice-President of Marketing [left], and Ron C. Lord, General Manager of The Pacific Cruise Conference, TPCC, signed an interline passenger traffic agreement May 6. Now nated by the President, three of which TPCC and Amtrak, directly or through agents, can issue tickets or exchange orders on each order; and are designated "consumer representa­ can cooperate in promoting connecting rail tours and ocean cruises. Graham and Lord said the tives" (see Amtrak News, May 1, p. 5); agreement is a prelude to announcement of numerous sea-rail ''packages'', utilizing more than a dozen ships of the West Coast cruise conference's five regular-member lines, in conjunction with various three elected annually by the common Amtrak routes nationwide. stoc~kholders (railroads); and four elected annually by the preferred stockholders. Sales Trainees Meet Executives The number of positions on the "Young People in a Young Com­ been on a steady decline since 1945 but Board total 17, but, since Amtrak has pany" was the theme of Amtrak's Amtrak has reversed that trend." not issued preferred stock, four seats executive, Roger Lewis's opening re­ The Amtrak Marketing Trainee are vacant. This means that the actual marks to the current Amtrak Marketing Program, developed by Roger Brown, Board consists of 13 persons. Trainee Class. The six trainees, Neal Director of Sales, is designed to AMTRAK NEWS Ball, Cathie Cook, Alice Fujioka, attract, develop and retain highly Michael Harrison, Tim Salvesen and Art motivated individuals with executive Amtrak News is published twice a Street, were told that Amtrak is a new management potential by providing a month for Amtrak employees and business in an old industry in which basic insight into Amtrak's functional employees of participating railroads young ideas and innovative thinking are areas. who are engaged in passenger mandatory to meet public transporta­ On-the-job training is given in all service. It is published by: tion needs in the '70's and beyond. phases of Sales and Service, supple­ "I think you are smart to have mented by familiarization and orienta­ considered Amtrak because it is a good tion in Fares and Tariffs, Accountin'g, National Railroad Passenger Corp. policy to get into a business that is Personnel, Government Affairs, Public Public Relations Dept. growing and will succeed," said Lewis. Relations, Legal Activities, Labor Rela- 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, S. W. "There's no doubt in my mind about , D.C. 20024 that. Railroad passenger service has Continued page 2 col. I TRAINEES - continued from page 1 Market Research Sets Modern Pace tions, Design, Procurement and Opera­ ber 1972, passengers riding the Zephyr tions. For the first time in the history of between and San Francisco Primary emphasis is placed upon railroading, marketing data relating were counted by the Burlington Nor­ group and tour sales, use of travel exclusively to passenger traffic are thern as Chicago-Denver travelers agents, ticketing, reservations and being gathered on a national level. because the responsibility for the 's control, government and military sales, According to Peter M. Montague, operation by the Burlington Northern mail sales, package express, program manager - Market Research, suf­ ended at Denver. This type system was development, promotion and adver­ fici~nt1y detailed information is now not very useful in doing analytical work tising, commissary and station ser­ available on passenger travel patterns involving traffic patterns, etc. With the vices, on-board services and related to enable the Corporation to make matrix reports, however, Amtrak passenger support programs. Each decisions based on hard data. receives a true count of where every trainee completing the program will be The sources of this information are passenger actually boarded and left the fully prepared to embark upon a matrix forms and data tags used by the train. meaningful career in sales, services or conductors to record passengers origins Once the computer tabulates these related Amtrak elements. and destinations. Every time a conduc­ data, monthly reports are issued. An Joe O. Bellino and Alex Langston of tor completes a matrix form or collects analysis of ridership on a route-by­ Government and Military Sales, train­ data tags (used in ), route basis is then possible with ing counselors for the current class, he is supplying the input into the particular attention shown to changes said the trainees have commented most ridership system. Every matrix report in ridership from previous time periods. favorably on the benefit they have received by Market Research is key­ The information helps Amtrak man­ derived from having the opportunity to punched in preparation for computeri­ agement to decide what consists are listen to the philosophy of the top zation. The data tags are read required on trains at different times of people in Amtrak at the start of their automatically by a high-speed scanning the year; how many personnel are training. machine which feeds the information needed to man the trains during directly into a computer. different travel seasons; and how many "The conductors are the key people people are on a particular train during Amtrak Appoints making this program a success," said meal periods so that trains may be Montague. "They have gone so far to properly stocked. ------eeepet'frte-with-Hlis--pr6gram-that- notes- A~am ple-of how the system Fred Siepert as Director of Person- are written on matrix reports about benefits the company and the traveling nel. Prior to Amtrak, Siepert was unusual circumstances. Conductors public occurred over the Easter period. Corporate Manager of Recruitment have reported overcrowded conditions " What we did was to examine and Training for McGraw-Hill Corp. which make it impossible to properly ridership figures for Friday through He also has held Personnel Management fill in the matrix. Once we're aware of Monday of the 1973 Easter weekend to positions with the Sun Oil Co. and Curtis this fact, other steps can be taken at determine peak travel demands. We Publishing Co. Amtrak headquarters to collect data pinpointed trains and times when we Frank Abate as Manager of Cars. missing from the matrix. We really could expect our largest crowds. Then, Abate comes to Amtrak from the Penn appreciate all they've done to make the Service and Operations Depart­ Central Railroad where he was Region- this program a success." ments made crew manning provision­ al Mechanical Supervisor. He also has The ridership program is a joint ing and consist preparations. In this served as Penn Central's Mechanical responsibility of Amtrak and the U.S. way, particularly in the Northeast Supervisor of the Philadelphia Com- Department of Transportation (DOT). Corridor, we were able to eliminate muter Area and formerly was affiliated Amtrak provides the materials that most standee problems," Montague with the New York Central Railroad. conductors use to record ridership and said. computer programming skills. The J.F. Roseman as Manager of Self- The reports are used by Market computers are DOT-operated. The Propelled Equipment. Roseman served Research and Market Development as Vice-President of Southern Iron & DOT has been tabulating data on staffs to undertake long-range revenue the Boston-New York-Washington line Equipment Co. before coming to estimates of routes presently operated Amtrak. Prior to that he was Penn using Data Tags since 1966. or proposed. For example, based on A factor which motivates Market ridership data available, the Market Central's Superintendent of Equip- Research in the collection of data is ment, Eastern Region. Research department was able to that little good research material from recommend that the ! Harold Nelson as Senior Labor the period prior to Amtrak is available. Daylight and San Francisco Zep. yr be Relations Officer. An employee of the Railroad data that did exist was used made daily instead of tri-weekly. The Kansas City Southern & Louisianna & primarily in accounting for revenues and trains operated daily during a trial Arkansas Lines, Nelson served as arriving at interline settlements with period, and the ridership levels proved General Chairman of United Trans­ other railroads. For example, in that the department's ridership fore- portation Union. pre-Amtrak days and through Decem- Continued page 4 col. 1

2 editorial comment: Despite Criticism Amtrak's Success Grows In Amtrak's three short years, we have reached some of our goes by something better happens. Another problem gets goals and have instituted needed improvements in rail fixed. A new program is in the planning stage. Future passenger service. Many observers appreciate our efforts; projects are given serious consideration. And when the energy others choose to criticize Amtrak in a constructive manner. crisis hit we worked overtime on the nuts and bolts of findng But there are a few people who so viciously criticize and adding cars to our consists; accelerating our repair and Amtrak that their readers would think that Amtrak has not refurbishment program, and expanding our reservations accomplished anything since 1971 except take over passenger system. service, discontinue half of the trains, and let the remaining Despite all of our anxieties and frustrations of running a decay. This kind of criticism is totally unfair. new company, the job is, in fact, getting done. What have For example, in an extensive article on Amtrak in the been the results of our efforts? For the first 11 months of May issue of Fortune Magazine, Amtrak is taken to task 1973, before the, energy crunch, ridership had risen 11 for many problem!;>, few of which we created and most of percent over the corresponding period in 1972. Traffic in the which we inherited. first quarter of 1974, with energy crisis traffic, is 41 percent Fortune magazine said that, because of the energy crisis, above the same period last year. "Seldom has a company been blessed with such an Rather than "blowing an opportunity" as Fortune unexpected opportunity ... " That is true. But Fortune Magazine has suggested, we have built soundly; we have a followed that up with " ... and seemed so determined to blow good organization; and a stable route structure. We have it." That is false. about doubled our seat mile capability from the base With respect to Fortune's criticism, Amtrak President established by the Department of Transportation in 1971; Roger Lewis has written a letter to the editor stating that and we have made solid progress in improving our operating " Far from being responsible for blowing an opportunity, as contracts with the railroads. Fortune alleges, Amtrak's management has created one from While we have reason to be proud of our achievements, we scanty and largely defective materials. Railroad passenger cannot relax. Our continuing problems are big ones and they service on May 1, 1971 was not a glorious opportunity - it must be faced: late trains primarily due to poor track was a failed business. Its ridership was declining at an conditions; equipment that is difficult to maintain and accelerated rate; its employees were demoralized; its physical support with spare parts because it is old and non-standard; equipment circa World War II and depleted; and its owners, legal difficulties which arise when new services are instituted; the railroads, saddled with common carrier obligations and a continuing fight to control our deficit in the face of resulting in deficits of about $500 million per year at 1969 spiraling costs due to inflation and extensive equipment price levels. " maintenance. "Nearly everyone agreed this couldn't go on," continued In spite of these difficulties, Amtrak has established the Lewis. "Nearly everyone agreed that the airplane, the auto framework in which these problems can be met. What our and the bus would replace the intercity passenger train; and severest critics fail to understand is that if Amtrak did not nearly everyone thought that after a reasonable trial for exist, costs would have increased even faster under individual Amtrak, that all but a limited amount of the service would be railroad operation, meaning there would have been decently buried." practically no passenger trains operating today outside of the "The only people who didn't think t1!is were organizeQ labor Northeast Corridor. and the Congress, a section of the traveling public, a handful Furthermore, without rebuilt cars, new locomotives and a of rail buffs, and after May 1, Amtrak's growing management totally new reservations system, rail passenger systems would team." have been totally ill-equipped to handle the "energy crisis" This country's intercity passenger service was at a 2S-year traffic which was suddenly thrust upon us. And the railroads, low when Congress created Amtrak in late 1970. You and I operating independently, would have been unable to match know that we can't solve a 2S-year old nationwide problem in the contribution that Amtrak has made to energy-short just three years, especially when our business is operated on America. someone else's property and limited money is available. In short, some criticism is understandable and can be constructive. Some can be very unfair. When you hear The most glaring fault of people who make blanket someone condemn everything about our company, keep in denunciat ions of Amtrak is their failure to fairly report what mind that they probably have not made the effort to perceive Amtrak h,as indeed accomplished. There's a new reservation our problems, or to comprehend our efforts to solve them. system nationwide, we've built new stations and more are on Also keep in mind that a few people live in the past; are the way, new equipment is on order, we're adding new routes, afraid to accept change; are unable to view the future with we're designing new services every year, and we are striving to any clarity; and are satisfied only with the status quo which, plan future programs in the face of sometimes insurmount­ in the case of rail passenger service, didn't work. able odds. When faced with unjust criticism of Amtrak, we should This is what Amtrak is all about and what hyper-critical hold our heads up high and be proud of our progress, and of people fail to understand. You know that e... ery month that our plans for further rebuilding this railroad in the future.

3 RESEARCH - continued from page 2 proceedings, government affairs and public relations." Eastern Region Holds casts were accurate. The trains now The reports have reached such Annual Sales Meeting run on a daily basis. precision that a summary is given to Montague also explained that the Amtrak's Board of Directors each Amtrak's annual Eastern Regional figures can be used to determine month, one week in advance of the Sales meeting 16 and 17 made the most ridership on a proposed route. "What board meeting. The report compares of its Bolton Valley, Vt. site. Vermont we do is construct an optimum ridership by route and class with the Governor Thomas P. Salmon talked to schedule, taking into account the same month last year and shows the Glenn Evers, Eastern Regional ·Sales potential for connecting traffic- at percentage change. Manager; his staff of fourteen District major terminals and historic travel Harold L. Graham, Vice President of Sales Managers and representatives of demand along the route by other Marketing, said the report "met Amtrak headquarters Marketing and modes. Next the matrix reports are enthusiastic approval" by the board Service staffs about the importance of consulted to isolate traffic at cities of and the report has now become the Amtrak to Vermont's tourism goals. approximately the same size (popula­ official source of Amtrak ridership The group also had the opportunity to tion), with similar distances between information. Getting this "First" tour several area ski resorts. destinations and times of service. Also started in the railroad industry was no Although the resorts visited (Bolton investigated is the presence of competi­ easy task. I.n a memorandum to Valley, Smuggler's Notch, Glen Ellen, tion. " Montague, Graham said, "I would like Mad River Glen, Stowe and Sugarbush) The ridership system is also impor­ to personally congratulate you and the are known primarily for their skiing, tant in jUdging passenger traffic in members of your staff for the work you Gov. Salmon and Harold L. Graham, Amtrak's stations. The number of have all done to make this project a Vice-President of Marketing, empha­ tickets sold in a station does not success. The personal efforts made to sized the im portance of developing and necessarily represent how busy it is. insure that the project was thoroughly promoting more off-season travel and For example, some stations are near organized and explained to the rail­ resort business. Graham told the group recreational areas, and the passengers roads and their conductors before it that Amtrak is putting together several using the station have purchased began, the diligence with which records summer package vacations to attract round-trip tickets in other cities. and logs were kept, and follow-ups persons from the Deep South of the Consequently, the number of people made, is apparent in the quality of data mountains of Vermont for vacations. actually boarding and leaving trains now available to the Corporation." In addition to discussing Vermont there may- be four-or fi¥e .times greater --kmtrIrk hasan.otI1erricrers-lrqrsystem srues ana OUrIsm, the meeting covered­ than the station ticket sales reflect. in effect, the "checkpoint" system, most aspects of Amtrak Sales and Ser­ Examples of stations in this recrea­ which is also based on Conductor's vice. Guest speakers from corporate tional category would be Truckee, reports. At certain points along a route, headquarters outlined the relationship California (Lake Tahoe); Merced, Cali­ a count is made of all passengers on between local sales and their particular fornia (Yosemite National Park); Or­ board. Amtrak's Joe Hyman receives department and Vice-President Gra­ lando, Florida (Walt Disney W ~rld); such counts by telex, making this ham covered over-all corporate market­ Southern Pines, North Carolina (Pine­ system a quick "barometer" reading of ing policy. John Lombardi, Director of hurst Golf Resort); Waterbury, Ver­ Amtrak ridership. Within two weeks of Market Development, talked about the mont (Stowe and Sugarbush Ski __ the startup of the San Joaquin and development of new tour and sales pro­ Resorts); and Livingston, Inter-American services, Market grams. Attendees had a chance to see (Yellowstone National Park). The Research had figures indicating that one of the trailers actually used in Am­ matrix produced count provides figures the trains were well-patronized. This trak's new Roamin' Holiday tour not available in a ticket count. Station system has been in effect since the program. counts are important in determining summer of 1971 and provides a very Headquarters guests and speakers the number of service employees valuable picture of Amtrak ridership needed, expecially in light of require­ included: Harold L. Graham, Vice-Pres­ over a significant period of time~ ident, Marketing; Roger Brown, Direc­ ments placed on Amtrak by the ICC in tor of Sales; John Lombardi, Director of their" Adequacy of Service" Report. Market Development; Paul Harris, The matrix/data tag system also The Market Research ridership Eastern Regional Service Manager; compiles passenger-miles which may be system, described above, indicates Frank Rizzutto, Central Regional Sales used to measure-effectiveness of the rate Manager; Arthur Lloyd, Manager of that traffic on Amtrak has jumped structure and the effects of rate changes Agency, Tour and International Sales; 28 percent in ApriL 1971, as on passenger travel. Phil Held, Manager of Reservations compared to the same month last "The results of this program are Control; James Mariner, Manager of year. This April Amtrak carried useful to every department in Amtrak," Advertising and Sales Promotion; Joe 1,599,211 passengers, as compared Bellino, Manager of Government and declared Montague. "We continually to 1,250,695 in April '73, an Military Sales; Marvin Liebow, Super­ respond to requests for information increase of 348,516 passengers. visor of Refunds-Revenue Accounting, concerning on-board services, station and Peter Kanwit, Supervisor of State­ services, reservations, finance, legal ment Inquiries-Revenue Accounting.

4 Red Caps: A Heritage of Proud Service

Today's Red Caps have a proud and the 20th Century Limited, the train stead of a tip and Alfred E. Smith gave important heritage. They can trace the which was the realization of his dream him a brown derby hat. ancestry of their profession back to the of the ultimate in transportation Williams was known for his ef­ turn of the century when George glamour and luxury. Daniels wanted ficiency and pride in his profession. Daniels, New York Central's brilliant the high service standards set for "his" Marshall quotes him as saying that General Passenger Agent from 1889 to train to carryover into the stations. So "Boys who used to work for me as Red 1907, gave them their name and set he organized a group of the most Caps here at Grand Central are them apart from in-station porters. competent in-station porters; gave professional men today--doctors, law­ At that time Daniels was christening them their distinctive caps and hence yers, ministers, architects, college pro­ their name. fessors. No, they weren't just college Daniels confidence in his Red Caps boys working as Red Caps for the was not misplaced. As early as 1916, summer vacation. They were regular, John A. Droege, General Superinten­ full-time men with eight or ten years dent, New York, New Haven and ' service to their names. One was here Hartford Railroad wrote in his book fifteen years while he went to night Passenger Terminals and Trains that school; he's a certified public accoun­ "The 'Red Cap Porter', or the 'Red tant today with a good job on Wall Cap' as he is more usually called, has Street ... They're what I call the become an institution which the graduates of the Red Cap force at American traveling public could ill Grand Central." afford to be without. The Red Cap Today activity at Penn Station, NY under proper supervision is remarkably is beginning to rival the old days at efficient and useful and the railroads Grand Central Station. Although Red are to ' be complimented for the fine Caps do not number 300, their class of men they have assembled to do numbers are continually growing par­ this work." ticularly since the advent last Decem­ During the 1940s there were as many ber of free Red Cap service. ' Their as 300 Red Caps in Grand Central importance and utilization will con­ Station, New York alone. Here is how tinue to increase as expedited Red Cap David Marshall describes the Red Caps service is instituted at more stations of that era in his book Grand Central. across the country. "Before Pearl Harbor they were young, Although David Marshall wrote his middle-aged, comparatively old; they book Grand Central in 1946, his words ranged from twenty to sixty-seven years describe the kind of service employees of age; they averaged thirty-five. Then Amtrak needs and expects today: the fighting forces drew off all the "There are, of course, the usual young men, or nearly all, and some of number of novices at Grand Central, these aren't back yet, and some won't and among the novices you'll probably ever come back. And so today the find the usual percentages of misfits. outside men, recalled from their James Williams says it takes two years retirement and still assigned to meet to whip a Red Cap into shape, ten years incoming taxicabs are in three or four to make a really seasoned man of him. instances well over seventy years of You can pick out these fellows for age. But they bear their years well; yourself, and, if you're strictly fair, and, as a class, they are a striking lot you'll more than probably arrive at of men in their gray whipcord uniforms some such conclusion as this: that the land red caps." Red Cap is a trained manager who takes James H. Williams, Chief of the Red you in charge as well as your luggage; Caps, came to Grand Central Station who steers you the right way, by every in 1903 and served there for over forty possible short cut, and gets you years. He was the first black man ever through the gate before the gateman employed as a Red Cap at Grand slams it shut; who talks as well as any Central and father of the first black gentleman'S gentleman should; who man to hold the position of Battalion cheers you with a flashing smile, bows Chief in a U.S. fire department. like a gentleman, and ... pays you the Red Caps as they looked in 1920 and today in President Franklin Roosevelt once gave tribute of overestimating your impor­ their new Amtrak uniforms. Williams an autographed photo in- tance."

5 RTC Card Void Amtrak Targets Stations Amtrak will discontinue individual use of its own Rail Travel Card ef­ For Repair & Rehabilitation fective July 1. The five major nation­ wide credit cards--American Express, Bank Americard, Carte Blanche, Diners Rail passenger stations' days of Every station between Chicago and Club and Master Charge--will continue neglect are numbered. There is a Minneapolis on the North Coast to be honored for purchase of tickets. systematic, on-going effort by Amtrak and routes Roger W. Brown, Amtrak's Director to "repair and rehabilitate" every rail will receive attention ranging from of Sales, has notified Rail Travel Card passenger station in the country. interior and exterior paint and plaster holders of the planned July 1 discon­ The Marketing/ Operations team of to replacing tile floors and light tinuance of individual usage. (Amtrak John Brandimarte, Regional Engineer­ fixtures and resurfacing station plat­ will continue to honor established Structures and Allen Edelston, Chief of forms. Amtrak and the Milwaukee corporate credit accounts for rail Service Requirements, has been visit­ Road are completing arrangements for travel.) ing and, with the assistance of local work at LaCrosse, which Mr. Brown said the decision to 'Amtrak and railroad personnel, eval­ will require the most extensive repairs discontinue the Rail Travel Card, uating each station. Repair work including replacement of about sixty which Amtrak had taken over from the follows shortly after their visit, usually feet of station platform. Rail Travel Credit Agency in 1971, done by railroad maintenance person­ Work is also underway at Chicago's followed three years of surveys and nel and financed by Amtrak. Simul­ . Walls are being studies. The big majority of Rail Travel taneously, new Amtrak station and cleaned, and the ceiling and top Card holders also carry other credit directional signs are installed. portion of the walls painted. Phila­ cards honored by Amtrak. To-date, most Seaboard Coast Line delphia's 30th Street Station received Amtrak also now allows payment by and Louisville & Nashville stations; the similar repairs recently. personal check, with satisfactory iden­ majority of Santa Fe stations; and Work also began in late April on all tification, for on-board charges in food some Southern Pacific stations have of the twenty-one stations between service cars, as well as for tickets and received attention. In May, the' team Chicago and New Orleans on Amtrak's tours at Amtrak ticket windows. targeted Burlington Northern stations route, with com­ for repairs. In addition to the station­ pletion scheduled for early Fall. Most QUOT ABLE QUOTE ... by-station- worKon those rOUTeS, each of the work, Itke th1frin progres at the station on a new Amtrak service has Chicago-Minneapolis stations, will con­ Gil Webre, New Orleans Time­ received repairs prior to inauguration. sist of painting and cleaning. However, Picayune: "Youth again was in evi­ (In 1974, this has included the San at Homewood, , Amtrak will dence on the train (Amtrak's Sunset Joaquin, Inter-American and Black contract for e xten ~ive interior and Limited). There were many young Hawk stations.) exterior repairs and platform rehabili­ people coming into New Orleans for tation. "Amtrak's 'repair and rehabilita­ Carnival season. Some of them even Repair and rehabilitation scheduled tion' program is designed to give the had back-packs stored in the bag­ also includes the removal of several Amtrak image to every station where a gage ... 1974 was the year back­ non-functional structures. Kankakee, rail passenger train stops," Brandi­ packers Amtraked it to New Or­ Illinois has a duplicate ticket office marte said. "By late 1975, we should leans .... " which will be removed; at Winona, be in pretty good shape system-wide." Ms., an old abandoned express build­ In addition to assessing stations for ing will be leveled and the ground 120,000 Rail Passes repair work, the Marketing/ Operations landscaped, and Amtrak has requested team targets those stations which are the ICG to raze an old, unused Issued in 1973 beyond rehabilitation or where current restaurant building at Canton, Ms. rail operations have outgrown the Almost 120,000 Rail Travel Privilege The present building at Dyersburg, present structure. New Amtrak-built or Card passes were issued to railroad Ms. will be replaced with a plexiglass joint intermodal constructions are then and terminal company retirees and . shelter similar to the ones installed at considered. Currently, Amtrak is plan­ widows during 1973, the Amtrak Pass Elmhurst and Freeport, III. Batesville, ning new facilities for Richmond, Va. Bureau has reported. Mississippi's station will be leveled and and St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minn. A All of the passes are valid for one replaced with a new structure, possibly year, and will expire during 1974. They new station is also under consideration a trailer. must be renewed if the passholders are for St. Louis, Mo. and large scale work Work at Champaign/ Urbana, III. to continue availing themselves of is planned for Los Angeles. will commence when Amtrak receives Amtrak's transportation privileges. In late April, Amtrak began "repair funds from the State of Illinois. Illinois The Pass Bureau said that only and rehabilitation" work on eleven will finance two-thirds of the repair about half of the Rail Travel Privilege stations between costs for this station as well as Cards (RTPC's) that expired during Chicago and Minneapolis. Springfield and Bloomington. Continued page 8 col. 1 6 Procurement Methods Save $s for Amtrak Because Amtrak is a national system services such as maintenance, utilities reduced costs, approximately 20125% and because it is funded in part by and most perishable commissary items per item; the issuance of fewer government grants and loans, Am­ must be procured on a local level. It is, 'contracts; and shorter lead times to trak's Procurement Department is able however, less expensive to procure meet requirements. GSA also main­ to take advantage of two cost saving meat, fish, butter, and other nationally tains, at large cities where there are a procurement methods: centralized pro­ distributed, commonly used items on number of federal agencies, self-service curement and the use of federal govern­ a national basis and Amtrak's Procure­ stores where authorized representatives ment procurement sources and excess ment Department is centralizing pur­ of local agencies can purchase supplies property. chase of these items. used in day-to-day operations. Charge­ plates are issued by GSA to these Amtrak obtained 115rail cars from the Department of the Army last year in the representatives, of which Amtrak is corporation's first major acquisition under General Services Administration's excess one, for use at their stores. Not only is property program. Some of the cars are already in service; others are scheduled for the use of these stores convenient, but overhaul and modification. also it results in considerable savings in Most of the 115 cars were built in 1954 by the St. Louis Car Company. They actual cost, time, and purchase order include 48 ambulance cars, 44 kitchen cars, 11 personnel cars, 9 baggage cars and 3 processing costs. prototype cars. During calendar year 1973, Amtrak The three prototype cars (one ambulance, kitchen and personnel car) are acquired approximately $4 million one-of-a-kind cars built for experimental purposes by the Army. Now extensive worth of such property (see box). Items modifications will be required to ready them for commercial service. acquired include railroad ambulance Amtrak has ,converted thirty of the ambulance cars to baggage-dormitory cars cars in excellent condition; locomotives; and ten to entertainment cars; all are in revenue service. Three of the ambulance kitchen cars; material handling equip­ cars are being held for possible conversion to auto rider cars to be used as part of the ment; machine shop equipment; refrig­ Auto T rak Program and two of the cars will be converted to snack cars. The remaining erated trailers to be used for auxiliary three ambulance cars had been damaged by fire and are being held for spare parts. commissary food storage; office furni­ The eleven personnel cars are the oldest cars acquired from the Army. They had ture and equipment. Some of the been used for troop transport and are similar to Pullman sleepers. Amtrak is excess property acquired needed evaluating the possibility of overhauling them for use as standby equipment. repairs to place it in good operating Of the forty-four available kitchen cars, fourteen are stored in Mira Loma, Cal. condition. GSA has contracts for the and twelve are stored at Beech Grove, Ind., all awaiting possible heavy overhaul and repair of federal property at many modification to ready them for commerical use. Three of the kitchen cars currently large eXcess property generating are used in Florida stations for auxiliary commissary storage. Fifteen kitchen cars points, and Amtrak has used these have not been delivered to Amtrak to-date. repair sources whenever possible, All nine of the baggage cars acquired have been refurbished and are in revenue resulting in further cost reductions. service. Although centralized procurement methods and use of government 1.K. Lyons, Director of Procurement, Amtrak also is utilizing the General procurement sources have already explains that centralized procurement Services Administration's excess pro­ resulted in considerable savings to is financially advantageous for the perty program. Under this program, Amtrak, the Procurement Department procurement of numerous items. "Big­ property excess to the needs of any constantly is seeking to further reduce ger numbers mean bigger savings," federal agency is reported to GSA for procurement costs. "We are basically a Lyons said, citing the case of batteries re-utilization by other federal agencies. service department and we have one which constitute the highest dollar The only costs generally involved in the major objective, savings on purchased volume procurement of any replaceable acquisition of this property are pack­ items" Lyons said. "We are continually item in the car refurbishment program ing, crating, handling and transporta­ striving for more competition, new (averaging $3,000.00 per car set). In tion. In addition, some of the items procurement sources and the right 1973 procurement of batteries by acquired may require repairs to place quality at a better price." national blanket purchase orders, them in good operating condition. competitive bidding and negotiation Because Amtrak is partially funded Effective May 19, Amtrak began enabled Amtrak to save $293,000.00. by the federal government, it is eligible requiring advance reservations for all According to Lyons, many items to use, in most cases, the same coach seats on its long-distance lend themselves to centralized national procuremet:tt sources as any federal trains. procurement: for example, china, agency. The vast procurement program The elimination of unreserved silverware, linen, uniforms, matches, developed by the General Services coach seats for long-distance travel office forms and furniture. These are Administration (GSA) for all types of was necessitated by standing-room­ items for which the need is universal services, supplies and equipment is only on many trains during peak and repetitive. On the other hand, now used by Amtrak and results in travel periods.

7 PASSES - continued from page 6 Revenue Accounting Takeover the first four months of 1974 have been rehewed for another year's viability. Amtrak has reached another mile­ starting last July and we have gained Holders of the current cards were stone: The Corporation has assumed greater control over our own reve­ reminded by the Pass Bureau that all revenue accounting functions from nues," said Evanson. ticket sellers have been instructed not the individual railroads in the Amtrak A uniform accounting method is to issue tickets against any cards that system. Over three million pieces of now in effect on a national level, . have expired. However, tickets that paper each month flow into the resulting in faster, more accurate have been obtained may be used within Revenue Accounting office in Wash­ reporting. The railroads formerly re­ the 9O-day ticket validity period even ington, D.C. quired a total of 305 revenue personnel though the RTPC may have expired Robert Evanson, Director of Systems to accomplish the accounting; but before the ticket is used. and Procedures, was responsible for because of the centralized character of The month and year of expiration are the development and initial start up of the new Amtrak system, 280 clerks shown in the lower right hand corner of the department and Lee Price, Mana­ perform the same tasks with greater each RTPC pass, and the card expires ger of Revenue Accounting, is in efficiency and are developing addi­ on the last day ofthe month shown. The charge of the daily operation. Among tional audit procedures which generate Pass Bureau urged all RTPC pass other things, the department is respon­ more comprehensive data. holders to check the expiration date of sible for collecti.ng all cash and creidt "Our people receive approximately their cards to be sure they have not card transactions from ticket agents 12,000 pieces of mail every day," said expired. and conductors, accounting for all food Price, "falling into three major cate­ Cardholders whose passes have ex­ and beverage sales (and computing gories - ticket accounting coupons pired or are about to expire should state taxes on such sales), determining and cash deposit data from the obtain an NRPC Form 93 from their Amtrak's revenues and earnings by stations, tickets lifted by conductors on railroad office where they receive their train based on ticket lifts and issuing the trains, and trip reports from original RTPC pass application. The refunds to passengers. on-board food and beverage em­ Form 93 should be completed and sent "The railroads had several different ployees. We receive one summary back to the railroad office, which will accounting systems in effect, which report from small stations at the end of forward it to the Amtrak Pass Bureau. resulted in different reports submitted each month; four reports per month All applications for renewal of the to Amtrak at different times. We took from intermediate-sized stations, and RTPC passes should be initiated over these functions from the railroads daily reports from our largest stations." approximately two months prior to the All of this information is processed expiration date of the current . pass. Red Cap Service by clerks and the data are fed into This should provide sufficient time for computers. This procedure enables a new card to be received prior to the Extended June 1 Amtrak to compile reports which detail expiration date of the old pass. revenue by train on a regular basis for Expedited Red Cap service became use by Amtrak's management. available on the , Revenue Accounting is a complex , Empire Builder manual system that has undergone a and Southwest Limited, effective June difficult development stage. Instru­ Amtrak 1. mental in organizing the program were Under the new service, a porter or Bill Cook, Systems Project Manager People car attendent asks the passengers in and Systems Analysts Steve Erie, Wade his car just prior to arrival at their Hall and George Meredith. The project Care destination if they want Red Cap service team garnered railroad expertise by to the station's taxi stand. If service is soliciting assistance from respresenta­ requested, the Red Cap will put a red tives of the Union Pacific, Burlington cap check on their luggage and hand Northern, Penn Central railroads and passengers a claim check. Upon arrival by utilizing several consultants. at their destination station, passengers Now that this. department has taken "Amtrak People Care" buttons will can proceed directly to the taxi stand to root, it will play an increasingly be worn by all on-board service claim their baggage. There will be no . important role in the future. New employees effective June 1. Christie charge for this expedited service. computer programs will provide addi­ Koontz, General Supervisor of Special Expedited Red Cap service began tional financial and ridership informa­ Services, said the buttons were de­ December 1, 1973 on an experimental tion in a speedier and more efficient signed to let the public know that basis at Florida stations from Jackson­ manner. Amtrak people are ready, willing and ville to Miami. Mr. Carroll Hines, Evanson said, with obvious satisfac­ able to help passengers, particularly Manager of Baggage, said the success tion, "We've come a long way in one during times when problems may be of the program in that locale prompted year and it is gratifying to see the encountered aboard trains. its expansion. progress that has taken place."

8 /

Train Name Changes: The Real Story

On May 19, when Amtrak published on the' first train. The second section better train today under Amtrak than its new schedules, the Chicago-Los had adequate dining capability with it was under Santa Fe. For example, Angeles train was renamed the "South­ the single 72-seat bi-Ievel diner." we now have observation-dome-Iounge west Limited" and the Chicago-Hous­ Three alternatives were available to cars on this train, along with a full ton train was titled "The ." solve the problem on the diner, full lounge and spruced-up The name changes signal retirement of first train. First, Amtrak could use equipment. And we have our newest the names ·"' and " 48-seat ex- diners locomotives on both these trains." Chief'; names made famous when the which are in good condition. One Plans to operate two Chicago-Los two trains were operated as part.of the problem here is that the Santa Fe Angeles trains have been cancelled for Sante Fe System. No change in the prefers to use only ex-Santa Fe owned this summer. Said Willmott: "The service offered aboard the two trains is equipment on its line. Secondly, dispute over train names had nothing contemplated. Amtrak could convert ex-Santa Fe to do with the demise of the second The change in names resulted when 36-seat diners into 48-seat diners. Or, train idea. The primary problem is that the Santa - Fe, acting on sketchy third, Amtrak could use 36-seat diners systemwide ridership has reached the information, told Amtrak that the along with ex-Santa Fe counter-diner point where Amtrak's car demands are famous "Chief' names could no longer cars. at an all-time high. We just don't have be used for Amtrak trains. The "Amtrak never, and I emphasize the enough equipment to operate a second railroad claimed the reason for this word 'never', planned to operate a Chicago-Los Angeles and second New action was that "the quality of service train with capacity for 300 passengers York-Chicago train this summer as provided by Amtrak no longer reflects with only a 36-seat diner," Willmott originally planned. When possible, credit on Santa Fe," and added that said. " Don Ensz, Director - Service, equipment will be assigned to existing Amtrak planned to split the Super wouldn't allow it. The Vice President trains to carry increased loads. And Chief into two sections, one of which Other Amtrak trains have changed Jl10re cars are required for the 'North would have seating capacity for more names with the new May 19 Coast Hiawatha,' which is going daily, than 300 passengers but diner seating schedule: The Washington-Chicago and for our new 'Inter-American,' 'San for only 36. train via Cincinnati has been called Joaquin' and 'Expo 74' services, We Harold L. Graham, Vice President The James Whitcomb Riley west­ can only go so far in expanding our - Marketing, told Amtrak News this bound and The George Washington services for this summer and we've is not true. He said, "When we first eastbound. This train, in both reached our limit." planned to split the Super Chief into directions, will be called The James Amtrak News is published for all two sections, we knew right at the Whitcomb Riley. The Washington­ Amtrak employees. It is mailed to beginning that we could not feed 300 Montreal train, which was The all employees who are listed on the people properly in a 36-seat diner. It is going north and The official roster which is maintained unfortunate that Santa Fe made a Washingtonian southbound, is now . by the Personnel Department. A decision, based on preliminary infor­ The Montrealer in both directions. copy of that identical rqster is used mation; that we contemplated down­ of Marketing didn't want it. And I to make the labels used for each grading the level of service." didn't believe it would work. All we mailing. Because of the many new ' Doug Willmott, Special Assistant to had done was to draw up preliminary additions to this roster, because of Mr. Graham and Marketing member plans which outlined our options. It , address changes, because of key­ of the key "Schedule and Consist was an embryo plan." punch errors and because of many Committee", explained the preliminary Graham said that "We regret the other possible failures, your name or plans which Amtrak had under study: former names have to disappear. The the name of someone you know, "The Chicago-Los Angeles market is a level of service on these trains will not may not be on the roster. Send your big one and we wanted to develop it by be lowered by Amtrak. The passenger address change or other information meeting the long-haul and inter­ reaction to Amtrak has been excep­ to Personnel. They will keep the mediate traffic requirements with sepa­ tionally good, including that period roster up to date and then when we rate sections. This meant running two since the takeover of on-board and use it for mailing, you will get your trains. The first section would have station personnel by Amtrak from copy of the Amtrak News. We do been designed for the Chicago-Los Santa Fe. Weare very pleased with the not maintain the roster. Angeles market, operating with seven continual increase in traffic. In the first In addition, any Railroad Em­ sleepers and three high-level coaches, quarter of 1974, ridership increased 29 ployee who works in support of and with a limited stop pattern. The percent on the 'Super Chief over the passenger service may receive Am­ other train was essentially the former same period last year. On the 'Texas trak News. Those railroad em­ "EI Capitan" making all present stops Chief it went up 34 percent." ployees may write to Amtrak News to serve local traffic with high-level "The Santa Fe certainly doesn't have and we shall put them on a special coaches and two sleepers. We had a a complaint about the '," mailing list. For your information, problem with a 36-seat capacity diner Willmott declared. "Frankly, it's a 8 483 names are on the current list.

9 Amtrak Ball Team Coming Attractions Beats White House JUNE - a thirteen minute Amtrak audio/visual presentation has been produced for There's a new ballclub making the used by Amtrak Sales Managers. It is available now on a loan basis through the softball circuit in Washington, D.C., three Regional Sales Managers. the Amtrak team, made up primarily of personnel in Revenue Accounting. So JUNE- repair work continues on ; eleven Milwaukee Road far this season the White House team stations between Chicago and Minneapolis, and twenty-one I\linois Central Gulf and teams representing the staffs of stations between Chicago and New Orleans. (See page 6). Senator Joseph M. Montoya (New Mex.), Congressman Phillip Crane JUNE 1 - Amtrak institutes expedited Red Cap service on the Broadway Limited, (Ill.), and Senator Henry Jackson San Francisco Zephyr, Empire Builder and Southwest Limited. (See page 8). (Wash.) have lost to the team 20-15, JUNE 1 - Service Directors added to the following trains: Coast Starlight, James 6-4, 9-8 and 15-8 respectively. The Whitcomb Riley, National Limited, Panama Limited and San Francisco Zephyr. team, presently without an official name, may be called the " Amtrak JUNE 1 - though September 15, 1974, Passenger Service Representatives will host Metroliners. " on-board entertainment on the following trains: Coast Starlight, , Silver Additional games have been sched­ Star, , San Francisco Zephyr, Empire Builder and Southwest Limited. uled with the staffs of Senator Thomas Eagleton (Mo.) and Senator Lowell JUNE 1 - Rail Travel Card discontinued for individual use. Weicker (Conn.). John Grzejka, Coach, and Cathy JUNE 7 - through September 2, 1974, reservations for employee free or Clark, Manager, are looking for other reduced-rate travel will be permitted only within four hours of scheduled departure teams to play. Clark said one rule is time on the following trains: , San Francisco Zephyr, Empire that each team must have three women Builder, , Lone Star, Inter-American, National Limited, on the field at all times. "We want to James Whitcomb Riley, Floridian, Panama Limited, Montrealer, , Silver play the supervisors of Revenue Star, , Washington-Harrisburg section of the Broadway Limited, and all Accounting," said Clark, "but they parlor service on all Boston-Washington conventional trains. don't have three girls on their team yet. " JUNE"'1 - througlrSeptember 2,- 1974, no sleeping space of any type may be George Hunt, outfielder, said "We'd purchased on-board a train by employees traveling on free or reduced-rate passes. like to see Amtrak people in other cities organize teams. The Bensalem JUNE 9 - peak season fares go into effect on most Western long-haul routes. reservations center has more than enough people to put together a good JULY 1 - all Amtrak-appointed travel agents will hold ticket stock and receive a one. If they did, we'd board a train for l()% commission. Philadelphia on a Saturday to play them. Or they could come to Washing­ \. ton. It would give people in Amtrak a way of meeting each other."

First Class M ail U.S. OST AG'f, PAID 1 oz. Pe rm i t 4465 1 Was hingto n, D.C. National Railroad Passenger Corporation 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20024

10 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED