Volume I, No. 13 October IS, 1974

the French design will be built in the Turbos' First Anniversary __----, United States by the Rohr Corp. and are planned for New York-Boston service. In Chicago-St. Louis Service Although the five-car trains with their distinctive, streamlined appear­ Amtrak's two French-built Turbo­ and were leased to Amtrak because ance are capable of speeds of 125 liners, which created worldwide new equipment was not available in miles an hour, track conditions limit attention when they went into service this country on short notice. them to 79 miles an hour on the Chi­ between Chicago and St. Louis, com­ The trains were considered experi­ cago-St. Louis run. pleted their first year of service on mental when Amtrak leased them October 1. from ANF-Frangeco, the French In a recent survey conducted Statistically, the trains are a manufacturer who was producing among 1,325 passengers, 99 percent dream. They have carried about trains for the French National Rail­ said they enjoyed the trip and 97 per­ 200,000 passengers a total of 40 mil­ ways. cent said they would definitely or lion passenger miles on their runs. Reliability and riding comfort of probably take the train the next time The trains have operated 300,000 the Turboliners have rated high with they traveled. miles while achieving a 92 percent passengers on the 284-mile route, and Ridership for the first eight months reliability record and earning the Amtrak has responded by purchasing of 1974 on the Chicago-St. Louis praise of their passengers. the two trains now in service and or­ route, where the two turbos and one The Turboliners were the first dering four more trains for Mid­ conventional train operate each day, foreign-built trains ever to see western routes. increased 32 percent over the same revenue service in the United States In addition, seven trains based on period last year.

decisions on equipment to be used on March Target Date For__ -----, the train are still to be made but that it will provide coach and sleeping car Norfolk-Cincinnati Service accommodations as well as lounge and hot food facilities. So far, Amtrak has authorized al­ New Norfolk-Cincinnati passenger Va. in the morning and Norfolk in most $2 million for stations, track service is expected to begin by March mid to late afternoon. and facilities on the new route. It is 1975. The new train will synchronize Lewis noted that the planned ar­ anticipated that operating losses will with the existing Washington New­ rivals and departures at Cincinnati be $1 million for that portion of the port News to Chicago train to provide correspond very closely with those of 1975 fiscal year during which the through service to and from Chicago. the James Whitcomb Riley, Amtrak's train will operate. Amtrak President Roger Lewis, Washington Newport News-Chicago The Norfolk-Cincinnati route was testifying before a Senate Appropria­ train. He said this will allow both designated as a two-year experi­ tions Subcommittee, said the train trains to be linked east of Cincinnati, mental addition to the Amtrak route will leave Norfolk westbound early in where their routes merge, so as to system by the Secretary of Transpor­ the afternoon, pass through eastern provide through service to Chicago. West Virginia in the evening and ar­ By not terminating the new train at tation last June in response to the Second Supplemental Appropria­ rive in Cincinnati around 7 a.m. the Cincinnati, Amtrak will avoid having tions Act of 1974. next day. Eastbound, the train will to build major new servicing facilities leave Cincinnati in the late evening, there, Lewis said. arriving at Welch and Bluefield, W. Lewis told the senators that final Greyhound IAmtrak Ticket Combinations Amtrak passengers are now able to buy combination rail-bus tickets on nine Greyhound routes not served by Amtrak. The new ticketing arrange­ ment enables "one stop shopping" for intercity travelers relying on both buses and trains to reach their desti­ nations. The program, implemented on September 15, is a result of a recent agreement signed by Amtrak Presi­ dent Roger Lewis and Greyhound President James L. Kerrigan (Amtrak News, July 1 issue). -Presently, only Amtrak is selling the combination ·tickets. After January 1, 1975, Greyhound also will be able to sell Amtrak tickets as a service to passengers starting their - Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL, linked by a three-times-weekly Cele­ trip by bus and then proceeding by both Amtrak cities, by bus with Sara­ brity Train and Ogden is a daily stop tfain. sota, Ft. Myers and Naples. on Amtrak's San Francisco-Denver­ The program has been applied to -Albuquerque to Amarillo, Okla­ Chicago route.) some of the more popular rail-bus homa City and Tulsa. (Albuquerque -From the major Amtrak termi­ destinations. In each case the bus and Oklahoma City are both served nus of Boston by bus with Portland route connects with Amtrak service. by Amtrak but not linked directly by and Bangor, ME, and St. Stephen, These are: rail.) N.B., in Canada. - ew Orleans and Jacksonville, -Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Salt -Minneapolis and Omaha, both FL, both Amtrak destinations, con­ Lake City, Ogden, Pocatell

items in the July issue were "read Tom Kennedy Ad Most Read most" and "retd some." Items hread some" were categorized as those In Modern RRs/Rail Transit which caught attention but that the A new Amtrak advertisement Amtrak's Manager of General Reser­ reader only partially or just noticed. which debuted in the July issue of vations at Bensalem, P A with the Items "read most" went beyond the Modern Railroads/Rail Transit Mag­ caption: "to head its computerized attention level, the major portion of azine was the most read ad that reservation system, Amtrak chose a those ads were read. month, according to a survey con­ man with 30 years of railroading." Seventy-three percent of sub­ ducted for the magazine by Cahners Approximately two weeks after scribers surveyed had read the Am­ Publishing Co. of Chicago. Modern Railroads/Rail Transit sub­ trak ad, fifty-three percent identify­ The ad was first in a series scribers received the July issue, a ing it as "read most." The second acknowledging the contribution rail­ mail questionnaire was sent from most read ad in the July issue re- road men have made to Amtrak's Cahners asking subscribers to indi­ . ceived a total score of sixty-seven success. It pictured Tom Kennedy, cate what editorial and advertising percent.

2 Labor Relations. He has also served Three New Regional Directors as Assistant Vice President for the Association of American Railroads Report to Pres. Roger Lewis and President of the Trailways Bus System. Regional Managers of the Sales, Service and Operations departments continue to report functionally to Greater local authority over five in Washington when the problem headquarters personnel but report Amtrak services will result from de­ occurs," said Lloyd. - administratively to the Regional Di­ velopment of three new posts in the "In certain instances I've been able rector. Western, Central and Southeastern to solve certain problems that There is no Regional Director for sections of the country. minute. This helps us all the way the Northeast. Because Amtrak's Filling the positions of "Regional around," Lloyd continued. headquarters is located in the region, Director" are Richard M. Boyd, Cen­ The directors play an equally im­ the area is served directly by head­ tral Region; Arthur L. Lloyd, West­ portant role in representing the com­ quarters personnel. ern Region; and Joe G. Matthews, pany to outside groups. They often Southeast Region. They are head­ give speeches before civic groups and Richard M. Boyd quartered in Chicago, Los Angeles clubs, and examine suggestions for and Miami, respectively. additional rail service. The three directors-all with con­ The three directors, all having ex­ siderable railroad and Amtrak ex­ tensive transportation backgrounds, perience-are considered regional are well qualified for the posts. representatives of Amtrak President Richard Boyd in the Central Re­ Roger Lewis and report tlirectly to gion has been with Amtrak since him. early 1972 as Regional Manager­ "These men are responsible for Central, a post similar to the present general coordination of Amtrak in­ position. Prior to joining Amtrak, he terests in their respective regions," was President of the North American said Lewis. "They see to it that dif­ Car Corp. in Chicago and Vice Presi­ ferent departments, such as sales, dent-Traffic and Transportation of operations and services, get together Pittsburgh Plate Glass Industries, Arthur L. Lloyd on local problems." Inc. He first gained railroad experi­ The regional director is also re­ ence with two railroads, the Missouri­ sponsible for the development of the Illinois and the Illinois Central. good name of Amtrak in his region In the west, Arthur Lloyd, as a and for strengthening relationships seventh generation Californian, feels with the various business organiza­ "at home" in his new post. Lloyd has tions. been with Amtrak since October, "He must also anticipate problems 1971 as Manager of Agency, Tour and assume the initiative in correct­ and International Sales. Before join­ ing them," continued Lewis. ing Amtrak he was owner-partner of Central Regional Director Richard the Clift Travel Service in San Fran­ Boyd reiterated Lewis' statement by cisco for 10 years. From 1949 to 1961, saying, "We act as a center for those Lloyd worked for the Western Pacific with complaints and suggestions Railroad in reservations, sales and Joe G. Matthews about our service. Our objective is to public relations positions. try to solve our problems on a local Southeast Regional Director Joe basis, try to do what we can do, with­ Matthews served as Amtrak's Direc­ out going to Washington." tor of Congressional Relations since Another Director, Arthur L. Lloyd 1971. Prior. to that he was a Senior of the Western Region, said his sec­ Consultant for the Dept. of Trans­ tion of the nation benefits from crea­ portation assigned to the Amtrak tion of the new post. project. Matthews began his trans­ "With a three hour time difference portation career with the Southern between the west and Washington, Railway in 1939, holding various I'm getting problems brought to my positions including trainmaster, divi­ attention simply because it's after sion superintendent, and Director of

3 Three New Indiana Stops For----, the westbound train and at 8:40 p.m. from the eastbound train. For the portion of the Riley's route I James Whitcomb Riley affected by the detour the schedule is as follows: The James Whitcomb Riley began Amtrak's Indianapolis passengers Read Down Read Up serving the Indiana cities of Muncie, are being served via a chartered bus 7:30 a EDT Cincinnati 10:55 p EDT Richmond and Peru on September connection to and from Muncie. A 8:20 a EST Richmond 8:05 pEST 9:20 a EST Muncie 7:05 pEST 25. The Riley connects Washington, bus departs Indianapolis Union Sta­ 11:00 a EST Peru 5:40 pEST D.C, and Norfolk, VA with Chicago tion at 7:45 a.m. to make the west­ 2:45 p COT Chicago 2:05 p CDT via Cincinnati. bound connection and at 5:25 p.m. to Richmond is a flag stop. Muncie The original route of the train took make the eastbound connection at and Peru are scheduled stops. it through Indianapolis until dete­ Muncie. Detraining passengers mak­ The new Amtrak routing is over riorating track conditions forced a ing the bus connection at Muncie tracks of the Chesapeake & Ohio detour. reach Indianapolis at 10:55 a.m. from Railroad.

be at 9:40 p.m. Midnight departures Milton Berle Hosts------, from Las Vegas will arrive in Los An­ geles at 8 a.m. There will be from 10 to 18 cars on I First Las Vegas Train each train, with high-level coaches. Food and beverage service will be available. Stage and screen Celebrity Milton trips, said that Californians can save Berle was host and guest engineer gas, save wear and tear on tl1emselves September 20 as the Las Vegas and their cars, and save money Celebrity Train began its inaugural through special package tours by run between Los Angeles and Las taking the trains. Vegas. Twelve Las Vegas hotels are parti­ AMTRAK NEWS On hand to welcome the passen­ cipating in the package and have set gers were Berle, Las Vegas dignita­ aside rooms for train travelers. NA TlONAL RAILROAD ries and Amtrak officials as the train The Friday night tour will include a PASSENGER CORPORATION departed Los Angeles Union Termi­ stay in Las Vegas of two nights and nal on its 7 1/ 2 hour trip to Las Vegas. three days for $75. Sunday service Published bi-weekly for Amtrak The Las Vegas company is chart­ will be either a three-night and four­ employees and those of· ering Amtrak trains, each with a participating railroads day stay for $90 or a five-night and engaged in passenger service capacity of 800 persons, for trips de­ six-day stay for $125, and Wednes­ parting Los Angeles on Sundays, Fri­ day's tour will feature three days and NEWS Staff days and some Wednesdays, except two nights in Las Vegas for $70. Joseph Vranich Ronnie Daly for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New "The 'fun book' given to each pas­ Year and Easter periods. senger will include free drinks, shows Las Vegas Charter is providing and gambling chips," Las Vegas special "fun" packages which it is Charter President Jack Melvin said. If you are not getting Amtrak selling from its own offices in South­ Melvin added that persons may be N~ws regularly, or if you know ern California and Las Vegas. The able to ride the train one way to ei­ someone whose name should be package includes rail fare, hotel ac­ ther city without the package deal "if added to our mailing list, please commodations and other items. A there are any vacancies at the last write: special feature of the train is the minute. But I don't think we'll have Amtrak News presence of a film, radio or television any extra seats." Public Relations Dept. personality as host for each trip. Passengers will depart Los Angeles 955 L'Enfant Plaza N . Las Vegas Charter, which is spons­ at 2 p.m. each Wednesday, Friday Washington, DC 20024 oring the three-times-a-week rail and Sunday. Arrival in Las Vegas will

4 exception of Port Huron where a new Progress Report: facility is under construction and scheduled to open in December. Station & Track Repairs __- Homewood,IL Progress is being made during Besides interior and exterior paint­ Rehabilitation has been completed October on several important station ing, repairs scheduled for Winona in­ at Homewood, including interior and and track repair projects including clude resurfacing the concrete walk­ exterior station painting and installa­ rehabilitation, under the direction of way from station to platform with tion of a new roof. Chief Engineer Herb Longhelt's facil­ blacktop. Waiting room and rest­ Houston, TX ity engineering group, of eleven Mil­ room floor tiles will also be replaced. Expansion and consolidation of the waukee Road stations. Paint and lighting improvements will Houston Southern Pacific station has occur at Red Wing and Sturtevant. been completed. In September, Milwaukee Road Stations LaCrosse will be painted and its plat­ Santa Fe operations were moved into The eleven Milwaukee Road sta­ form repaved. Milwaukee will re­ the SP station and its waiting room tions are Glenview, IL; Sturtevant, quire only minor painting and instal­ remodeled, with new tile floor, light­ Milwaukee, Columbus, Portage, Wis­ lation of an illuminated station sign. ing improvements and enlarged tic­ consin Dells, Tomah and LaCrosse, ket counter and baggage room. WI; and Winona and Red Wing, MN. Jacksonville, FL Work has been completed at Glen­ NY -Boston Track view, Columbus, Portage, Wisconsin Plans and specifications for expan­ Specifications and drawings have Dells and Tomah. Most of the repairs sion of Jacksonville station mail and been received from Penn Central for consisted of interior and exterior baggage handling were circulated to repair of the Old Saybrook, CT painting and gutter fortification. At local bidders in early October. bridge and the Hellgate line, first Wisconsin Dells, the platform was re­ steps toward utilizing the $21.6 mil~ surfaced. Eaves were repaired at Amtrak Michigan Stations lion recently approved by Amtrak's Tomah and floor tiles replaced in the Repair of new Blue Water route Board of Directors for New York­ restrooms and waiting room. stations has been completed with the Boston track work.

Repair of the Lima, Ohio station, (above) which coincided with the September 11 addition of a ticket clerk, included ex­ terior landscaping.

Lapeer, Michigan's station (right) was freshly painted and repaired for the Blue Water Inaugural. R. Daly photos

5 the same periop a year ago. increase; Broadway Limited, 51 per­ Ridership Up Other routes with sizable increases cent; Montrealer, 40 percent; and were Chicago-Carbondale, 66 per­ New York-Florida trains, 35 percent. In August cent; Washington-Cumberland, 48 The New York-Washington and Ridership was up and on-time per­ percent; Chicago-Detroit, 34 per­ New York-Boston corridors, the formance improved throughout the cent; Chicago-St. Louis, 29 percent; busiest in Amtrak's system, were up Amtrak system in August. Chicago-Milwaukee, 18 percent, and 15 and 43 percent respectively for the Compared to August, 1973, rider­ Boston-New York, 17 percent. same period. ship increased eight percent. The For the first eight months of 1974, largest gain was 67 percent on the systemwide ridership was up 26 per­ On -time performance in August Broadway Limited. The Empire cent over the January-August total averaged 77.8 percent, up from 76.1 Service between New York, Albany for 1973. in July. The best on-time record was and Buffalo registered an increase of Leading the gains for long haul 96.8 percent on the Seattle-Spokane 54 percent, and the Montrealer car­ routes in this eight month period route, followed by Chicago-Dubuque ried 27 percent more passengers than were the Floridian with a 59 percent with 95.2 percent.

advertising campaigns. explains that Tuesday, Wednesday Radio To Play "Amtrak wants you to enjoy your and Thursday are the best days to Important Amtrak trip" is the theme of the current travel by train, preferably after 10:00 Washington radio series. "Amtrak's a.m. and before 4:00 p.m. Advertising Role Washington reporter" Paul Anthony In another spot, he talks about un­ tells prospective passengers how to reserved seating on seven trains to Amtrak's Advertising Department get the most enjoyment out of their Boston and ten to New York City and is expanding its use of radio to reach next train trip. tells listeners that there is "no need to prospective train travelers, according Each of the six radio "spots" con­ call, just come." A third spot reminds to James W. Mariner., M_anager of centrates 0 a_ diffexent a.spect_ nl listeners that AmtI:ak- ha.S-,j>eI::\LlCe--I.u-__- Advertising and Sales Promotion. A train travel. Some, like the "prime more locations than any single air- new six-part radio series is currently time" commercial, offer practical ad­ line. Anthony stresses the economi- airing in the Washington, DC area vice on how to plan a successful train cal Amtrak tour packages available. and radio will play a big part in fall trip. Because "a lot more people are Because many people still do not and winter "price and destination" on our trains these days," Anthony (Conlinued 0 11 pl1ge 8, cu/. I)

First Metroliner Hartford Manager of Sales Tom move's success to the arrangements Sabo, Amtrak's former Agency, made by New York and Philadelphia For Chicago Cubs Group and Tour Manager in Chi­ Station Services personnel, particu­ cago, rode with the Cubs. He said larly Patrick Mehlick, Manager Sta­ Fresh from a three out of four that Cubs Assistant Vice President tion Services in Philadelphia. At­ game upset of the New York Mets, Blake Cullen was "elated" by the trip tendants onboard the Metroliner also the Chicago Cubs baseball team took and had seldom had such an enjoya­ impressed the Cubs with their effici­ their first Metroliner Sunday, Sep­ ble team move. ent, luxury service. tember 15 enroute to a series with the "I should have brought along my Philadelphia Phillies. tour brochures and tariff. Five or six The Cubs' Metroliner interlude After a leisurely dinner at the Wal­ ball players asked if they could call certainly didn't hurt their baseball. dorf' the Cubs boarded Amtrak's No. me in the spring to arrange their fam­ They went on to win in Philadelphia. 133 Metroliner which leaves Penn ily vacations," Sabo said. "Also, AI According to Gene Glendinning, Station, New York at 9:45 p.m. and Spengler, the Cubs Assistant Coach, District Sales Manager in Chicago, arrives at 30th Street Station, Phila­ asked me about trains to Flagstaff, next season the team wants to take delphia at 10:54 p.m. The Cubs had AZ and Jim Marshal, their Manager, the train whenever their schedule reserved the Metroclub; for about 90 was interested in a Chicago-Los permits, possibly between Montreal percent of the team it was their first Angeles train trip." and New York and Chicago-St. Louis train trip. Sabo credits much of the team on the Turbo.

6 New Diner Style miles. When this occurred, residents does not own a sufficient number of of California's Central Valley re­ cars to cover all dining car require­ For San Joaquin quested Amtrak to replace snack ments, and promised that dining service with dining service. In July, service would replace snack service Service on Oakland-Bakersfield Amtrak explained that the company in the Autumn. San Joaquin trains was improved in late September with the addition of counter-diner-Iounge cars to the con­ sists. The first of these cars entered revenue service from Oakland on September 18. The second left Oak­ land in service on September 19, fill­ ing out the consist requirement for both train sets. For the start of the service, a two­ entree hot meal menu has been pre­ pared. The counter-diner-Iounges are re­ furbished Amtrak cars, formerly Santa Fe-owned, with 14 counter seats and table space as well. During the busy summer travel season, when diners were in short supply, all diners had to be assigned to long distance trains by traffic de­ mands and by priorities established by Interstate Commerce Commission regulations. As a result snack-lounges were substituted for counter-diner­ lounges on the Oakland-Bakersfield Valley run which is just over 300

had eaten a meal in the dining car High Scores For Amtrak Services and most of them gave good or excel­ lent ratings to food quality (76 %), In Recent On-Board Survey service (77 %) and courtesy of the waiters (77 % ). Thirty-five percent re­ Judging by the resu1t~ of a recent habits of train riders. ported no wait before dining and onboard survey of seven long-haul An interesting passenger profile twenty-six percent said that they routes, passengers are noticing and emerged from survey results. Most waited less than fifteen minutes. approving Amtrak's service improve­ passengers were trlJveling coach Eighty percent of all passengers ments. (74 % ) with their family (61 % ) and on surveyed had visited the lounge and Conducted for Amtrak's Market­ a vacation trip (37 %). The majority seventy-five percent of them found ing/Advertising Department by Mar­ had made their reservations by ppone the service there excellent. ket Facts, Inc., the survey was taken (52 % ) and had waited to pick up Eighty-eight percent of those who from July 29 through August 4 on their tickets until their day of de­ had taken advantage of the Lounge board the Silver Meteor, Lone Star, parture (29 % ). Ticket payments were said the quality of snacks served was Southwest Limited, Sunset Limited, made by check (42 %) or cash (40 %) good or excellent. San Francisco Zephyr, Empire with (12 %) using a credit card. Sixty-four percent of those sur­ Builder and Coast Starlight. Results Passengers were asked to rate vari­ veyed rated the computerized reser- will provide a data base for several ous Amtrak services as excellent, Amtrak departments on attitudes and good or fair. Seventy-three percent (Conlinued on page 8, col. /)

7 GREYHOUND- not linked directly. (Cleveland and Amtrak also tickets passengers via (Co tllilluedj i·o m puge 2) Toledo, now among the largest U.S. a number of independent bus lines cities without Amtrak service, have from such Amtrak cities as Provi­ -Omaha and Kansas City, both been designated as stops on a future dence, RI, Lancaster, PA and Mil­ Amtrak stops but without direct rail Chicago-Boston route authorized by waukee, WI to such destinations as, link. Congress and the Secretary of Trans­ respectively, Newport, RI, York, PA -Detroit to Toledo, Lima, Dayton portation. ) and Green Bay, WI. and Cincinnati. All of these cities, ex­ Prior to this Amtrak-Greyhound All of the bus schedules which cept Toledo, are now served by Am­ agreement, Amtrak has written bus Amtrak agents may now ticket are trak but none have direct rail links to tickets between several destinations listed with fares in Amtrak's official each other. without direct rail links, including All-America Train Fares and supple­ Greyhound serVIces between mental Fares Notices. Some of the -Cleveland, Columbus and Cin­ Phoenix and Flagstaff, AZ, and be­ more popular rail-bus intercity cinnati. Columbus and Cincinnati are tween Barstow, CA and Las Vegas, schedules are also listed in Amtrak's on Amtrak east-west routes but are NV. All-America Schedules.

R.t\DIO- (Colltilluedjrom page 6 ) to alleviate overcrowding. One gives ordered and when delivery is ex­ realize how inexpensive Amtrak has background information on Amtrak's pected. made train dining, another spot ex­ new 3,OOOhp diesel locomotives. Amtrak's fall and winter radio and plains that most meals are priced "If you rode a crowded train, we're newspaper advertisements will con­ under $5. doing everything we can to increase centrate on approximately sixty mar­ The remaining two spots deal with our capacity" is the theme of the sec­ kets, some of which are new to Am­ the current surge of train travelers in ond equipment spot. It discusses the trak advertising. In these days of seri­ the Northeast Corridor and give a I8-month minimum lead time for ous inflation, Amtrak will stress the better perspective on why Amtrak manufacture of new equipment and economic advantages of traveling by can not immediately add equipment tells what new equipment has been train.

SURVEY- (Colltinued/rom {l uge 7) to pick up. Only 5 % found ticket sion to request the PSR's aid. Of vations system as good or excellent pick up "very difficult." those who did, 93 % said the PSR's with courtesy and helpfulness of Station personnel were readily help was good or excellent. reservation clerks impressing available at stations to assist in find­ Amtrak's Marketing Advertising seventy-five percent as good or ex­ ing and boarding trains, according to Department is considering a follow­ cellent. 82 % of those surveyed. Most passen­ up onboard survey in the future Forty-three percent said tickets gers (64% ) were aware that there was which also may include several short­ were "very easy" to obtain; thirty­ a Passenger Service Representative haul trains in addition to the seven three percent said they were "easy" (PSR) onboard and 47 % had occa- long-haul trains previously surveyed.

First Class Mail U.S. POSTAGE PAID 1 oz. Permit 44651 Washington, D.C. National Railroad Passenger Corporation 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20024

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED