NARP News National Association of Railroad Passengers February 2012 www.narprail.org Trains: A Travel Choice Americans Want House Transportation Bill Threatens Transit, PTC, Cal. HSR The “American Energy and Infra- be once the $40 billion runs out. NARP, Partners Back structure Jobs Act” (H.R. 7), passed by The T&I committee, on a party-line Gov. Brown’s HSR the House Transportation & Infrastruc- 15-22 vote, rejected Rep. Earl Blume- Commitment ture (T&I) Committee early Feb. 3, is nauer’s (D-OR) amendment in opposi- a fi ve-year mostly-highway reauthori- tion to this unfortunate proposal. In a joint letter, NARP, Californians for High-Speed Rail and the Midwest zation. The House Ways and Means Also on a party-line vote, 22-17, High-Speed Rail Association praised Committee approved the revenue pro- the Committee adopted an amendment Gov. Jerry Brown’s (D) continuing visions, also Feb. 3. (www.bit.ly/denhamhsr) by Rep. Jeff commitment to high speed rail. The NARP and the U.S. Chamber of Denham (R-CA), making any Califor- groups urged Brown to move forward Commerce are among 600 organiza- nia high-speed rail project ineligible with construction of the fi rst segment tions that signed a Transportation for for the bill’s funds. between Merced and Bakersfi eld. America letter opposing the troubling The bill extends by fi ve years, to transit provisions. The letter comes after a Jan. 18 State Dec. 31, 2020, the deadline by which of the State Address in which Brown Transit—including commuter rail— most lines carrying passengers must gave greater prominence to a passenger gets about 80% of its federal funds have Positive Train Control and elimi- train project than perhaps any governor from the Highway Trust Fund’s transit nates the requirement for hazmat lines in recent memory. account, roughly $10 billion a year. (see separate PTC story, p. 2). “If you believe that California will But the bill would replace the tran- The bill mandates that Amtrak’s continue to grow, as I do, and that mil- sit account with a one-time “alternate dining and cafe operations be com- lions more people will be living in our funding” $40 billion appropriation. It is petitively bid, which is problematic. state, this is a wise investment,” he unclear at whose expense (Amtrak’s?) Most troubling is a prohibition against said, comparing the project to the Cen- this $40 billion would come. Equally Amtrak taking legal action against any tral Valley Water Project and Interstate troubling is what transit’s fate would (continued on p. 2) Highway System. “The need to break ground this year New Norfolk Train to Operate by Year’s End for the Initial Construction Segment in Funding Secure for Norfolk, Lynchburg Trains through Late 2014 the San Joaquin Valley is paramount for Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and getting this service operating will the future of HSR in this state and na- announced Jan. 18 that a daily Amtrak strengthen them both.” tion,” the joint rail groups’ letter said. Northeast Regional round-trip cur- The northbound train will depart “HSR will serve as a catalyst for a ro- rently operating between Boston and Norfolk’s new downtown station in bust expansion of California’s econo- Richmond will be extended to Norfolk (continued on p. 5) (continued on p. 3) via Petersburg and Suf- folk by the end of 2012, ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: ten months earlier than • Positive Train Control troubles 2 originally projected. • Troy, MI Council reinstates station 2 Thelma Drake, Di- project NARP Spring Council meeting 3 rector of the Virginia • • Amtrak’s 2013 grant request 4 Department of Rail and • Amtrak Anniversary Train visits 4 Public Transportation Oklahoma and Texas (DRPT), said, “This • Service for Florida’s east coast? 4 service is a win-win for • Amtrak petitions Surface Board to 5 Hampton Roads and relieve Canadian National delays • Crowds fl ock to Lynchburg train 6 Northern Virginia. The -Ryan Stavely on Flickr.com • Boardman: Daily Sunset talks halted 6 economies of these two Construction under way on the platform for the Norfolk Am- Philadelphia hosts global high-speed trak station, which will share a parking lot with Harbor Park, • 6 rail conference regions are intertwined the minor-league baseball stadium. - 1 - PRESIDENT’S Positi ve Train Control: Approach, CORNER Costs, 2015 Compliance Deadline NARP News ©2012 National Association of Railroad “The Amtrak-ARES demonstration Passengers. All rights reserved. project, designed to show the benefi ts 505 Capitol Court, NE, Suite 300 of an advanced train-control system, Washington, DC 20002-7706 (202) 408-8362; fax: (202) 408-8287 can carry Amtrak service to new lev- [email protected] els of safety, reliability and effi cien- www.narprail.org cy.” Robert J. Stewart Chairman --Amtrak President and Chairman John Delora Vice Chair W. Graham Claytor Jr., in 1992 fl ier Albert L. Papp, Jr. Vice Chair promoting Burlington Northern/Amtrak Arthur Poole Vice Chair demo Congress refused to fund “...‘positive train control system’ David Randall Vice Chair means a system designed to prevent Stephen J. Salatti Secretary Kenneth T. Clifford Treasurer train-to-train collisions…” - Amtrak (1980s ARES brochure) --Section 104 of the Railroad Safety In 1992, Amtrak Pres. Graham Claytor Jr. Ross B. Capon President & CEO (right) and Burlington Northern Railway Sean Jeans-Gail Vice President Improvement Act of 2008 CEO Gerald Grinstein partnered on a pro- “Some potential for a low speed rear- posal to expand BN’s advanced technol- Malcolm M. Kenton Director of ogy but Congress provided no funding. Outreach & Engagement end collision will remain…and the Mary Beth McCall Coordinator of rule is clear that this limitation has dark territory. ARES “worked as advertised Resource Development been accepted…The PTC system… for fi ve years. It always worked consis- Lawrence E. Scott Special Assistant cannot guarantee that the trains shar- tently,” said Steve Ditmeyer, who BN CEO to the Chairman ing the authority will not collide.” Richard Bressler hired to establish an R&D This has news through Feb. 8. --PTC implementation rule, Federal department. Vol. 46, No. 1 was mailed Jan. 9. Register, January 15, 2010, page 2613 Veteran reporter Don Phillips saw a demonstration at the Iron Range, with an patching—telling engineers the optimum engineer trying to run the train against a red speeds for their trains; and As suggested by the headline in a recent · supporting effi cient maintenance, with FairWarning.org report, things are not go- signal. “The engineer was dubious as hell. I don’t think he trusted the technology. The division points knowing of any problems ing well with Positive Train Control (PTC) with a train before its arrival. implementation: “Railroad companies train never reached the signal. He tried to start up again and the train started to creep Industry Disinterest fi ght safety rules, with help from GOP and Unfortunately, a new CEO at BN was Obama” (on.msnbc.com/ptcrr). and let him go 10 feet and shut him down again. It was impressive” (DesignNews, willing to continue and expand ARES only Some History if another railroad would partner. Only In 1992 at Washington Union Station, 10/21/2008). ARES also impressed the National Trans- Amtrak’s Claytor, who had been Secretary Burlington Northern (BN) proudly showed of the Navy, was interested. off its Advanced Railroad Electronics Sys- portation Safety Board, which put PTC on its most-wanted list when that list was cre- He proposed installing it on Amtrak’s tem (ARES, pre-cursor to PTC). Along part of the Chicago-Detroit line. Congress with Capitol Hill and industry people, I saw ated in 1990. If the railroad industry had been on its refused his request for funding to partner on an ARES-equipped SD-40 locomotive and ARES with BN, which envisioned imple- offi ce car. toes, ARES would have continued and spread nationwide: menting ARES Minneapolis-Seattle/Port- ARES operated 1987-93 on the Minne- land. For much of the next 15 years, the sota Iron Range on 250 miles of track with · preventing train-to-train collisions, · supporting effi cient, fuel-saving train dis- industry insisted that PTC technology was different types of signal systems and some not ready. The April 16, 1993, board meeting of the Troy Council Does About-Face on New Station Association of American Railroads [AAR] Reversing its Dec. 19 vote to ter- Wade Fleming, who said he was open (continued next page) minate the project (January News), to changing his vote if the project’s the Troy, MI City Council voted 4-3 cost could be reduced signifi cantly. H.R. 7 from page 1 on Jan. 17 to approve construction of By omitting several “green” features competing passenger carrier. a 100% federally funded intermodal and special lighting, and shortening The conservative Club for Growth, transportation center to replace the cur- the platform, the cost was cut from for its own reasons, opposes H.R. 7 and rent Birmingham shelter and platform $8.5 million to $6.2 million, which will says it will count this as a key vote on on the Wolverine line. come from federal TIGER III funds. which it will rate legislators. The Troy Chamber of Commerce For full commentary by NARP’s John H.R. 7 is at 1.usa.gov/hr7ti. Our Feb. negotiated with one Council member, DeLora, see www.bit.ly/troysta 1 release is at www.bit.ly/narphr7. - 2 - Positi ve Train Control from page 2 California from page 1 showed CEO lack of appreciation for—or nals. They are spending signifi cant sums on my and provide a signifi cant boost to interest in—technology.