Amtra ~ A Newsletter for Amtrak Employees VOLUME 2-ISSUE 16 November 15, 1973 president nixon signs amtrak bill; notes trains conserve energy The Amtrak Improvement Act of senger services. In the future, any 1973, covering federal financial as­ organization, with the exception of sistance to Amtrak in fiscal year rai Iroads outside the Amtrak system, 1974 and several important amend­ wishing to establish auto-ferry serv­ ments to the Rail Passenger Service ice must be issued a certificate of Act of 1970, was sign ed into pub lic approval by the Inter sta te Com­ law by Pres ident Nixon November 3. merce Com mission . Approval will In signing the bill, the Presidentsaid be conditioned upon a finding by it is in the national interest to en­ the ICC that there is a public need courage Americans to "choose a for such additional servi ce and that tra in when they make travel plans" institution of the se rvice will not because "railroads ca n carry more impair Amtrak's ability to reduce its pass engers over greater distances losses or increase revenues. This amtrak invites per gal lon of fuel than automobiles provision does not apply to con­ skiers or airlines are able to do, while add­ tracts for auto-ferry service entered ing few pol lutants to the air." into before October 30, 1970. to "ski west" The bi ll, a confere nce committee The newly signed bill makes it This winter Amtrak' s "Ski West" resolution of differences between mandatory that Amtrak initiate at tour packages offer economy-priced House and Senate versions, in­ least one experimental route each vacations at six top Western ski creases the $227 mil lion authoriza­ year. The route or routes will be areas: Colorado, Montana, Idaho, tion contained in the 1972 amend­ designated by the Secretary ofTrans­ California, New Mexico and Utah. ment to the Rail Passenger Service portation and will be operated for All packages include lodging, Act of 1970 to $334.3 m illion. Be­ a minimum of two years. Under the round-trip coach accommodations, sides this increase of$107.3 million, original 1970 act and its 1972 and transfers . Some also include the newly signed bill frees $47 mil­ amendment, Amtrak was given the meals, lift tickets and ski lessons. lion of the 1972 authorization which option of instituting additional serv­ Groups can be organized on re­ had not been appropriated (actu­ ice, within or outside of the basic quest. ally received by Amtrak). This gives system, based on the company's de­ The 13 Amtrak Western ski vaca­ Amtrak a total of $154.3 million in termination that such service was tions for the ' 73 /'74 season are available federal funds. In addition, justified. sponsored in conjunction with Ski­ loan guarantee authority is increased Both the 1970 act and its 1972 America, Gentry TourSki-Pak, Travel from $200 million to $500 million. amendment left unanswered the ' 76, Wanderlust Travel, Inc. and Federal funds authorized under question of who has preference in American Rail Tours. the Amtrak Improvement Act of use of existing railroad tracks - Colorado tour packages include 1973 are to be spent in accordance freight or passenger trains. However, 8-day vacations at Aspen / Snowmass, with spending plans approved by the Amtrak Improvement Act of Vail, Steamboat, Winter Park, and Congress at the time of appropria­ B recken ridge. 1973 states that passenger trains In addition to " Ski West" vacation tion and with general guidelines es­ will have preference "in the use of packages, Amtrak is offering a new, tablished annually by the Secretary any given line of track, junction or Saturday express bus service from of Transportation. crossing" except in an emergency Denver to Vail and Aspen. Reserva­ One significant amendment to the situation. A railroad may petition tions may be secured only with the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 the Secretary of Transportation to purchase of a round-trip train ticket authorizes Amtrak to provide auto­ consider particular circumstances. Continued on page 2 ferry service as part of its basic pas- (Continued on Page Two, Co/., One) amtrak bill (Continued from Page 1) amtrak announces Amtrak may also apply to the Secretary of Transporta­ fall and winter schedules tion for an order requiring a railroad to permit accelerated speeds on tracks used by passenger trains. Schedules on many Amtrak routes changed October Another amendment establishes quality of service pro­ 28 as the nation returned to standard time. Winter vided as a criteria in determining the amount of schedules for trains operating between the Northeast compensation Amtrak will pay to participating railroads. and Midwest and Florida will take effect December 14. Amtrak's board of directors was increased from 15 to 17 Service improvements are also planned. members, and consumer representatives from 1 to 3. In October 28 Changes addition, vacancies on the board must be filled within 120 In the East, Metroliner service between New York and days. Washington increased from 14 roundtrips a day to 15. This means that Amtrak now has hourly Metroliner amtrak invites skiers service between New York and Washington from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. northbound and from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. to "ski west" southbound. All northbound Metroliners leave Washing­ Continued from page 1 ton on the hour; southbound all Metroliners now depart to Denver. Cost of reserved seat round-trip bus ticket New York on the half hour. toAspen IS S25; S15 rouncl=rflp roVeri . A't113 os tm, dep artcrre-s- are- n oWClt4-e-m i n utes past- tone Montana ski areas include: Big Mountain, Red Lodge, hour during the day along the coastal route to New Bridger Bowl, Missoula Snow Bowl, and Big Sky, Seven York except for the Merchants Limited. or eight day packages are available. The Merchants Li mited, Southern Crescent and Sena­ Ski groups to Snowbi rd, Powder Mountai n, Sn ow tor have been significantly upgraded in quality, and all Basin or any of the other well-known sk i areas in Utah fea ture sp ecialty ca rs for improved food service, bar are now accessible via Amtrak. Groups of 30 or more cars and parlor cars. These trains are designed to supple­ from San Francisco are provided special "set-off" car ment the Metrofiners, especially for businessm en un­ arrangements at Ogden, Utah where charter buses oper­ able to get reservations on the popular Metroliners. ate direct to Ogden/ Salt Lake City ski areas known as An additional New York-Washington Metroliner is "the greatest snow on earth." operating on Sundays only, leaving New York at 9:45 Amtrak's "Ski West" program also offers 8-day pack­ p .m . an d arriving in Washington at 12:45 a.m. ages to Schweitzer Basin, Idaho and Taos Ski Valley, A new train, the Valley Forge, operates Monday New Mexico and a 5-day Squaw Valley, California through Friday between New York City and Harrisburg, package. Pa., to provide improved service and relieve the Broad­ In addition, Amtrak is offering a special 8-day rail / way Limited of local traffic requirements. When the drive package. A skierized Dollar-A-Day car will be Valley Forge went into service October 28, the Broadway available upon arrival at Amtrak stops for any of these Limited ceased carrying local traffic between New York leading rocky Mountain ski areas: Aspen, Vail, Winter and Lancaster, Pa. Park, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Crested Bu tte, New Yo rk-Philadelphia trains have been spaced out to Snowmass, Reno, Purgatory, Telluride, Keystone, Cop­ provide departures each half hour all day. per Mountain and Taos, New Mexico. All Dollar-A­ As su mmer traffic pressures have reduced, Amtrak is Day cars are equipped with ski racks, chains, and fully now able to operate some refurbished cars on all Bos­ winterized. ton-Washington trains and most other trains operating The special 8-day rail/ drive package includes a skier­ in that corridor. ized sedan for 8 days with unlimited mileage (insurance Amtrak's popular Montrealer/ Washingtonian now pro­ and gas not included), seven nights' lodging at the lodge vides better arrival times at Vermont and New Hamp­ of your choice (when accommodations are available), shire ski areas. Additional equipment will be added on six days' lift tickets, round-trip rail fare and all taxes. weekends for skiers. The skierized car may be rented without the lodging The Champion, Amtrak' s Northeast-St. Petersburg, Fla . package when an Amtrak ticket. is purchased from Ski­ train, became a New York-Sf. Petersburg train via Or­ America. Cost is S95, plus tax for 8 days. lando, Fla., home of Walt Disney World. Although schedules remain the same on Amtrak's Important notice to all employees. Many Amtrak Empire Service, major changes in equipment are taking of you will be receiving white Rail Travel Privilege place. All of the passenger cars in service have been Cards this month. This card does not supersede renovated, and round-end observation cars have been your present blue and white card. Keep your pres­ added to the New York-Buffalo trains. ent card and send the new white card to the fol­ Beginning October 28, the San Francisco Zephyr stops lowing address: at Truckee, California, gateway to Lake Tahoe and Amtrak Pass Bureau nearby winter and summer resort areas. Both the San 955 L'Enfant Plaza North, S.W. Francisco Zephyr and the Coast Starlight continue to Washington, D.C. 20024 operate daily throughout the winter. Please note that the white Rail Travel Card is still valid for railroad employees.