Vol. 6, No. 11 October 1979 Top Management Team Reorganized, ____------, I Group Vice Presidents Named

Amtrak's top management has fairs, a pOSitIOn filled by newly-ap­ Officer, a pOSitIOn filled by newly­ been reorganized to create a team that pointed Lawrence D. Gilson. appointed Frank D. Abate. will put primary emphasis on improv­ Group Vice President-Operations Group Vice President-Finance and ed service to passengers and better and Maintenance: This department Administration: This position is yet reliability and performance by Am­ will be headed by Thomas P. Hack­ to be filled . trak's trains. ney, Jr., formerly assistant vice presi­ Reporting to him/her will be: The reorganization, approved by dent and chief mechanical officer. Vice President, Labor Relations the board of directors at its regular Reporting to him will be: and Personnel, George F. Daniels. monthly meeting on Wednesday, Sep­ Vice President, Operations, Robert Vice President, Computer Services, tember 26, creates three group vice A. Herman. Robert W. Hyer. presidents who will head departments Vice President, Chief Engineer, Vice President, Finance and Treas­ that will be responsible for (1) all Robert F. Lawson, who is also re­ urer, Don R. Brazier. aspects of passenger service, (2) all sponsible for the Northeast Corridor The three group vice presidents will aspects of train operations and main­ Improvement Project. report directly to Amtrak President tenance, and (3) financial and admin­ Vice President, Chief Mechanical Alan S. Boyd. Also reporting directly istrative support and control. Amtrak President Alan Boyd said the changes are in direct response to Carter Signs Amtrak Authorization Bill the actions of Congress over the past few months which have indicated that The House and Senate Conference pending restructuring of the Broad­ the lawmakers will give Amtrak the Committee met on Wednesday, Sep­ way Limited. resources it needs to rebuild the na­ tember 19, and resolved the differ­ • Unused labor protection funds tion's rail passenger system and are ences on the separate Amtrak 1979 can be used to meet either operating willing to make a long-term commit­ authorization bills that had been or capital needs. ment of support for rail passenger passed by each House of Congress. • Amtrak is guaranteed to conti­ travel. The final bill was approved by the nue receiving capital funds on a quar­ Congress did exactly that by pass­ Senate on Tuesday, September 25, terly basis and of using those funds to ing the multi-year funding authoriza­ and the House on Thursday, Sep­ temporarily reduce loan balances. tion bill. tember 27. The new top level structure, and re­ • Interest payments will no longer porting order, are: It was then sent to the White House be counted against the cost-to­ Group Vice President-Passenger where President Carter signed it on revenue ratio. Also, a General Ac­ Services and Communications: This Saturday, September 29. It is now counting Office study must be made department will be headed by M.L. Public Law 96-73. within 60 days to determine possible Clark Tyler, who has been Amtrak's Among the major points settled options for elimination of Amtrak's Vice President, Government Affairs, were: debt. since September 1978. • Amtrak now has a two year • Additional payments are re­ Reporting to him will be: authorization for operating funds quired from the railroads for pass Vice President, Passenger Services, and a three year authorization for riders. This should yield-Amtrak be­ a new position filled by John V. Lom­ both capital and 403(b) service funds. tween $3 and $4 million annually. A bardi, a veteran Amtrak marketing This is the first time in Amtrak's GAO study is also to be completed officer. history that it has had multi-year within six months setting recommen­ Vice President, Public Affairs, a funding. dations for reimbursement to Amtrak position filled by newly-appointed • Cardinal and Shenandoah, west of the cost of providing this service. Carole Foryst. of Cumberland, Maryland, will conti­ • A new rate schedule has been Vice President, Government Af- nue to operate as alternative service (Continued on page 4) Reporting to Lombardi will be all facets of Amtrak's relations with its passengers, including the reservations centers, station services, on-board services, the commissaries, customer relations and passenger service quali­ ty control. Similarly, all aspects of operations and maintenance will focus on Hack­ ney who is a veteran railroader who made his reputation in maintenance of equipment. His major assignment during his few months at Amtrak has been to strengthen the equipment maintenance function and get better Thomas P. Hackney, Jr. M. L. Clark Tyler reliability out of Amtrak's fleet of to Boyd will be four other officers. Wander. locomotives and cars. They are: All of the appointments were effec­ His new responsibilities will also in­ Vice President, Marketing, a posi­ tive October 1, except for Norman clude contract administration, safety, tion filled by newly-appointed Wil­ and Gilson who will assume their new security, materials management, liam S. Norman. duties no later than November 1. operations management and quality Vice President, General Counsel, The significance of the reorganiza­ control. Paul F. Mickey, Jr. tion is that it puts all emphasis on Frank Abate, 50, began work with Vice President, Corporate Plan­ passenger services under one person, Amtrak in 1973 as manager, cars. In ning, William N. Daly. newly-appointed Lombardi who, in 1975 he was named assistant chief Corporate Secretary, Elyse G. turn, reports to Tyler. mechanical officer, Corridor, and

-- -- President &- Chief Executive Officer Alan S. Boyd

I I I I Vice President & Vice President Vice President Corporate General Counsel Corporate Pla nning Marketing Secretary Paul F. Mickey William N. Daly William S. Norman Elyse G. Wander

I I Group Vice President Group Vice President Group Vice President Operations & Passenger Services Finance & r- Maintenance - & Communications Administration Thomas P. Hackney M.L. Clark Tyler (Vacant)

Vice President Vice President Vice President Operations Government Affairs Labor Relations & r--- - I-- Personnel Robert A. Herman Lawrence D. Gilson George F. Daniels

Vice President & Vice President Vice President r--- Chief Engineer - Public Affairs I-- Computer Services Robert F. Lawson Carole Foryst Robert W. Hyer

Vice President & Vice President Vice President Chief Mechanical Officer '-- Passenger Services '-- Finance & Treasurer - Frank D. Abate John V. Lombardi Don R. Brazier

2 Frank Abate Carole Foryst Lawrence Gilson John Lombardi William Norman then promoted, in 1976, to chief staff assistant to the Secretary of the Relations; public affairs advisor to mechanical officer, Northeast Corri­ Treasury; and a financial reporter for the international division, Mobil Oil; dor. the Los Angeles Times and Chicago and state issue coordinator and He has been assistant chief Sun-Times. member of the research staff, Com­ mechanical officer, maintenance, A graduate of Roosevelt Univer­ monCause. since 1978. Prior to his Amtrak ser­ sity, Chicago, she also attended Gilson received his bachelor's vice, Abate worked in various Rosary College, River Forest, Illi­ degree from Claremont Men's Col­ mechanical positions for the New nois. lege, Claremont, California, and a York Central and the Penn Central. Lawrence D. Gilson, 30, comes to master's degree from Johns Hopkins Carole Foryst, 39, comes to Am­ Amtrak from a position as associate University, School of Advanced In­ trak from her own business. Prior to assistant to the President, White ternational Studies. opening her own public relations House. Prior to that he was director, firm, she was deputy director, public policy implementation, Advisory John Lombardi, 57 , moves to his affairs, Department of the Interior; a Commission on Intergovernmental vice presidency from his former posi­ tion as senior director, government affairs. Prior to that he was director, state and local services; director, ser­ Boyd Explains Changes To Congress vice planning; and director, market In a letter to Congress detailing On this last point, the respon­ development. the company's managerial reor­ sibility is clearly Amtrak's. Before coming to Amtrak, he ganization, Amtrak President Therefore, Amtrak is realigning worked 11 years for Pan American Alan Boyd explained Amtrak's many of its management func­ World Airways and nine years at reason/or the changes. tions so that as a transportation various jobs on the Pennsylvania, At­ He said: company, we can immediately lantic Coast Line and Florida East To meet the goals delineated in begin to deliver on a corporate Coast railroads. the Amtrak legislation just commitment to improve passen­ William S. Norman, 41, comes to passed, internal reorganization is ger service and train perform­ Amtrak from his position as vice essential, so Amtrak has in­ ance. president, eastern division, Cummins stituted a major reorganization One of our group vice presi­ Engine Company, Westport, Connec­ of its management functions. dents will be responsible for ticut. It is important for the public to passenger services and com­ understand that this is not just a munications. This group will in­ He is a former naval officer who reshuffling of executives, but a clude the public affairs and taught at Annapolis, saw combat du­ logical response to what the Con­ government affairs departments, ty aboard aircraft carriers in South­ gress expects the national rail but most importantly, also a new east Asia and was an assistant to the passenger system to be. department for passenger service. Chief of Naval Operations. Norman For Amtrak, the message is This combines, for the first received his bachelor's degree from clear. Rail passenger service is time, all functions having to do West Virginia Wesleyan College, a here to stay. More people will be with service to the public, namely master's degree from American Uni­ using it, and it will improve reservations and ticketing, sta­ versity, and also completed the Stan­ substantially as we apply our in­ tion services, on-board services ford Executive Program, Graduate creased resources to that end. and customer relations. School of Business, Stanford Univer­ sity.

3 CARTER SIGNS BILL with railroad labor organizations, tion's present waiver authority the (Continued from page 1) develop and implement a job place­ added exemption if delivery of any ment program for employees affected equipment purchased in the United adopted for state supported 403(b) by the restructured system. The pro­ States could not be made within a service. During the first year of gram will include job counseling, reasonable time. operation, the operating costs are to placement advertising and courses in Goals be split 80 per cent Amtrak, 20 per skills improvement. The conference committee also es­ cent state. The second year split will • The Secretary of Transportation tablished goals for Amtrak. be 65 / 35 and the third year - and is to name a five-member Employee • On-time performance is to be im­ succeeding years - will be 50/ 50. Compensation and Incentive Com­ proved by at least 50 per cent within Capital costs are to be split 50/ 50. mission to evaluate salary levels of three years. • Amtrak was directed to set up, Amtrak's officers in relation to the • Amtrak is to implement sched­ within 90 days, a discount program company's ability to attract and re­ ules with system-wide average speeds for elderly and handicapped persons. tain a management staff and to devel­ of 55 miles per hour. However, the committee left to Am­ op a program of incentives for Am­ • Amtrak is to cover at least 44 per trak's discretion the details and im­ trak employees. cent of its operating-to-revenue ratio plementation of the program. The report is to be delivered to Am­ by October 1, 1982, and 50 per cent • The Houston leg of the Inter­ trak's board of directors by March 1, by October 1, 1985. American was authorized. 1980, after which the board has 90 • The feasibility of state-supported • Congress was authorized to ap­ days to notify Congress of any action service is to be improved through propriate capital funds one y~a r in it intends to take and to request addi­ technical assistance panels to coor­ advance of the year in which they tional legislation if necessary. dinate, plan and implement such ser­ would be authorized to be spent so • The Secretary of Transportation vice. Amtrak could commit to capital ex­ is to conduct a study of state and • The private railroad companies penditures in advance. local taxes paid by Amtrak and make are to be encouraged to help improve • Funds will be provided to create recommendations, by next January 1, passenger service in this country. a "rail bank" to keep track on dis­ on the advisability of relieving Am­ continued routes maintained in trak of these obligations . usable condition for possible restora­ • The "Buy America" language in Judicial Nominee tion of service in the future.- the Amtrak Act has been amended to --- Amtrak's Chairman of the Board • Amtrak will, in consultation add to the Secretary of Transporta- Harry T. Edwards is expected to be nominated to the U.S. Court of Ap­ peals in Washington. Amtrak's 1980-1982 Funding The normal procedure to be fol­ (In millions) lowed by a potential nominee is to FY 80 FY 81 FY 82 first be investigated by the FBI and American Bar 'Association. If the Operating $630.9* $675. nominee passes the background in­ Capital 203. 244. $254. vestigations, the President then sub­ 403(b) Service 23.8 29. 30. mits a formal nomination to the Labor Protection 30. 12. 20. Debt Retirement 25. 25. 25. Senate for confirmation. If his nomination is confirmed, Ed­ Totals $912 .7 $985. $329. wards would become the second ·Operating funds include the basic DOT system plus commuter and Valparaiso service, the black and, at 38, one of the youngest Cardinal and Shenandoah, criteria and regional balance trains, Indianapolis-to-Chicago lawyers selected for a seat on this service, substitute service because of restructuring and model programs. court. Edwards is a professor at the Uni­ Basic DOT System $544.5 versity of Michigan Law School and a Present Commuter Service, 5.0 specialist in labor law and arbitra­ New Valparaiso Service tion. An honors graduate of the Substitute Service 18.1 University of Michigan Law School Cardinal/ Shenandoah 11.0 in 1965, he worked for five years at a Criteria/ Regional Balance Trains 50.0 Chicago law firm, then returned to Indianapolis Demonstration Train 1.1 the university to teach. Model Programs 1.2 He was appointed to the Amtrak $630.9 board in 1977 and elected chairman earlier this year.

4 class passengers on Metroliners, Tur­ boliners and Amfleet-equipped Keeping Track Of Amtrak trains. Now, instead of buying standard Kansas City-St. Louis per cent off one-way fares on round tray meals that are offered by the trips. Discounts will be applicable for various suppliers, Amtrak creates its Continued Amtrak service between travel in sleeping cars but not for the own menus and then seeks out ven­ St. Louis and Kansas City has been accommodation charges. dors who will prepare them to Am­ assured by the signing of an agree­ The fare increase follows 'a policy trak's specifications. ment by Missouri Governor Joseph approved by Amtrak's board of dir­ After taste tests are performed by P. Teasdale, in Kirkwood, on Tues­ ectors that responds to guidelines Amtrak food and beverage person­ day, September 25, to fund the train recommended by the Department of nel, vendors are picked and contracts on a 403(b) basis. Transportation and legislated by awarded. In this way, Amtrak hopes Service along that segment was Congress in recent bills. The policy to offer its passengers better quality scheduled for discontinuance on Oc­ directs Amtrak to increase its ratio of foods prepared in more imaginative tober 1 with the demise of the Nation­ revenue to costs over the next several ways. al Limited, but the agreement kept years. New menus were introduced on the St. Louis-Kansas City portion of Friday, August 24, on trains that route running without interrup­ Safety Standings equipped with first-class cars oper­ ating between Washington and Bos­ tion. Southern led the other eight divi­ ton. Implementation on additional Missouri was the first state to sign sions with a 3.2 safety ratio for the trains wi thout conventional dining an agreement for state-assisted rail month of August in the President's service after the Department of cars occurred the first week of Sep­ Safety Contest. tember. Transportation recommended the dis ­ Nipping on the Southern's heels To insure that frequent rail travel­ continuance of several Amtrak trains were the Empire, with 4.4, St. Louis, ers have a variety of choices, menus when it issued its report last January with 5.5 and Midwest with 6.6. will be rotated every two weeks on 31. New Haven was far ahead of the short-distance trains and every four The Missouri State Legislature, last other three shops for August with a June, approved spending $300,000 to weeks on long-distance trains. 5.7 ratio. Menus also will be completely re­ keep the St. Louis-Kansas City leg of And eight mechanical facilities­ vised every six months to further in­ the National operating through June Minneapolis, Brighton Park, Detroit, sure variety and quality. 30, 1980. Kansas City, Dallas-Fort Worth, Snack items served on trains also The new train will operate daily in Houston, Boston and Jacksonville­ will be upgraded soon to include a each direction as an extension of the had no injuries for the month and larger number of selections. Chicago-St. Louis Ann Rutledge. tied with a zero ratio. The train will operate with Amfleet For the year to date-January New Timetables equipment and provide sandwiches, through August-St. Louis leads the Amtrak's latest system timetables, snacks and beverage service for pas­ divisions with a 3. 7 ratio, foll owed dated October 1, contain a record sengers. closely by the Southern with a 5.1 fig­ number of changes for one edition, ure and Western with 5.8. according to Brian Roman, supervis­ Fares Go Up New Haven leads the shops with a or of timetables. 9.6 figure, followed by Beech Grove Amtrak will increase most regular The new edition reflects the many with a 12.1 ratio. fares and accommodation charges by changes in Amtrak's system as of that Two mechanical facilities-Minne­ seven per cent beginning October 28. date because of the route restructur­ apolis and Kansas City-have now The announcement follows similar ing. gone through the first eight months price increases by the airlines and in­ A centerfold map shows the na­ with no injuries and thus have earned tercity bus firms and is the result of tional system as it was to be operated the zero ratio. continuing inflation which includes on October 1 with five routes elimin­ The safety ratio is a figure denoting ever-higher fuel prices. ated and the Desert Wind added. Dif­ the number of injuries per 200,000 Some commuter tickets, slumber­ ferent shadings indicated services on man-hours. All injuries or illnesses coach and economy sleeper charges which final decisions-as of the time­ that require more than mere first aid will be exempt from the increases. tables' press time-had not been are counted in the statistics. New excursion fare discounts will reached or for which future service be available, from October 28 was scheduled. through next May 22, for many First Class Meals A special effort was made to indi­ medium to long-distance services. A new approach has been taken to cate bus service to points where train Discounts will range from 15 to 30 buying the meals Amtrak serves first- service was discontinued.

5 I This year, a lot ofyou got This kind of transportation is training program onginated we re maldng our schedules your travel plans into shape exactly what America needs. and created nght there. These work harder, so you can con­ the easy way. You sat back in a And it's exactly what we do. people best reflect the grow­ nect with buses, for instance, plush Amtrak seat. And got VISIT OUR HEWCAR ing attitude you 'JJ find among to continue your tnp when into training. SHOWROOM. all Amtrak employees- proud, necessary. Come down to your local productive and in tune with THIS WAS THE YEAR our bnght future. WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT WAS. station. In most areas of the YOU INTO TRA1N1NG. After a solid year ofpro­ country, you 11 find our new CARSARE 1UST0NE OF There are no two ways posals and counterproposals, Amfleet cars. With wide, OUR CONCERNS. about it. Amtrak management hearings and debates-and a reclining seats, wall-to-wall When you take a train-or is going to get you on boaI:d summers worth of energy carpeting and drop-down trays, they rival the best in the a bus or plane - you should aiid keep you coming back to crises-Congress established arnve at your destination our trains. And we re going to guidelines under which trains world. Today 60% of all Amtrak trains operate with when the schedule said you do it with an aggressive, vital, would be kept. And for the would. We agree. Wealso innovative commitment to first time gave Amtrak the Am/leet or equally modem Turboliners and Metroliner agree Amtrak's on-time you, the riding public. That long-term support we ve performance could be much means everyone, from our res­ needed to see those plans equipment. Expect to see more comfortable new cars in better. And we re doing ervation and station agents to through to reality. something about it. our on-board service per­ But really, it goes deeper the years ahead. On our Westem routes, Part of the solution is us. sonnel, and pnvate railroad than that. Because this was Getting reliable equipment. employees like engineers and the year America took a long, you 'JJ soon find our new Superliners starting service And m ain taining it so it won't conductors. hard look at its passenger break down en route. Theyre proud and dedi­ trains. And decided to keep this month and next. These exciting double-decker long­ Some of the solutions are cated people. Together, we them. Improve them. And rely in the hands of others. All of promise to give you the first­ on them. Now it's up to us. distancerrainsbringnew Amtrak's trains outside the dass rail system you deserve. And wepledge to improve coach, dining and sleeping car luxury to some of the m ost Boston-Washington Northeast And, as we enter a new the quality of service and Corndor, after all, are dis­ decade, the system you need. performance. bea utiful parts of our country 284 of these cars will complete patched and controlled by Welcome aboard. INTRODUCINGAHEW the fleet over the next 12 to pnvate railroads over rails AMTRAK. owned by them. If the tracks 18 months. are allowed to deteriorate our .------, Today, there's a new route On other routes, especially ATLAN"tA, map. It's more efficient than long-distance Eastern trains, trains can't keep their TAKE ONE FOR A TEST RIDE. before: yet, with the changes, schedules. Clearly, if the rail­ new cars will be ordered soon. roads don't work together Atlanta is served daily by Amtrak still serves 508 cities In the meanwhile, were bring­ Amtrak's "Crescent," with and towns in 44 states, border ing the best of the West to the with Amtrak, our trains will be to border, ocean to ocean. delayed. It's one of our most southbound service to Bir­ East- with a stopover in imp ortant challenges. mingham and New Orleans In duding yours. Beech Grove, Indiana. at 9:05AM. Northbound More importantly, it's a pas­ IN BEECH GROVE, MINOR SO IS YOUR COMFORT service to Greenville, Wash­ senger raji system that's here AND CONVENIENCE. ington, Philadelphia and to stay. While eliminating MIRACLES PERFORMED some routes, we ve added WHILE YOU WAIT. An ill-kept station is no way New York departs 7:05 PM. others and are improving the A t our service facility to begin or end a trip. That's Connecfi!!g service in New there, were taldng these solid why were actively renewing Orleans, Washington and kinds of services on still more. New York. For fares, We 11 continue to build our sys­ cars and rebuilding them from or rebuilding sta tions. We ve the wheels up. Once stnpped also expanded our ticketing schedules and reservations, tem around you, your needs call Amrrak or one of our and your interests. to their frames and chassis, we services, from the reservation replace antiquated steam sys­ agents you speak to on the ~over ______6300 travel agents. .J WHYWASTEENERGY? tems (that's nght, steam!) with phone - with their computer Yours or Amen'ca 'so The reliable electric air condition­ consoles that give you accu­ day when Amenca could ing and heating. We put in rate information at the touch depend almost exdusively on new in tenors-new every­ ofa b utton -to the variety of the auto is fast disappearing. If thin . fares and packages they can it hasn't already. Trains are a 'Our people innovate as offer you to sa ve you money. real alternative-at their best they go, and pass on their And because we believe when moving people between knowledge to our other repair strongly in an intermodal Pedchtree Station. 1688 Pedchtree St. . NW. Atlantal Call 688·4417 In Atlanta. Elsewhere in Georgia. call toll·/ree large cities and smaller ones. facilities through a videotape public rransportation system, 800-874·2800.

(The advertisement above, detailing Amtrak's commitment to the traveling public, will be printed during the week of October 28 in newspapers in virtually all markets served by Amtrak. The box in the lower right hand corner will be localized to each community.) Second National Sales Meeting ______------, I Stresses Superyear Now Theme

Some 160 Amtrak marketing per­ ecutive vice president and chief its future, and its present and future sonnel assembled in Chicago's Pal­ operating officer; William Daly, vice relationships with Amtrak. mer House hotel in late September to president, corporate planning; and Following lunch, the entire group partake in the company's second an­ Clark Tyler, then vice president, was subdivided into six smaller nual national sales meeting. government affairs. Each spoke groups of approximately 25 persons Titled "Superyear Now 1980," the about his area of responsibility and each to make their way through a three-day series of meetings stressed its relationship to both the marketing series of six workshops during the rest Amtrak's role in providing passenger effort and the company's future. of the afternoon and all day Satur­ service during the upcoming decade Keynote speaker was Amtrak day. of the 1980s. President Alan Boyd who previewed Each group progressed from one Jack Gordon, director of sales, set the then upcoming reorganization. workshop to the other with each ses­ the tone of the meeting as he greeted Boyd stressed his desire that Amtrak sion lasting an hour and a half. participants at the official opening be raised to the level of the finest The workshops and their instruc­ session on Friday, September 21. transportation company in the coun­ tors included: Said he, "Welcome to our meeting try. Reservations and Ticketing, con­ and keep in mind that Superyear is Also during the opening session, ducted by Phil Held, general man­ now. participants were treated to a ager, reservations, and members of "A great deal has transpired since dramatic 15-minute-long audio-visual the reservations/ticketing systems we gathered together last year. Am­ program detailing Amtrak's present planning department. trak has taken a new shape, a new status and its potential. The Super­ Programs-Agency-Tours-Commer­ direction, a new role in the transpor­ year theme was carried over into the cial-Special Accounts, conducted by tation industry. movie with clips from the movie Bill Smith, manager, sales planning. "1980 will be Amtrak's year, the Superman interspersed between the Revenue Accounting, conducted by starCo nrne wdecad~-;-rhe- eginmng Amtralncenes. Ed Funk, director, revenue account­ of a new era in rail passenger Guest speaker at Friday's lunch ing. transportation. was Garth Campbell, vice president, Marketing Research, conducted by "So take advantage of the next few marketing, VIA Canada. VIA is Bob Gall, director, marketing re­ days. Rekindle old friendships into a Canada's equivalent of Amtrak, a search. fire that will spread throughout the company formed to operate all pas­ Sales Training Review, conducted system and make a grand success of senger services there over both the by Larry Williams, vice president, our efforts." Canadian National and Canadian Pa­ Sales Development Associates, and Other speakers during the opening cific railroads. Paul Moore, vice president, National session included Martin Garelick, ex- Campbell detailed VIA's founding, Railway Publication Company, pub­ lishers of the Official Railway Guide. " Marketing Services, conducted by Joe Falsetti, director, marketing ser­ vices. Although the official meetings did begin on Friday, the sales seminar ac­ tually began on Thursday with a field trip to Chicago's passenger coach yard and a ride to Milwaukee on a Superliner-equipped train consisting of three coaches and a new diner. Buses transported the marketing personnel between hotel, yard and Union Station. A prime rib lunch, which will be available on Superliner diners, was served all participants. The 12th Street yard is toured by meeting participants prior to their Superliner trip to The lunch also gave on-board ser­ Milwaukee. vice personnel a chance to evaluate

8 problems faced when handling three sales representative, New York; Doug was picked as the top reservations of­ successive turnovers of 50 persons. Schwab, senior sales rperesentative, fice. The sales meeting officially closed Seattle; and Pam Sullivan, sales re­ The evening closed with a rousing, on Saturday night with a group din­ presentative, Boston. humorous and satirical live produc­ ner during which awards were pre­ Top districts included Washington, tion that highlighted Amtrak's sented to outstanding sales personnel D.C. in the Eastern region; Chicago achievements as well as some of its and to the top reservations office, in the Central region; and Seattle in foibles. The sketches, acted out by a region and districts. the Western region. Awards were ac­ professional cast, were authored by Individual awards for superior per­ cepted for the districts by Kathy Vince Begley, marketing services. formance in sales training programs Hartz, Paul Orr and Jay Lawrence, Each participant in the meeting conducted during the past year went district sales managers for the three. received a portfolio containing work­ to Reed Garcia, manager of sales, Washington also was the top district shop and promotional sales material, Clearwater; Bob Hardin, manager of in the country. as well as a calculator engraved with sales, Detroit; Bob Kimball, manager F. Paul Weiss accepted the award the Superyear logo. of sales, New Orleans; Karen Myers, for the Eastern region which was Main coordinator of the meeting sales representative, San Francisco; named the top sales region, while was Bill Smith, manager, sales train­ Paul Nestor, senior sales represen­ Ginny Gepner, CRO manager, ac­ ing, with assistance from Mike Har­ tative, New Jersey; Paula Pelosi, cepted the award for Bensalem which ding, manager, special projects. (Left) Kathy Hartz, at podium, manager of the top district, in­ ~~ .: : . ~I troduces some of her sales personnel. Left to right are Mel Moffett, Lloyd Jackson, Bob Smith, Renee Holloway, Lydia Hunter, Mike ~j Dehlinger, and Brian Lee. (Below) Sales Representatives Diane Ek, Milwaukee, and Lydia Hunter, Washington, enjoy their lunch enroute to Milwaukee.

I 1

(Above) Bensalem per­ sonnel savor their re­ servations center's vic­ tory. Left to right are • Dave Graber, Tom Carroll, Betty Fleming, CRO Manager Ginny Gepner, Coleen Culkin, Earl Winfield and Phil Sales personnel board the Superliner for their trip. (Left) F. Held, general manager, Paul Weiss accepts the top region's award from Jack Gordon. reservations, Washing- ton.

9 Q: I'm the ticket clerk at Aurora and would like to know why the Des­ Hot Line To The President ert Wind is scheduled to leave Ogden at exactly the same time that the San Francisco Zephyr arrives? That's a ences continued delays in recelvmg Amtrak's Hot Line to President pretty bad' 'connection," isn't it? Boyd continues to receive a lot of ac­ forms for any reason, they should tion. contact the manager of repro/graph­ A: As of October 28, the Zephyr ics services, at FTS 657-2261. will be using the Borie cutoff, at Because of the volume of calls, in­ Cheyenne, and saving some time that dividual answers to all callers are Q: I'm an employee at Newark, will allow the schedule to be changed. impossible. However, each is careful­ New Jersey. We have nine escalators A connection at Ogden will be made ly read and dispatched to the proper here and only four are working. We at that time. department head for appropriate ac­ have a station at New Brunswick with The October 1 timetable, in which tion. only one escalator and it doesn't you probably saw the times, showed a work. Samples of some recent Hot Line projected October 28 schedule for the When are we going to get them topics, and their disposition, follow. Desert Wind and an October 1 sched­ fixed? ule for the Zephyr. Question: Little Rock station is A: Escalators at Newark are in­ Q: When the Northeast Corridor somewhat of a shambles. The facility volved in the Northeast Corridor Im­ Improvement Project is finished, will we are in now has been a temporary provement Project. FRA did arrange track maintenance be done with small one since the inception of the Inter­ for a contract for replacement of the section gangs like those used on the American. No effort has ever been escalators with Westinghouse. How­ Union Pacific? I hear they've done an made to upgrade this place. Please see ever, they had a strike and were de­ excellent job using this method. what you can do to make our station layed in furnishing them to us. better. At this time it looks like the project A: We'll be using both methods­ will begin about the start of 1980. high speed production gangs, espe­ Answer: In January 1978, Amtrak Regarding New Brunswick, this re­ requested funds to build a new 2,400- cially for surfacing and lining work, placement is now being negotiated be­ and basic maintenance gangs for spot sq!lare-foot station area at track level tween the State of New Jersey and-t-he­ in the existingstati on. - - ~ and other corrective worJ(-. - - City of New Brunswick, along with Because the building is privately­ We also anticipate individual inter­ Amtrak. H opefully, in the near fu­ owned, the request included lease locking gangs because of the many in­ ture, some agreement can be reached costs for the facilities for a to-year terlockings in the corridor. and the escalator replaced. period. This request was cancelled Q: When are the U .S.A. Rail after DOT recommended the discon­ Q: I work in Niles, Michigan, and passes going to be restored? tinuance of the Inter-American. we're presently paid on the 10th and Now that the service will continue, 25th of the month. Recently, one of A: We are reviewing our policy at Amtrak is updating its estimates and our people went to work in New York the present time. Before the pass is will get the project going again. and found that employees there are brought back, we want to make sure tha.t there is enough space so that peo­ Q: I'm a ticket agent. I don't know paid every week. Why can't we here in Niles be paid every week? ple can use it. what the problem is but I've talked to Right now, the reintroduction date a lot of other agents and everybody is uncertain but it will not be before has the same problem. We requisition A: Amtrak is subject to state laws governing pay periods and pay days the first of next year. baggage checks and other forms we in the 36 states in which we operate. In the meantime, Amtrak person­ need to work with, send them in, then The present pay cycles are consistent nel can point out to potential cus­ wait a month or two and don't get with Michigan law. tomers the advantages of using the anything. We usually have to follow It's been our goal for some time several available discount fares. up by calling them two or three times. now to institute a uniform weekly pay It shouldn't take so long just to get cycle for all employees but this re­ what we need to work with. quires both federal legislation and Hot Line A: Demand for forms continues major changes to our present labor U.S.A. 800-424-5191 very heavy because of the increased collection/payroll system. ridership of this past summer. Action is underway in both areas D.C. only 383-2027 Every effort is being made to re­ and our present goal is a uniform 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EDT) spond to requests as soon as possible. weekly pay cycle for all employees by Monday through Friday If any department or facility experi- the end of 1981.

10 Q: Here at Denver, I receive many is about the current train order Form them with new multiple-unit cars. complaints about the dirty windows 19s. What's happened to our procure­ Amtrak's budget for fiscal year 1981 on the Zephyr. I know the washers ment department? Don't they ever contains funding for purchase of new have been sent back for retrofit but talk to anyone who uses what they MUs for a replacement program. it's been over a year since we've been supply? We have it in mind to improve Har­ able to wash windows here. People Our new Form 19s are printed on risburg. Some work is awaiting bids, pay money to ride our trains and they paper almost twice as thick as the bid other work is already in progress. Still get to look at the scenery through dir­ tissue. We can't carbon as many now other protects, like painting and re­ ty windows. as we used to. pairing walls, are considered "winter­ That may sound like a small point time" jobs and will be accomplished A: Your concern is well founded. but consider that quite often we have during inclement weather. When these units were first received, to hand these orders to all conductors there were many complaints about and engineers on all trains and that their out of service time. the rules also state that an order must The manufacturer did agree to be repeated to a dispatcher every time I Personnel Hot Line I retrofit a prototype that was put in it is recopied. That's a lot of work. service in San Diego to see how it per­ Please bring back the old tissue Because many Amtrak employees formed. paper train orders before some of us at outlying locations do not have ac­ Only after Amtrak reviewed those need a hand transplant. cess to a personnel office, a toll-free results were instructions issued to re­ telephone number has been made turn all units for retrofitting. There is A: The paper weight problem has available for inqUifies regarding one unit now at the plant that has been recognized. We have changed benefits and salary administration, been accepted by our quality assur­ vendors and the forms are being affirmative action, manpower devel­ ance people and it will be shipped to printed on the original type of tissue. opment and training, labor and em­ Denver in the near future. When you order a new supply, you ployee relations and other em­ will find they are on the thinner ployment-associated topics. Q: We could maintain a large paper. The number to call from anywhere amount of business from Wichita, Q: I work in the suburban station in the United States is 800-424-5190. now that the Lone Star is gone, by building in Philadelphia. With the District of Columbia employees promoting the fact that Newton, continuing need for blood, I think we should call 383-3636. Kansas, on the Southwest Limited's should have a blood bank come The hot line will be in operation route is only about 20 miles away. around to the different locations at 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our timetables should show that Amtrak to have employees donate. Callers should leave their name, Wichita is close and our people in the A: The labor relations and person­ address, work location and home and res centers should be aware of that nel office in Philadelphia has taken business telephone numbers so that a too. Also, instead of disconnecting steps to have the Red Cross blood reply can be returned. the telephones in Wichita immediate­ program initiated at various locations CaIlers should state questions clear- ly, we should have callers there be re­ in the Northeast Corridor. One such 1y and limit calls to three minutes. ferred to either our number at New­ site will be Amtrak's suburban sta­ ton or our 800-series number. And tion office. when the next Wichita phone direc­ AMTRAK NEWS Q: I work on the Harrisburg-Phil­ tory comes out, it should list the New­ Published once a month for em­ adelphia line and our major problem, ton ticket office as a place where they ployees of the National Railroad with winter on its way, is equipment. can get information. Passenger Corporation and those Our old cars have seen millions of of participating railroads engaged A: We plan to show Wichita in miles and now we're leasing some in rail passenger service. parenthesis next to Newton in our equipment from New Jersey. I'm told STAFF next timetable. Alternate boarding we could lose these cars at any time. Editor points for customers whose normal Is there any plan for new MU cars for Ed Wojtas train stops were discontinued are be­ this area? Circulation Marguerite Broyhill ing highlighted in ARTS. Another thing! The station at Har­ The section reserved for stops like Reporter risburg is in pretty bad shape. With Debbie Marciniak Wichita in the city profile informa­ the number of people who use it, tion will be retained. A reference to something should be done. adjacent boarding points will be sub­ Amtrak News is a member o f the A: First, the cars leased from New f_m stituted for station information. • Association of Ra ilroad Editors. Jersey-the Jersey Arrows-are not Material in Amtrak News is not copyri ghted . Q: I'm a block operator at Arsenal likely to be recalled until 1982 or Readers may use what they wi sh with proper at­ Tower, Philadelphia. My complaint 1983. And we are planning to replace tributio n to Amtrak News.

11 Conductor Retires ______----, I Along With Hilltopper

As the Hilltopper rolled quietly make sure his passengers had an en­ through scenic Virginia, Conductor joyable trip. Jones wanted his passen­ Cleo Stafford Jones made the jour­ gers to be as comfortable as possible. ney more interesting for his passen­ That's why he did so many "extra" gers by telling them of the historical things for them. It was common to significance of cities and towns along see Jones helping passengers with the route. For example, just before their luggage or discarding a passen­ the Hilltopper reached Appomattox, ger's food tray. Jones, whose motto Jones announced over the train's was "the public is right, regardless," public address system that this was believed that good service would en­ where General Robert E. Lee had sur­ courage people to travel on Amtrak. Conductor "Casey" Jones rendered to Union General Ulysses S. As conductor, Jones was respon­ spend more time now with his wife, Grant to end the Civil War. sible for the safety of passengers and Hilda, and his two children, Vicki Fondly, and obviously, tagged as crew, as well as the train itself. He Jean and Donald. Jones said that he "Casey" by his fellow railroaders, made sure that all rules were followed won't just sit and let the world pass Jones was the Hilltopper's conductor by the crew and that everyone had a by. He hopes to keep busy and plans between Petersburg and Roanoke, ticket. Once, someone jokingly told to do some traveling. Virginia. him that they had seen a mouse on Jones has been conductor on the The son of a railroad man, Jones board. H is reply? "Make sure we get Hilltopper since Amtrak established started working for the Norfolk and his ticket!" the train. He was on the train when it Western as a brakeman in 1936. H is Jones, who represented the brake­ started and he rode it to the end. father, also a railroad conductor, men as local chairman on his division began his career with the N&W in for 24 years, retired along with the Th e story about " Casey" Jones 1909. Hilltopper when it ended service on was written by Greg Scarnecchia who Jones was the epitome of railroad October 1. is spending three months as an intern conductors. From his crisp white shirt He was sad to see the train die. in Amtrak's public affairs depart­ to his well shined shoes, he projected "Ridership might have been better," ment. a grandfatherly image. Passengers he said, "if it had gone all the way to His trip with Jones was his first could see that he took his job serious­ Chicago instead of only to Catle­ aboard a passenger train. Scarnecchia ly. So seriously, in fact, that he went ttsburg, Kentucky." is a senior at Mt. Union College, above and beyond normal duties to Jones' retirment will enable him to Alliance, Ohio.

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