Washington Rail News June/July 2012

www.AllAboardWashington.org

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

Representative Judy Clibborn: additional Washington, Oregon to integrate management of revenue needed to continue expanding Northwest Corridor Amtrak Cascades service On April 4, Washington and Oregon State Representative Judy Clibborn structure and expanding rail service not announced the creation of a new part- (D-Mercer Island) was our featured only creates temporary construction nership and will develop a plan for speaker at All Aboard Washington’s jobs but the projects create permanent managing passenger rail service be- April 14 meeting in Tukwila. To the jobs as the economy expands as a re- tween Eugene, OR and Vancouver, BC more than 40 people in attendance, sult of improved mobility for both peo- as one continuous rail corridor rather she said, “I’m pleased to be here. All ple and goods. than two separate state operations. Aboard Washington is the leader on rail The current operating cost for the Transportation officials for each state issues.” Cascades is $70 million per year. signed the agreement as another step Clibborn is Ticket and other train revenue bring in toward offering faster, more frequent fully supportive $51 million a year; the operating sub- Amtrak Cascades service. of our state’s sidy provided by the state is $19 mil- Washington Transportation Secre- intercity pas- lion. The subsidy has decreased over tary Paula Hammond and Oregon Di- senger rail and the years as the percentage of fare rector of Transportation Matt Garrett freight rail revenue that covers operating costs said they will create a corridor man- programs. has risen from 34% to 51%. agement plan to include governance, Most of the Section 209 of the 2008 Passenger centralizing fleet management, sched- transportation Rail Investment and Improvement Act uling, budgeting and capital planning, projects funded (PRIIA) requires an equalization of with a goal of improving passenger rail Rep. Judy Clibborn by the 2003 costs to the states supporting short performance that benefits riders and and 2005 distance corridors such as the Cas- economies in both states. transportation tax packages will be cades. The states will soon need to Hammond and Garrett also an- completed in the next several years. To fund 100% the operating subsidy for nounced the selection of John Sibold to continue improving our transportation their corridors. Since Amtrak currently fill a new position of Cascade Corridor infrastructure to meet the growing de- covers all the costs of trains 500 and director. Sibold has been the rail and mands in our state the Legislature must 509 (north of Portland), Washington will marine director at the WSDOT since start assessing ways to fund the have to pick up this cost, which will be August and will continue to focus on needed construction. Any new tax $3-5 million a year, in order to maintain improving the reliability of passenger package will need to contain funding the existing service. rail service and managing the state’s outside the gas tax for the multimodal Amtrak is also revamping the way it freight lines. account, which funds the Amtrak Cas- charges for equipment maintenance. “John will help improve customer cades and freight rail projects (that are This cost is expected to increase about service along the corridor and maxim- mostly on our short line railroads). $3 million a year for each of the next 20 ize the economic benefits of reliable rail Spending on transportation is a years. Clibborn said the state is pre- travel that is on-time, fast, safe and af- huge jobs generator. Building infra- pared to meet these additional costs. fordable,” Hammond said. “More and She noted the state more people realize that passenger rail is developing a plan to is convenient, affordable and a good continue increasing alternative to automobiles.” revenues (and thus “One of John’s immediate tasks lowering the state’s over the next six months will be to de- costs) that consists of: velop a new plan for managing the rail  Strategic fare corridor in full partnership with Oregon increases and in consultation with British Colum- bia,” Garrett said. “We anticipate a plan  New promotional that leads to cost savings, greater effi- opportunities ciency between our states, improved  Continued Rep. Clibborn speaking at the April 14 All Aboard contract management with equipment (See Clibborn, page 4) Washington Tukwila meeting. Photos by Jim Hamre (See Management, page 4) page 2 high speed line is in addition to already ple! From the desk of excellent tracks and over 40 trains each A place where we proponents of light the Executive way per day between these two largest and regional rail have a case is counter- Director B-W cities. ing those who (are in effect milder ver- This is just another example which sions of the “We hate it, because they by negates the argument that Europe and love it“ crowd) insist that these forms of Lloyd H. Flem such places as Japan and South Korea rail might be acceptable in the effete, cor- have trains because their people can’t rupt, not-too-manly east, but not west of Some Debating Points for Passen- afford cars and trains are the only option. the Mississippi where we are proud, in- ger Train Advocates; Bipartisan Oh, if you travel to Stuttgart, I understand dependent, never ride in the wagon, and Support for Washington Trains your Lufthansa ticket covers your flight to vainly sit astride our own steeds! Frankfurt, then your Lufthansa ticket will So then how about Dallas? How We in Washington are fortunate that “fly” you via high-speed train south to about Salt Lake City? The big Texas ur- public investment in passenger trains has Stuttgart. A rational Teutonic allocation of ban icon’s Dallas Area Rapid Transit broad support. In fact, objective polls by transportation modes and resources. Are (DART) attracts lots of riders, but it also the most respected polling firms show our region’s folks paying attention when attracts private-sector Texas entrepre- that keeping the infrastructure we have in thoughts of even more Sea-Tac runways neurs, who invest big Texas bucks next good safe repair and funding more pas- are voiced rather than rail investments to DART train stops because they make senger train service are the top public between Seattle and Portland? more money! Salt Lake City? Probably preferences for transportation America’s most conservative – investment. culturally, economically, politically Ignore the few sillies who claim With wealthy people who own fine – major urban place. Original to “hate” that which is popular plans for light and regional rail among our foreign allies, be it cars and with superb highways, were vigorously denounced as soccer, full-bodied beer or pas- the [German] state and federal “socialism.” Fast forward: Both senger trains, simply because governments are nonetheless light rail within Salt Lake City and those non-Americans “love them.” regional rail along the Wasatch With these domestic anti-rail peo- putting the majority of their Front (the north-south corridor ple, rational propositions, includ- transportation investments in … where most of Utah’s significant ing my favored compare-with- cities and people are found) has other-leading-prosperous-democ- high speed rail! ever-growing support from the racies, would have no impact. So electorate. Local, state and fed- save your debate points for use Another fallacy repeated by Northwest eral elected officials, nearly all conserva- with those with whom we may disagree rail opponents is that Europe has suc- tive Republicans, are now strong sup- on the role and magnitude of public in- cessful passenger trains because of their porters of these rail systems. Now, Uta- vestments in passenger trains, but at high population densities, in contrast to hans have voted for another extension least attempt a reasonable case for their low-density Pacific Northwest. But in a along the Wasatch Front. Passenger rail positions. study AAWA President Loren Herrigstad in and around Salt Lake City is a com- Germany is certainly a leading pros- and I did for a legislative seminar chaired plete and growing success story. perous democracy, currently the eco- by Lt. Gov. Brad Owen at Seattle’s Dallas and SLC may still attempt to nomic bastion of Europe and, along with Rainier Club last summer, we showed show a bit of Western frontier vibe, but several smaller north European nations, that our Northwest rail corridor was near- that vibe now includes increasing invest- is not suffering the well-publicized eco- identical to a southwest German rail cor- ment in and use of local and regional nomic problems of Mediterranean Europe ridor extending from Frankfurt to Stuttgart passenger trains. and Ireland. And the most prosperous to Ulm to Munich in population, the size  part of prosperous Germany is the and spatial distribution of cities and, most It is general knowledge that Talgo, in southwest, particularly the state of importantly, population density. The “in- cooperation with the former Wisconsin Baden-Württemberg, anchored by its sufficient density” case for intercity rail and Milwaukee public administrations, capital Stuttgart. B-W is served by sev- here is simply baseless. Our Northwest established a factory to build four train eral of Deutschland’s justly-famed auto- Corridor is a textbook model for in- sets in Milwaukee’s economically de- bahns with private automobile ownership creased investment in high(er) speed pressed north side. A win for all con- approaching North American levels. Av- passenger trains. cerned. Now Wisconsin, like many erage incomes are among the highest in  states, is suffering from levels of extreme Europe, B-W has a varied and thriving Some antagonism to Sound Transit’s political partisanship that is undoing the economic base, led by such world- trains still exists. While certainly in favor development of a small, but potentially- famous firms as Siemens and Daimler. of both light rail and the Sounder regional important rail equipment manufacturing With wealthy people who own fine rail, I must concur that the costs of pro- industry in the Badger State. (Two of the cars (when visiting B-W in 1998, wife jects, from planning, to mitigation, to pla- train sets are bound for Oregon, to be Darleen and I marveled at the very high cating some communities that see Sound added to our thriving Amtrak Cascades percentage of BMWs and Daimler-built Transit as an ATM for projects only tan- service.) Mercedes-Benz vehicles) and with su- gentially connected to rail, to the actual Recall Wisconsin had been one of the perb highways, the state and federal rail projects, seem numbingly high to this top states in line for receipt of ARRA governments are nonetheless putting the older-generation, small-town, traditional “High Speed Rail” money. But then gu- majority of their transportation invest- fiscal conservative. bernatorial candidate Scott Walker ran on ments in … high speed rail! The under- But I am even more numbed by the (See Flem, page 3) construction Stuttgart-east-to-Ulm true costs of adding lanes to I-405, for exam- page 3 because of the most recent letter from a but it wouldn’t have performed as well coal-train opponent who questions the against the Transit Oriented Develop- motives of those who disagree with his ment that could have happened in the assessment. To quote “I do know that I Interurban corridor if they at least ran the don’t want any more trains coming study out as far as we did in the I-405 through Edmonds regardless of what the Corridor Program. freight content is. I would like it if there I’m at least grateful that Sound Transit were NO TRAINS coming through Ed- has accomplished what it has as far as monds!” gaining regional cooperation to build with Jim Cusick At least he’s honest. some sort of rail transit system. But with So, what can we make of this devel- places like Redmond, Renton, Kirkland, Rain, Rain, GO AWAY…Time for opment I found over at the intersection of Tukwila, the UW and Bellevue all acting the facts to see the light of day. in their own parochial interest this far If the sun would just stay out up here along instead of cooperatively building in the PNW for an extended length of systems that would work is … pathetic. time, we could clearly see what kind of Here’s an except from the City of environmentalists we really are. Kirkland’s website (tinyurl.com/Kirkland Why? Because our decisions are BNSF) pertaining to the BNSF corridor: clouded. Hidden behind the blustery, The main focus for development windy weather that keeps our air clean. of the corridor in the short term I will start with the issue of coal trains. should be on a trail. A paved, acces- The increase in coal train traffic doesn’t Totem Lake Blvd and NE 124th St. ? sible, bicycle and pedestrian trail have such a direct impact on passenger would be far less expensive than a trains, as much as it does now for my high-capacity rail or bus system and purpose of exposing the major chink in would require a less extensive plan- the armor of our supposed environmental ning process than would a transit awareness. option. However, it is important that A little background: Edmonds city trail planning be done with rail com- councilman Strom Peterson, in a guest patibility – that would meet Kirkland’s editorial in the local Edmonds Beacon interests – as the long-term goal. newspaper, decried the potential in- If you would like to see how the City of Due to its poor physical condition, crease in coal train traffic through Ed- Kirkland is moving forward on its Cross the current infrastructure in the corri- dor is not capable of supporting rail monds. He stated “The Edmonds Ferry Kirkland Corridor check this link: traffic that would offer a viable trans- terminal – a vital transportation artery – http://www.kirklandreporter.com/news/ 147631155.html portation option. If rail were to be lo- would be frequently blocked by long, cated on the corridor, a safe, fully- slow-moving trains” and that there are featured, high-capacity rail system – other detrimental effects on emergency similar to Link Light Rail – is perhaps response, vehicular traffic, etc. “Coal the ideal option. A high-capacity rail dust, diesel emissions, and pollution from system would require a great deal of trains and ships would foul our water and careful planning to meet Kirkland’s poison our lungs, increasing heart and interests. respiratory diseases.” Because of its high cost and As my daughter said, “Yep, he sounds Sound Transit timing, it is not likely like a politician!” that regional rail transit would be in The next series of letters to the editor operation before 2030. Moreover, were the predictable volley of insults and Included in the article is this para- the Eastside Rail Corridor may not invectives. “Job killers.” “Eco-Fascists.” graph: “Purchase of the segment en- be the best alignment for such a The retort of coal dust being “extremely sures that the land will stay in public route. In the shorter term, there may fine and largely invisible until it accumu- ownership and all future decisions be less expensive corridor transit lates on something”. about developing this corridor will be options that could be developed, such as bus rapid transit linking the However, one thoughtful letter writer, made by Kirkland residents and elected officials.” South Kirkland Park & Ride and To- who claims to not be a railroad em- tem Lake. ployee, began observing trains on his If we look at Kenmore as an example, do you really think the Burke-Gilman trail While freight operations may be regular walks on the waterfront. In gen- part of a future rail corridor, there eral, his observations basically concur will become a railroad right-of-way again? does not appear to be much current with mine. commercial interest in freight rail Once the tracks here are removed, We’ll just say the word “hyperbole” is service within the city. It is difficult to a good descriptor for Mr. Peterson’s edi- this will cease to be an option as evi- conceive of freight rail operations torial in this case. denced by how Sound Transit hasn’t the that would meet many of Kirkland’s Now I can say that my opinion on gumption to run “Lynnwood Link” in the interests. Interurban right-of-way because it would burning coal is much in line with those Where do they come up with that who oppose it, but one needs to keep a run into a lot of opposition from Shore- line. The cost/benefit logic was question- statement about freight operations? Have focused eye on the facts, regardless of they talked with the people operating the whether they support your emotional able because the horizon year was too short. That’s why the I-5 route option service between Snohomish and Woodin- conclusions or not. (See Cusick, page 5) What makes this issue important? It’s showed a positive C/B ratio. It cost less, page 4 make system improvements,” Sibold said. Rep. Mike Armstrong (R-Wenatchee), Clibborn, from page 1 “Our goal in all that we do as partner states, Ranking Member of that same HTC. Rep- improvements in the revenue manage- and as we work with Amtrak, BNSF and resentatives Clibborn and Armstrong serve ment system Talgo, is to meet customer expectations for strikingly varied constituencies, have hon- Clibborn discussed the new partnership service.” est and reasonable differences on some is- between Oregon and Washington to de- Sibold has worked for the Port of Bel- sues, but work closely and cordially to- velop an integrated corridor management lingham as the director of aviation and ma- gether to help meet our state’s transporta- program that was announced on April 4 rine service, for WSDOT as the director of tion needs. And to the satisfaction of rail (see separate article on page 1). The state aviation, and for Alaska Airlines as a cus- advocates, both are strong advocates for has started development of new state rail tomer service manager. investment in passenger and freight rail as plan that integrates passenger and freight part of Washington’s transportation future. rail together. WSDOT has recently relaunched the Rail Over forty AAWA members heard Rep. Oregon, Washington, Amtrak and Talgo section of its website. The design is cleaner Clibborn’s presentation. Let’s have an equal are also developing a fleet management and clearer, and information on the state’s number for Rep. Armstrong at the June plan for the Cascades trainsets. The goals rail program is easier to find. Check it out: meeting. It will be Saturday June 9 12:30- include: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Rail/ 3:30 p.m. at Wenatchee’s Red Lion Hotel,  Efficient fleet rotation 1225 North Wenatchee Ave. Individual set-  Maximizing the number of seats Flem, from page 2 tlement for the buffet luncheon. About $21, available for sale a platform very hostile to developing a rail including tax and gratuity. The chef would  Providing for proper equipment corridor between Milwaukee and the state like a count by June 5. So an RSVP to maintenance capital of Madison, while still accepting Lloyd Flem is requested, but anyone Improved fleet management will provide more service on the heavily-used Milwau- showing up on June 9 will not be turned an opportunity over the next five years to kee-Chicago corridor. Walker was elected away! make incremental capacity improvements. and “gave back” HSR money, which was Rep. Armstrong’s topics will include rail Two additional Seattle-Portland roundtrips independent of the Talgo manufacturing issues of particular importance to central are schedules to start running in 2017. plant. Walker made other decisions which and eastern Washington, including freight enraged large segments of the population rail. Rumor has it that serious consideration Management, from page 1 and is now the object of a recall campaign. of issues is spiced with humor and fun and service providers, innovative service The other two trainsets, intended to remain when Mike Armstrong is at the podium. See improvements and coordinated delivery of in Wisconsin for Milwaukee-Chicago ser- you in Wenatchee! federal projects.” vice, might now need to be mothballed, as On a separate note, John Sibold has Sibold the Legislature refused to appropriate mod- informed me that the WSDOT Rail Office is will also be est sums to continue design for the train addressing the important issue of too many working maintenance base. Partisan anger is late trains in the Northwest Corridor with its with U.S. heightened by the large sums of money partners Amtrak and BNSF. outside entities are pumping into the state, and Cana- King Street Station: permanent dian border mostly for purchase of attack ads. Biparti- services on sanship, looking for reasonable compro- ticket counter and temporary the imple- mise seems for now to be history in Wis- waiting room open mentation consin, as it is in many states. On May 23, the permanent ticketing of a new We are quite fortunate in our Washing- area and baggage area (complete with a customs preclearance program to reduce ton, where working together for the good of baggage carousel) opened at historic King the delays to passenger trains crossing the the state is still practiced in Olympia. This Street Station. As the Seattle Dept. of border. He will also continue to build part- seems to be most evident in transportation, Transportation moves the project into the nerships and a shared vision with British where Democrats and Republicans are not next phase – seismic upgrades to the Columbia on the rail corridor. only civil, but seem to respect and like each building and restoration of the waiting room This summer, Oregon will introduce two other. This bipartisan cooperation has been – a temporary waiting room has been cre- new 13-car Talgo trains into the fleet, around for a while. One formidable pair ated at the north side of the station. providing the opportunity for improving were the late Democrat Ruth Fisher and Passengers enter the station through a schedules during peak demand. WSDOT is Republican Karen Schmidt, who, for a dec- temporary entrance is just north of regular investing nearly $800 million in federal ade or so, together supported not only tra- entrance. The temporary waiting room is American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ditional highways and ferries, but transit small and has limited access to the tracks. grants to make improvements on BNSF rail and rail as well There is a longer walk to trains using the lines that will result in higher passenger Bipartisan cooperation among trans- south side stub tracks. train speeds and more reliable perfor- portation legislators in recent years is evi- “Amtrak will be working hard to make mance. WSDOT will be purchasing eight denced by cooperative efforts of Senate sure that our passengers can navigate in high performance locomotives that will sub- Transportation Committee Chair Democrat and around the station during the next stantially improve overall corridor service by Mary Margaret Haugen (Camano Island) phase of construction,” said Amtrak Assis- 2017. and STC Republican Ranking Members tant Superintendent Gay Banks Olson. With the ARRA funds, the goal is to add Dan Swecker (Rochester) for many years “There will be some challenges with re- two daily Amtrak Cascades roundtrips be- and now Curtis King (Yakima). Strong sup- gards to access to the station and the other tween Seattle and Portland, for a total of six port for rail is part of this bipartisan pattern construction occurring in the immediate vi- each day. The improvements are also in- among STC leadership. cinity.” Amtrak recommends passengers ar- tended to reduce travel times, as well as But look no further than this newsletter. rive well ahead of the usual 30 minutes improve average on-time performance from The lead article features Rep. Judy Clib- prior to departure. Parking is limited, but a the current 70 percent to 88 percent. born (D-Mercer Island), AAWA’s speaker at new loading zone and taxi stand have been “It’s an exciting time to be in the pas- our April meeting. Rep. Clibborn is Chair of created on King St. just west of the station. senger rail business, given that ridership is the House Transportation Committee. Our More details: going up and we have federal dollars to June meeting’s featured speaker will be www.seattle.gov/transportation/kingstreet.htm 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 Rocky Shay, Federal Way - Secretary...... 253 925-2085 .. [email protected] U. S. Senate: Washington, DC 20510 Harvey Bowen, Seattle - Treasurer...... 206 322-2729 .. [email protected] Capitol Switchboard (all members): 202 224-3121 Lloyd Flem, Olympia.. State Legislature: State Capitol, Olympia 98504 Executive Director ...... 360 943-8333 .. [email protected] Hotline for leaving messages: 800 562-6000 Address ...... 620 Boundary St SE, Olympia 98501 Amtrak Reservations/Information: 800 872-7245 Jim Hamre, Puyallup - Newsletter Editor .... 253 848-2473 .. [email protected] Warren Yee, Seattle - E-newsletter ...... 206 723-0259 .. [email protected] All Aboard Washington: AllAboardWashington.org Zack Willhoite, Puyallup - Membership Director ...... [email protected] NARP: www.narprail.org NARP Hotline: www.narprail.org/news/hotline Amtrak: www.amtrak.com All are evening numbers, except Lloyd's, which is available 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. Amtrak Cascades: www.amtrakcascades.com Sound Transit: www.soundtransit.org

New Talgos may mean new ridership of the four Oregon-sponsored covered in moss. trains, making it a likely candidate for re- Our transportation decisions rival the Willamette Valley schedules backwardness of LA, and if it wasn’t for our By Jon Nuxoll placement with a Portland-Eugene Thru- way bus. windy, rainy weather, the air up here would An all-rail daytrip from Portland and look like LA. possibly Seattle to the Willamette Valley Use of Oregon’s equipment to expand capacity of frequently sold-out Portland- Basically, once the track is ripped up, and back may be possible this fall, under it isn’t coming back. Cascades schedule changes now under Seattle trains was also rumored in earlier months. We’re addicted to the car, and the consideration by the Oregon Department sooner we admit it the better. We’re as bad Bob Melbo, ODOT rail planner, out- of Transportation, Amtrak and Union Pa- as a drug addict, with an additional annoy- lined possible schedule changes in a cific. A morning southbound Cascades ance factor of constant whining. from Portland and its return from Eugene March article in the Eugene Register- Whining about traffic congestion. in the late afternoon may be possible Guard, and ODOT has asked the Assoc. Whining about having to pay for new thanks to two new Talgo sets ODOT will of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates for roads. receive later this year. its comments on any schedule changes. Whining about tolls. Oregon’s Talgo equipment will bring Amtrak and the Washington State And the most annoying: Whining about to seven the number of sets in use on the Department of Transportation own the the price of gas. Cascades between Eugene and Vancou- five Talgo sets now in use in the Cas- We pay the highest prices for gas, along ver, B.C.. They will not, however, result in cades corridor. Together, the five sets with most of the west coast. Why? any net increase in Willamette Valley travel 2,606 miles daily, Melbo said. Cur- Simple. The oil companies are only charging service because state support for oper- rent scheduling is necessary to allow each set to be in Seattle for maintenance what the market will bear. ating the trains remains unchanged. The And we won’t do a thing about it. additional equipment will allow for more every fourth night. We could get them to lower the price of flexible schedules. gas the way any other consumer affects the Since the Cascades corridor was es- Cusick, from page 3 price of a commodity – STOP BUYING IT! tablished in the 1990s, equipment availa- ville? I have. They’ve told me that they Eviro-Nazi’s? Eco-Fascists? bility has limited scheduling flexibility to (informally) talk up the potential to It’s time to end the charade. maximize use of the current five Talgo customers even down in Bellevue. In the subdued light of today’s cloud sets. That has meant that same-day As for how Light Rail Transit was de- cover, Eco-Posers appears to be the cor- Cascades trips from Portland to the scribed in the I-405 Corridor Program doc- rect description. Willamette Valley are not possible, as the umentation, the BNSF corridor through day’s first southbound train from Portland Kirkland is exactly where the lines were National Train Day at Centennial Sta. (the Coast Starlight) does not leave until drawn. Darleen mid-afternoon, and the day’s third and And what exactly is the Eastside Trail Flem and last northbound train from Eugene (also Advocate’s message? Darlene the Starlight) leaves in the early The tea-leaves read that Kirkland is Austin giving this lip-service as a future rail afternoon. staff the corridor. AAWA A scheduling change would likely Making an issue out of spending up to mean replacing one of the two morning table at Sound Transit’s high estimate of $1.3 billion NTD. northbound departures from Eugene with to develop the rail line all the way to Thruway bus service. Train 500’s 5:30 The Snohomish, vs. spending almost $1 billion Olympia a.m. departure is popular with travelers on Bus Rapid Transit in the I-405 corridor Highland- commuting up the Willamette Valley as doesn’t pass the sniff test. Even worse, ers bag- well as Washington-bound passengers, they act as if they favor an even higher cost pipe band while Train 504’s 9:00 a.m. departure is LRT system. ($4.5 Billion was the estimate greets the especially popular with Willamette Valley for LRT in the I-405 Corridor back in 2000.) Coast residents making a day trip to Portland. This is sad. Starlight’s Southbound, the 9:00 p.m. Portland The only reason we can claim to be arrival. departure of Train 509 has the lowest “green” up here is because everything is Top photo by Jim Hamre; bottom by Karen Keller 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

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Travel via Amtrak train 11 from the McFarling, Warren Yee and Loren All Aboard News north or train 500 from the south to Herrigstad. June 9: All Aboard Washington meet- Centralia. We will use Twin Transit to ing in Wenatchee at the Red Lion Ho- get to the steam train. Use 507 or 516 tel, 1225 N. Wenatchee Avenue, at or later trains to return home. If you An upcoming 12:30 p.m. Our guest speaker will be must drive: Exit 77 (Hwy 6 - Main St.) event of interest: Rep. Mike Armstrong (R-Wenatchee), from Interstate 5 and turn west. Turn Several AAWA members are plan- minority leader of the state House left on Riverside Dr. Continue about ½ ning to attend the mile to Sylvenus Street and turn left. Transportation Committee. Topics of Cascade Rail discussion will include freight rail and Lunch on your own on the train. The Foundation’s Rails to Ales Brewfest in daytime passenger train service to Chehalis-Centralia RR has a snack bar South Cle Elum on July 14. The Brewfest central and eastern Washington from available. Train fares: Adult, $13; Se- is a fundraiser for CRF. The organiza- Seattle. A buffet with soups, salads, nior, $12; Children, $10. tion’s goal is to preserve the site of the breads, dessert and beverage will be www.steamtrainride.com Milwaukee Railroad in South Cle Elum available for about $21, including tax August 11: All Aboard Washington’s and to tell the story of the Milwaukee’s and gratuity, with individual settlement. Summer Barbecue meeting. It will be electrification and route through Wash- An RSVP is requested by June 5 to 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Ralph Munro’s ington. For more information on the Cas- be able to give an approximate count to Triple Creek Farm at 5041 Houston cade Rail Foundation and to purchase the hotel. Please call or email Lloyd Drive NW just west of Olympia. Com- tickets for the Brewfest go to Flem with your RSVP. Contact info on plete details in the August newsletter. www.milwelectric.org. page 5. (This is a change in city from what was in the last newsletter. Central All Aboard Washington welcomed the Here’s an updated link to a website Washington University’s commence- following new members in April and May: featured last issue that lets you search ment on the our meeting date neces- Shaun Stapleton-McIntosh, Olympia; Amtrak itineraries over a range of dates sitated the change.) Craig Woodson, Seattle; and Dana and will show you what the coach, busi- Gabbard, Los Angeles. ness, first class and sleeping car fares July 21 (3rd Saturday): All Aboard All Aboard Washington members contrib- are for each train and date. If your travel Washington will be riding the Chehalis- plans are flexible you may be able to Centralia Railroad steam train in uting to this newsletter include: Louis Musso, Karen Keller, Lloyd Flem, Jim save yourself some money: Chehalis. We’ll be on the 1:00 PM trip. Cusick, Zack Willhoite, Jon Nuxoll, Dan biketrain.net/fooonuAmtrak/amSnag.php