Washington Rail News October/November 2014

www.AllAboardWashington.org

Publication of All Aboard Washington A Not-for-profit Consumer Organization “Moving forward...On Rail."

Yakima meeting: people want east-west NARP goes to Supreme Court to support train passengers passenger rail service back In a Sept. 24 press release the Na- The theme of the September 13 All mer long-time vice president Jim Neal tional Association of Railroad Passen- Aboard Washington meeting at worked in the early 2000s to garner gers announced the organization, the Russillo’s in the Northern Pacific Rail- strong local support from across central Environmental Law and Policy Center, All way’s historic Yakima train station was and eastern Washington for restored Aboard Ohio, and Virginians for High the need for restored east-west pas- daytime passenger rail service to Speed Rail have filed an amicus curiae senger train service through the Ya- compliment the Empire Builder. This brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a kima Valley. Amtrak service to Yakima support convinced the Legislature to case that could prove pivotal in eliminat- ended when the Empire Builder was re- order WSDOT to study the return of ing delays that are leaving passengers routed to the Stevens Pass line in Oc- service. Unfortunately the study was stopped on the tracks and stranded at the station. tober 1981. poorly executed because of indiffer- The brief argues for the reversal of a Executive Director Lloyd Flem ence to the idea from a previous judgment issued by the U.S. Court of Ap- kicked off the meeting before nearly 40 WSDOT executive team. peals - D.C. Circuit. That judgment struck attendees by explaining that reaching Lloyd has been discussing the re- down a provision of the 2008 rail reau- our goal would be not be fast or inex- turn of east-west service with legisla- thorization bill that instructed the Federal pensive or easy. Funding would need tors. It has support of many Republi- Railroad Administration and Amtrak – to come from the Legislature and ne- cans from east of the Cascades as well consulting with the Surface Transporta- gotiations with BNSF could be long and as Democrats and Republicans from tion Board, freight railroads, states, rail difficult. All the local citizens at the west of the mountains. labor, and rail passenger organizations – meeting supported restoring passenger Lloyd then introduced our first to develop metrics and standards for service. speaker, Rep. Norm Johnson (R- measuring Amtrak passenger train per- Lloyd pointed out how BNSF was Yakima). He started by saying it’s al- formance and service quality. A decision ready to abandon the line over Stam- ways a pleasure to work with Lloyd. He in this case has taken on new urgency, pede Pass in the early 1990s. But then was born and raised down the highway following the U.S. House’s introduction of they realized it had importance as in Toppenish. Johnson stated that the Passenger Rail Reform and Invest- freight traffic grew, rehabilitated the line transportation should not be a political ment Act of 2014 (H.R. 5449), which and reopened through operations be- football to be kicked back and forth. sidesteps the serious on-time perfor- tween the Puget Sound and the Ya- Passenger rail is a very important mance issues afflicting train passengers kima valley in 1997. Today the line has transportation mode. He noted that Ya- across the U.S. and crippling rail growth just when Americans are embracing rail become increasingly important to kima, at 91,000, is the largest city in travel in record numbers. BNSF operations with the increase in the state without passenger train ser- The amicus, or friend-of-the-court coal and oil trains. BNSF currently uses vice. Yakima has poor air service, with brief, lays out an argument structured the line almost exclusively for empty only 3 commuter flights a day to Seat- around two central facts: eastbound grain, coal and oil trains. tle. We must work as a group in central I.) “The court of appeals based its The lighter trains don’t need extra lo- and eastern Washington to restore decision on two separate grounds: (1) comotives to traverse the steep grades. service. an erroneous finding that Amtrak is a Founding AAWA member and for- (See Yakima, page 5) private entity and (2) a complete dis- regard of the factors indicating suffi- cient governmental control over the development and implementation of the metrics and standards.” Amtrak has been granted special statutory rights throughout its history, such as track access and preferential dispatching. As early as 1978, Congress passed a law declaring that, while Amtrak should be managed as a business, it is Left photo: Rep. Norm Johnson, right, talks with AAWA members Rocky Shay, left, not in reality a for-profit corporation. and Mark Foutch. Right photo: Former Yakima Mayor Paul George and Yakima (See Supreme Court, page 5) Chamber of Commerce Director Carolyn Gray discuss the issues. The Chamber supports restoring passenger rail service to Yakima. Photos by Jim Hamre page 2 who we were, in some cases introducing From the desk of people to the fact Western Washington the Executive has intercity passenger trains! We gave Director information about routes and the ad- vantages of trains. Some expressed in- by terest in joining AAWA, but it seemed Lloyd H. Flem many were there mainly for a fun outing with kids and grandkids. Still worthwhile Outreach to Communities; and I recommend we repeat the Tacoma Rail Open House every year. Election 2014 is upon us Jane Sharman is ready to greet  visitors at the AAWA Harbor Days The two examples of AAWA outreach The three-day Olympia Harbor Days, table. Photo by David Privitt in late August in Tacoma and Olympia August 29-31, also attracted large can and should be replicated in commu- handmade operating scale models of crowds, except for a time Saturday after- Puget Sound tugboats, a 1/7 scale oper- nities around our state. Nearly all cities noon, when a deluge of rain chased and towns have community celebrations ating electric and steam railroad from guests and many vendors away. During Port Orchard, and the Tacoma Rail or events such as farmers markets, the times I staffed our table each day, I where displays for non-profits like booth, next to ours. The Port of Olympia AAWA are welcome at little or no display (their property!) was also near charge. While the recent Yakima The two examples of AAWA ours. I asked them to have more pub- meeting (see page 1) was explicitly outreach in late August in licity for us northerners on Saturday AAWA’s event and not attached to an- and Sunday. Much better crowds at other community celebration, it too Tacoma and Olympia can the north end on Sunday, as people demonstrated the interest people have and should be replicated in came to Harbor Days to see the real in passenger trains. If members inform tugboats ply the South Sound, but me about the when and the where of communities around our even on Saturday, except during the your city’s public event, I’ll organize an state. cloudburst, people showed good inter- AAWA outreach! est in our information. The following AAWA people staffed Our two outreach events in August perceived a surprisingly large number of were very successful in bringing the our booth: Betty Kutter, Don Petersen, people who knew about our Amtrak Cas- George Barner, Karen Keller, Wally message of intercity passenger trains to cades service, have ridden and like riding hundreds of people. Fisher, Mark Foutch, David Privitt, Jane trains, and agreed we should have more. Sharman, Greg Griffith, Susan Sauer and  A number showed interest in joining me. Assisting in set up and take down Tacoma Rail’s Open House (and AAWA. were George Barner, Mark Foutch, and Centennial Celebration) Saturday August Some voiced concerns, which I will Susan Sauer. Darleen Flem was very 23 attracted a large crowd, much of pass on to WSDOT and Amtrak. There helpful in securing the canopy and or- which were families with young children. were fewer concerns about BNSF’s oil ganizing materials for our table. Thanks The AAWA table, staffed by George and coal trains than might have been ex- to all. A bonus was 21-year-old Matthew Barner and me 10-12, Jim Hamre and pected in Olympia. Stidham – a friend of Betty’s and incom- Zack Willhoite 12-1:30, offered our Given that Harbor Days is a maritime ing senior at Western Washington Uni- AAWA material, and that from NARP, celebration, the knowledge and support versity – who Friday PM ran a pack of WSDOT, Amtrak, and Talgo. We had a for passenger rail was notable. The na- our rack cards and other info south to the prime location near the entrance. Adults ture of the Capital community, with its main Harbor Days displays and managed and children readily took the material, political and environmental leanings, plus to get a new member, Tom Newcomb of which virtually ran out by 1 PM. the still-important impacts of the now Olympia. Thanks Matthew and welcome Nearly all guests had some interest in over-two-decades-old campaign to build Tom! Centennial Station (a community project, trains, even if the interest was primarily  the train ride in Tacoma Rail’s four pas- with little outside money and not a dime senger cars touring the port, touring their from DeeCee!) I believe accounts for the Much of the costs of operating our in- locomotives and caboose, or viewing the continued interest and support in Olym- tercity passenger trains is covered by N-Scale model railroad. To many who pia-Lacey. (The number of AAWA mem- passenger fares and other on-board pur- approached our table, we had to explain bers from the 22nd Legislative District by chases. But capital investments – as with far exceeds that from any other.) nearly all passenger rail systems world- The AAWA booth (complete with our wide – are dependent on public invest- new canopy) was located at Olympia’s ment to a considerable degree. (Invest- Port Plaza, a couple hundred yards north ments in air, waterway and road trans- of the main booths and displays. Our portation infrastructure are also from very fine banner featuring the Talgo primarily public money, much of it from Amtrak Cascades and Mt Rainier plus other than user fees.) the AAWA table cloth attracted all who Many hope our Washington State ventured north during the 3-day event, Legislature in the 2015 session will pass though at the Friday PM shift, it seemed a transportation investment package that few of the many attendees knew about includes significant monies for rail. While us non-profits at the north end. the very good Federal ARRA passenger AAWA table at the Tacoma Rail Displays included a delightful show of (See Flem, page 4) Open House. Photo by Zack Willhoite page 3 sure enough royalties, taxes and fees The new ferry staging area would would be imposed, and then the revenue eliminate traffic backups on SR 104 and with could be used to promote more environ- enhance the safety of the ferry docking mentally friendly alternatives. This be- procedure and eliminate at least half the Jim cause states and local municipalities are train whistles. Cusick constrained from imposing their own re- Am I being harsh on the proponents? strictions on interstate commerce, and Yes, and rightfully so. certainly we cannot allow local NIMBYs What I am concerned about is their control of said commerce with their own faux environmentalism and that their parochial interests. concern would only go as far as needed Frolicking at the Edmonds The proponents of the train trench are to satisfy their wishes, and then support Waterfront Train Station pretending to be concerned about envi- would drop off. ronmental impacts, yet the argument What can we do about it? Don't let those clinking clanking clat- seems to turn on the fact that their auto- Well, the other issue is the oil trains. tering collections of caliginous junk befoul mobile travel on the Edmonds-Kingston This is one thing we can have a direct in- the beauty of our waterfront as they blow their whistle a total of eight times for each ferry is not detrimental to the environ- fluence on. train or 360 high-intensity blasts every 24 ment. These unit oil trains are headed to- hours which could rise to over 800 in the At the same time the issue of unit oil wards the local refineries in Anacortes future !!! 1 trains has been added to the mix (oil was and Ferndale. How can you let this happen to those already being transported via rail, just not Oil always came through before, but poor people who have to spend most of enough to justify the longer tank car only the tank cars were in mixed consist their life next to those crossings? How trains we see today); there seems to be a freight trains. It's only been recently that were they to know? cognitive dissonance about it. the oil companies have seen value in rail “Not everyone knows that BNSF rail- More about that later. shipments and progressed to the unit road plans to connect its double track just As I alluded to in my last article, what trains. So now the concern is being pub- north and south of downtown into a dou- is the point of digging a trench in an area licly voiced. ble or triple track through Edmonds as where 90% of the structure would be be- Unit trains have been in use for the soon as possible.” 1 low the current high-tide level of Puget past two years; it's the tragedy in Quebec This is a travesty! Sound? that now has made it a front page issue. Here's how you deal with it: STOP And for what purpose? Not enough to DRIVING YOUR CAR! outweigh the negatives, supposedly. End of Subject! No excuses ... if you The general commentary for those don't like taxes, and you don't want more proposing a train trench perceive the funding for non-automotive solutions to benefits of transporting goods and people the mobility issues ... then YOU ARE by rail as an inferior mode, which only THE PROBLEM! serves to hinder their preferred choice, Unit oil trains exist to satisfy your the automobile. addiction. The main complaint about the at- Take a close look at the above photo. What do we need? More trains! grade crossing is that it adversely affects That situation, where you see the car the car traffic on SR 104 as it connects to up to the floorboards in water and the re- It's Called “Investment” the ’ Edmonds- ceding pooch frolicking in the newfound During the pre-season, people com- Kingston route. lake, occurred during the combination of plained about no trains to the Seahawks What is the impact? high-tide and extreme runoff from a local games. ( runs trains to Well, if you believe the rhetoric sur- downpour. weekend matinee games, but not to rounding the plans for the BNSF tracks in This is the irony of the whole Ed- games during the week.) Edmonds, you would think that those monds waterfront situation: it's built on a They complained about the cost of who oppose rail transport were true-to- marsh. parking. Well what did you expect peo- the-heart environmentalists. While one can argue the merits of ple? It's the law of supply and demand. Roughly about 4 years ago, when I grade separation, the train trench propo- People who were confronted with an I- was observing the coal train movements nents argument even rejects what was a 5 parking lot were asking “Where's the that were already taking place (averaging perfectly good solution, the WSF led Ed- train?” about two per day), I was musing with an monds Crossing project. (For the mo- About 8 years away, that's where! Amtrak passenger about how we might ment ignore the issue of who pays for the When Sound Transit's North Corridor be more environmentally conscious in the trench.) HCT project is finished. United States, but now that same “dirty The initial plan of an underpass for the Yes, that would be 'Lynnwood Link.' fuel” was being shipped overseas to be cars accessing the ferry penciled out at That always prompts them to ask: burned in China, and consequently $80 million, compared to the Edmonds “Why can't there be trains now?” sending the airborne pollution back to us Crossing project's estimate of $240 mil- That question always prompts me to in the PNW. lion. How much will the trench cost? ask: “Well, how did you vote on the For- Even then I was hoping the environ- However, the Edmonds Crossing ward Thrust Rail bonds in 1968?” mental community would at least be project solved so many more of the What drives investment? People who working the national angle by making problems, including the railroad/highway can dream, and carry out that dream. conflicts, that spending a third of the cost You certainly don't go to the bean coun- just to satisfy well heeled homeowner's 1 ters. per the June 21 commentary in the My complaints is a ludicrous proposal. (See Cusick, page 4) Edmonds News about the train trench page 4 to cancel an order for 60 Dreamliner (sort-of) local) to arrive in Seattle for an Flem, from page 2 jets if Boeing doesn’t get its act to- evening game, stay overnight, and (de- rail grant to Washington state is making im- gether. “Boeing is run by bean pending on level of alcohol consumption) portant and needed investments for the counters and lawyers. We have take the 7:40 AM train (510) back, or the Cascades on the BNSF mainline between some serious issues with them, and northbound extension of 500 (now served Blaine and Vancouver WA, state funds to if they do not play ball with us they by the bus connection 8900 (Seattle to grow the Cascades service beyond the will be in for a serious surprise.” Vancouver), and by the 5600 (Seattle to ARRA and to begin investing in needed What is that telling us about trains? Bellingham (sort-of) local). east-west passenger rail service are highly Well it's the idea that you plan based on For Seattle fans, the train 500 extension desirable. Public investments in infrastruc- what you think is possible, not driven by would get them to the games in Vancouver, ture is favored by a majority of the elec- what change is in your pocket. and the early morning train 513 is available torate, including much of the otherwise- The most obvious example, outside of for the trip back down, or the 509 extension conservative business community. One of trains, is what happened in the auto indus- for the hearty partiers. our jobs is to make certain rail is on the in- try a few decades ago. This would all occur in the normally slow frastructure list of business advocates. Cars were exciting when dreams were winter season, so revenue for the northern With just a few weeks until the 2014 being dreamt, but just take a look at the segment would continue on without resort- election, rail advocates must politely but later 1970s and 80s when the bean count- ing to the 2-for-1 coupon deals that now assertively learn where candidates for the ing mentality took over (i.e. - insurance exist. State Legislature and Congress stand on companies). The third mid-day train to Vancouver rail investments. Most of us consider others While those of us with simple cash- won't even need to be 'sold' to the public, things than just a candidate’s stand on rail, based home economies, and sometimes except that many people don't see an ex- but I assume all who read this column have too much credit card debt, would think that cuse to travel to the “great white north” in that as one important reason to support or you should live within your means, it would winter – save for a few skiers. not support a given candidate. If possible, kill the capitalist system. As Amtrak's Brian Rosenwald stated in attend candidates’ public meetings. If that’s For the moment, put aside the “pay for the July 2014 issue of Trains Magazine, not feasible, talk by phone or better yet in itself” or “make a profit” argument of pas- when confronted with improving perfor- person to staff. In my 29 years of experi- senger rail. mance on the Coast Starlight back in 1992, ence , these more direct means allow less What I'm saying is that even in the busi- “You know what? We can't cut this train into room for waffling on issues than written ness world, businesses get started because improvement. What we need to do is create communication, whether traditional USPS someone has taken an idea and run with it. an onboard experience so that the time letters or contemporary electronic corre- Every entrepreneur doesn't start out a aboard the train becomes a positive, not a spondence. millionaire. They start with a good idea, and negative.” The occasional “waffle” aside, our state then they approach people who help fi- “We can't cut this train into improve- has some superb people, incumbents and nance that idea. They go to the bank for a ment...” Words to live by. Just ask Boeing some non-incumbent candidates, running loan. They tap a relative for some funds. what that approach means. for the Legislature. On rail issues, these in- They get people to INVEST. What is the answer? clude Democrats and Republicans, urban Extending trains 513 and 516 between It's called INVESTMENT! and rural, both sides of the Cascades. As Seattle and Vancouver, BC has demon- has often been mentioned in my columns, strated the value of the full corridor, since All Aboard Washington member Art the Legislative Rail Caucus exemplifies 30% of those boarding and alighting those many of these “superb people.” There are Poole, of Coos Bay, OR passes along a trains in Vancouver, BC come from the suggestion for getting from hotels near the fine candidates, including incumbents, who Portland-Vancouver, WA area. That pencils are not now caucus members … but should Tukwila Sounder/Amtrak Station to Seattle out to just under 10% of people riding the when there is no Sounder service: be and warrant your support. whole way. There are, for better or worse, few of our In August, Toni and I rode Amtrak Cas- A good investment, and one that both cades to Tukwila and stayed at the Em- ten congressional races that are competi- the Vancouver, BC and Portland business tive. In those cases, learn where candidates bassy Suites near the station. Since we communities are fully aware of. were going to a Mariners baseball game, stand on rail and campaign accordingly. For a while, Portland had one of the Finally, do not hesitate to make a dona- we needed to find a way to at Talgo Bistro cars decked out in the Portland the Tukwila International Blvd stop. tion of money or time to folks you would like Is Happening Now theme. They see the to return to or enter the Legislature or Con- Fortunately, we found value of investment. that ’s gress. Our donations are as individuals, not The ridership potential for a mid-day representing AAWA, of course. We as indi- new RapidRide F Line of- train is probably even higher than the sec- fers convenient service viduals will never compete with the big- ond train over the border was. money institutions or the occasional very between the Tukwila Picture this if you will: Seattle gets a Sounder/Amtrak Station wealthy person. But our cause – green, new National Hockey League team. safe and efficient rail transportation – is a and the TIB Station. We This threatens the bought our ORCA cards good one. A modest contribution along with Cupless (as in Lord a good letter, or better, the in-person and loaded them with re- Stanley’s Cup) Van- gional day passes. This meeting, can partially overcome our gener- couver Canucks fans, ally limited means. gave us access to the entire and to mark their terri- Seattle metropolitan transit As always, I’m here to help you as you tory (and possibly pick work with elected officials or candidates you system, which was very convenient. up tickets cheaper than (The hotel shuttle would take us to the favor. the Canadian scalpers airport but not to the Link station.) up there offer) they could take what would You can also use RapidRide F (which Cusick, from page 3 be an extension of the southbound train runs every 10-15 minutes most of the day) From the Everett Herald: 509 (now served by the bus connection to get from the Tukwila Sounder/Amtrak At the Paris Air Show, Qatar’s chief 8809 (Vancouver to Seattle), and [previ- Station to SeaTac Airport via a transfer to executive Akbar Al Baker threatened ously] by the 5609 (Bellingham to Seattle Link at TIB. page 5

All Aboard Washington Officers Important Addresses and Phone Numbers Loren Herrigstad, Centralia - President ...... 360 736-5783 .. [email protected] U. S. House of Representatives: Jim Hamre, Puyallup - Vice President ...... 253 848-2473 .. [email protected] Washington, DC 20515 Harvey Bowen, Seattle - Vice President ..... 206 322-2729 .. [email protected] U. S. Senate: Washington, DC 20510 Rocky Shay, Federal Way - Secretary...... 253 925-2085 .. [email protected] Capitol Switchboard (all members): 202 224-3121 John Carlin, Edmonds - Treasurer ...... 425 778-4529 .. [email protected] State Legislature: State Capitol, Olympia 98504 Zack Willhoite, Puyallup - Membership & IT Director...... [email protected] Hotline for leaving messages: 800 562-6000 Lloyd Flem, Olympia.. Executive Director ...... 360 943-8333 .. [email protected] Amtrak Reservations/Information: 800 872-7245 Address ...... 620 Boundary St SE, Olympia 98501 All Aboard Washington: AllAboardWashington.org Jim Hamre, Puyallup - Newsletter Editor .... 253 848-2473 .. [email protected] NARP: www.narprail.org Warren Yee, Seattle - E-newsletter ...... 206 723-0259 .. [email protected] NARP Hotline: www.narprail.org/news/hotline Amtrak: www.amtrak.com Amtrak Cascades: www.amtrakcascades.com All are evening numbers, except Lloyd's, which is available 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. Sound Transit: www.soundtransit.org

and that tens of millions of Americans rely on every Yakima, from page 1 Supreme Court, from page 1 year. Rail links are a public good, and the reason On the freight rail side, Johnson urged Rather, it is a government corporation Congress established Amtrak in the first place. It’s no that the project to increase clearances in that provides a public service – as defined coincidence that these delays followed hard on the the Stampede Pass tunnel proceed so that by Congress – that uses ticket revenue and heels of the DC appeals court ruling, and it’s also no double stack container trains can use the business partnerships to minimize the need coincidence that the result has unraveled a decade of route. Yakima also needs better freight ser- for public funding. record ridership. It’s ironic that these delays hurt vice in general. Produce should not have to In the development of the metrics and Amtrak’s bottom line, increasing its dependence on be trucked to Quincy to be transloaded for standards, the FRA solicited input from a public subsidies, even as those who back the ap- shipment to the Midwest and East Coast. wide array of stakeholders. The FRA fully peals court ruling decry Amtrak’s business perfor- Former Yakima Mayor Paul George (D) considered these comments, including mance,” said NARP President Jim Mathews. “NARP – an AAWA member – was our next speak- those made by the freight railroads, before would like to thank our partners in this process – er. He is running for state representative in issuing a final version of the metrics and th especially the team at ELPC – for their hard work in an open seat in the 14 District. He was standards in May 2010. These metrics are laying out an airtight argument for why the judgment born in Glendive, MT, still a major hub for binding only to Amtrak, do not supplant op- of the court of appeals must be reversed.” BNSF, and moved to Tacoma during World erating agreements between Amtrak and Here in the Northwest we’ve seen on-time per- War II. Rail has always been a big part of the freight railroads, and do not serve as a formance of the Empire Builder plunge to near single his life. basis to impose sanctions against host rail- digits over the last year as both BNSF and Canadian Rail is vitally important to the Yakima roads. The metrics merely provide a trigger Pacific grapple with increased freight volumes and area and the state, George stated. Trans- for an investigation by the STB when cer- scramble to add capacity. The extended schedule portation cannot be a partisan issue. He tain conditions aren’t met, most significantly Amtrak and BNSF implemented last spring – 3 hours also supports passenger rail service west to on-time performance. The STB only awards eastbound and 1.5 hours westbound – didn’t help the Seattle and east to Pasco. The effort will damages and other relief if they find that train’s on-time performance much, though it has re- require strong grass roots support. freight railroads have failed to live up to cently marginally improved – at least on some days. Carl Pasten, vice chairman of the Ya- their statutory obligation to provide prefer- The stretched schedule eliminates the connec- kima Historic Preservation Commission and ence to Amtrak trains over freight trains – tion from the Coast Starlight to the Builder in Port- a Yakima Valley Trolley volunteer, talked an obligation originating in a 1973 law that land. Even with the lengthened running times, Amtrak about the trolley. It’s the only interurban not even the freight railroads dispute. continues to block same day connections in Chicago trolley system on the national historic reg- II.) “As a matter of public policy, the decision to all trains except the City of New Orleans and Lake ister and in its earlier years carried freight by the court of appeals, which invalidates Shore Limited. The horrible arrival times at Whitefish as well as passengers. Amtrak’s on-time performance measures, thwarts are having a detrimental effect on tourist travel to the With a $100,000 grant from the city the intent of Congress and threatens the future of resort community. Pasten has now become the first paid passenger rail service in the United States.” Amtrak has now extended the lengthened Builder staffer for the trolley. Working with the city, Under the metrics, Amtrak was able to achieve a schedule through at least January 12, 2015. The de- YVT proposes to bring the trolley back into 2012 on-time performance of 83 percent nationwide, tour between Fargo and Minot has switched from the downtown as part of a project to transform and 71 percent for long distance trains. This level of westbound train to the eastbound. Passengers trav- and revitalize Yakima. Other parts of the on-time performance played a key part in allowing eling east to or from Rugby, Devils Lake and Grand plan include constructing a downtown plaza Amtrak to sustain its explosive ridership growth, Forks will be bused from Minot or to Fargo. and a public market. Currently, Pasten is which has led to ridership records in 10 of the past 11 To a lesser extent, the on-time performance of developing the fundraising campaign to years. the Cascades has also suffered for the same rea- bring the trolley plan to fruition. Since the metrics were struck down, reported sons. WSDOT and Amtrak agreed last year to add After the freight interference incidents nearly tripled, and 15-20 minutes to the Seattle-Portland schedules meeting Amtrak’s on-time performance plummeted to 42 per- during construction of the ARRA-funded infrastruc- many cent. The long distance trains have been the most ture improvements but trains are still too often late. In attendees hard-hit and the problems have expanded beyond early July 25-30 minutes were added to the Seattle- toured the just the well known issues with the Empire Builder. Vancouver, BC trips to accommodate a major BNSF YVT facili- Amtrak reported in April 2014 that, in response to bridge replacement project in Surrey, BC and other ties and these skyrocketing delays, ridership and revenue had track improvements. The normal schedules will return took a ride fallen by 15% year over year. on October 16. on the “These crippling delays directly threaten a trans- AAWA continues to work with NARP on this seri- trolley. portation choice that Americans have said they want ous issue. All Aboard Washington NONPROFIT P. O. Box 70381 ORGANIZATION Seattle, WA 98127 U. S. POSTAGE PAID PUYALLUP WA 98371 Return Service Requested PERMIT NO. 468

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION □New □Renewal □Address Change □$ 200 Leadership Membership □$ 100 Contributing Membership □ $ 75 Sustaining Membership □ $ 50 Family Membership □ $ 25 Individual Membership □ $ 18 Student/Fixed Income Membership

□ Extra Contribution of $______□ Please send me my newsletter through e-mail only. Note: if you move, let us know in advance and save us the fee for address correction service. Name______Address______City/State/Zip______Phone______Email______

services. Please contact Lloyd Flem or Jim Trecha, Seattle; and All Aboard News Hamre (contact information, p. 5) to donate. Gretchen Barkmann, We will be able to accept credit cards for East Wenatchee. October 11: All Aboard Washington meet- payment this year. Everyone is encouraged ing from 10:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at the to attend and bid high for distinctive Holiday All Aboard Washington Kelso Station meeting room. Speakers in- gifts. members contributing to clude Dan Myers, Kelso City Councilman this newsletter include December 13: All Aboard Washington will and member of Kelso’s volunteer station David Privitt, Zack hosts; Herb Krohn (invited) of the SMART travel to Portland on Cascades 501 for a Willhoite, Barry Green, union; and AORTA’s Floyd Smith, who will little business on the train and a day of fun Art Poole, Lloyd Flem and Jim Cusick. summarize ODOT’s new state Rail Plan. and discussions with our AORTA counter- parts in the Rose City. Please join us. More All Aboard Washington is a member of November 8: All Aboard Washington an- details in the next newsletter and on-line. AmazonSmile. Making Amazon purchases nual membership meeting from 1 p.m.-4:00 through AmazonSmile can benefit AAWA. p.m. in the community room at the Centra- Use our Northwest Corridor trains to and from all these meetings. Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases lia Amtrak Station. We suggest lunch on to us if you use AmazonSmile. Access the your own before the meeting at McMena- All Aboard Washington recently welcomed service through the link on our homepage. min’s landmark Olympic Club directly the following new members: Matthew across Railroad Ave from the station. Speakers include Kirk Fredrickson, WSDOT NOTICE OF ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OF ALL ABOARD WASHINGTON Rail Division and Dan McFarling of AORTA. ALL ABOARD WASHINGTON will elect six new members to its board. Each member of Our meeting will feature AAWA’s silent All Aboard Washington who is current in his or her dues and of sound mind and legal auction, returning after skipping 2013. age is entitled to run for the office of Director and file a Declaration of Candidacy by No- Among the special items offered are sev- vember 1, 2014. The Declaration of Candidacy shall be in writing and shall include the eral large-scale rail memorabilia, and over- full name and mailing address of the candidate and must be delivered by mail, email or night stay packages from two downtown otherwise to Rocky Shay, Secretary, 820 SW 356th St., Federal Way, WA 98023. (For Centralia establishments: McMenamin’s Shay’s telephone and email information, see p. 5.) If no more than six candidates have Olympic Club Hotel, and the newly devel- duly filed for Director by 8 PM, November 1, 2014, all candidates who have filed Decla- oped Centralia Square Hotel, the repur- rations of Candidacy will be deemed elected and the election will be canceled. posed Centralia Elks building. Both Mc- If an election is required, such election shall occur at the General Membership Meeting Menamin’s and Centralia Square, along commencing at 1 p.m. at the Centralia Amtrak Station, 210 Railroad Ave., on November with Talgo, are sponsors of our meeting. 8, 2014. All members of All Aboard Washington (whose dues are current) is entitled to Several donations are pending. We con- be present and vote for candidates for Director. The new Board members shall take of- tinue to look for additional quality items or fice on January 1, 2015.