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Rail Passengers
WEEKLY HOTLINE
Issue #1,274
August 19, 2022
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Table of Contents:
(click to auto-scroll)
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“We’ll always need cars in rural areas and elsewhere, but we really need to ensure that communities of all sizes can participate in mobility that works for everyone.”
- AANW President and Rail Passengers Director Daniel Bilka
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NOTE: There will be no Hotline next week as a number of staff will be traveling back from the Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit in Billings, MT.
We will return to our normal schedule on Friday, Sept. 2nd.
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Amtrak’s funding request for its annual operations and key rail grant programs matches what Rail Passengers Association has outlined to Congress. Please take a few minutes to join our campaign by asking your members of Congress to support Amtrak and passenger rail in the coming appropriations cycle. Using our VoterVoice platform makes advocacy easy as the click of a button.
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A Debacle, But Not a Conspiracy
by Jim Mathews / President & CEO
Travel this summer has been bad, everywhere and with every travel mode – road, air, and yes, rail.
Consider this announcement from the FAA over the weekend: “Due to the availability of staff tonight, the FAA must reduce the flow of aircraft in certain airspace serving New York City to maintain safety. Departure and arrival delays this evening could approach two hours at John F. Kennedy International Airport - JFK, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport - EWR airports. Passengers should prepare for delays, and monitor https://www.fly.faa.gov for updates. Please check with your airline for information about specific flights.”
FAA was telling passengers they didn't have enough air traffic controllers to keep flights flowing smoothly into one of the world’s biggest air-travel hubs. The median – median! – pay for an air-traffic controller is $127,000. This is not an instance in which a hike above the minimum wage is needed to spur employment.
Earlier this month, Australian flag carrier Qantas asked for as many as 100 senior executives to give up their jobs for three months to work as baggage handlers, because they don’t have enough staff to check bags and get them on and off planes. They’d work anywhere from three to five four- or six-hour shifts, says Qantas Chief Operating Officer Colin Hughes.
This week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg essentially told U.S. airlines they need to invent, and quickly, new and better ways of taking care of customers affected by record levels of delays and cancellations. If they don’t, DOT says it will turn to a rulemaking to impose new customer-service rules on the airlines. Our conversations with DOT suggest that customer-service is top-of-mind for all modes, not just airlines.
Which gets us to Amtrak, which has been suffering its own summer of woe. Last week, and on a few other occasions this summer, I posted here to share a taste of the dozens of complaints from Amtrak long-distance passengers about last-minute cancellations affecting trips which were, in some cases, booked and paid for as long as ten months ago.
The root cause is not sabotage or nefarious conspiracies. The root cause is a shortage of mechanical department employees needed to maintain and turn what little equipment Amtrak has for these routes during the peak summer demand period. It’s a perfect storm, and when coaches and sleeping cars become unavailable, Amtrak winds up dropping the car from the consist. And we saw that happen a bunch of times again this week.
It doesn't matter that we told them as early as October 2020 that furloughing staff would make it hard to put things back together. We have to address the problem as it stands today. Looking backward and clucking "I told you so" will not hire staff, fix coaches and sleepers, or build trains.
Amtrak said this week that it is 4,000 employees short, and doing its best to hire. In a meeting with Amtrak yesterday, I learned that the railroad is still hiring at the fastest pace ever in its history. But people are leaving quickly, too. How many Amtrak employees have you talked to in recent years who tell you they have 35, 38, or even 40 years working on the railroad? I’ve met many dozens of them, and having held on through the pandemic they’ve now decided it’s time to step aside. And they’re doing that.
Moreover, they’re still having a hard time hiring fully qualified employees. Some new hires are, sadly, still flunking drug tests or even failing to demonstrate that they have basic skills needed to do any job – reading manuals, doing simple arithmetic. This makes the problem even harder to solve.
On the Mechanical side, even outsourcing to maintenance providers is no longer an option. That’s because the outside shops don’t have enough employees, either. It’s true in rail, and it’s also true in aviation, with aircraft and engine overhauls falling behind the curve due to lack of staff.
What I said last year, last month, and last week, is still true: Staffing and mechanical issues may make some of this inevitable, but we’re still hearing in way too many instances that passengers affected by these issues are being treated very poorly. Freight-train interference and bad weather are things that are out of Amtrak’s control. But poorly handled service cancellations are self-inflicted wounds. Refunds, rebooking, and proactive steps to address the issues should be the norm. Too often, we’re hearing that they are not.
We are sharing these and other stories with the right people, people who can make a difference to individual passengers. One reason we launched our survey last week was to gather those stories. It’s not your typical survey with multiple-choice questions. It’s mostly open fields, where you are free to type in your story, your experience, and your treatment. That’s by design. We did it that way so that we can package up all of these stories to present them to Amtrak, to Congress, and to regulators.
But as I said before, if you don’t share your story with us, we can’t share it with decisionmakers. We’ve had hundreds of responses since last week, and I’m grateful for that. But if I’m being honest? It’s not enough. We need to hear from A LOT more of you. Dining or observation car taken off? Faulty equipment during the trip? Dirty windows and exterior? Toilets? Worse? Thanks to your support and participation in previous surveys, we have been able to take the passenger's voice straight to Congress and Amtrak executives. And we can do it again. But we can’t do it without you.
Go here to complete this important service-quality questionnaire! Do it now, while you’re thinking about it. Help us get this done for everyone who relies on trains!
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $233 Million in Passenger Rail Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $233 million in grants to 11 passenger rail projects this week, which will fund infrastructure upgrades on intercity rail corridors across the nation. These grants are funded by the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program (Fed-State Partnership), a program that was dramatically altered and expanded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in November 2021.
“For years, the [Fed-State Partnership] Program has helped bring intercity passenger rail services to a state of good repair by reducing the maintenance backlog and ensuring Americans are connected to opportunity and each other,” said Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) chief Amit Bose. “Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the FRA now has the exciting opportunity to further this mission while making intercity passenger rail service available to even more communities.”
The first round of grants were awarded to eight states with strong track records of investing in passenger rail programs and well-developed partnerships with Amtrak—California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and New Jersey—to replace bridges and tunnels, upgrade power systems, improve stations, and add high-level platforms. Rail Passengers Association is working with local advocates to get departments of transportation from states with underdeveloped passenger rail networks to compete for future rounds of Fed-State Partnership grant opportunities, which will increase dramatically as guaranteed BIL rail funding kicks in.
We’ve included details from the FRA’s list of grant awards here.
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RailNation: Kansas City
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Rail Passengers Webinar Series
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Rail Passengers Timetables Update!
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Rail Passengers President & CEO Jim Mathews gives an "on location" update on what we have been up to with our timetables page!
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JOIN THE RAIL PASSENGERS GOOGLE GROUP
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Postal Service Mishandling Forces RPA To Change Contributions Process
NEW UPDATE - 8/5/2022
A message from the President and CEO:
In a meeting with the U.S. Postal Service staff responsible for your Association’s nonprofit permits and services, I learned that when our supporters mailed us contribution checks using our postage-paid envelopes, postal clerks have been sending those envelopes to the dead-letter processing center instead of to us here at RPA.
The Postal Service believes that as many as 2,800 contributions, which could total as much as $160,000 of your contributions are either in the Atlanta shredder or scheduled to be destroyed. This explains why our revenue in recent months has tracked so poorly: our loyal supporters have been contributing, but the Postal Service has waylaid those contributions!
As a result, I cannot trust the Postal Service any longer to correctly handle any pieces of mail that do not involve a first-class stamp. THEREFORE, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, WE WILL NO LONGER USE A NONPROFIT U.S.P.S. PERMIT TO SUPPLY SUPPORTERS WITH POSTAGE-PAID RETURN ENVELOPES.
I apologize, but I must now ask that you put a first-class stamp on your envelope with contributions to our work. But clearly, with as much as $160,000 of our revenue now destined for the shredder, the best course of action is to make sure you can mail your check directly to our offices here at the Association for processing, or to encourage everyone to consider making donations online rather than via postal mail.
If you still have a stash of postage-paid envelopes from the Rail Passengers Association that you intend to use to send us a contribution or dues check, please discard them. Affixing a stamp will not work since there are still codes on the envelope that could send your mail astray. Please discard those envelopes.
Your support makes our work possible and I thank you for all you have done and continue to do for us. If you are able to help us with a new or replacement donation, it is very much appreciated and allows us to continue to focus on the issues that matter to you. You can mail a check to the office, or you can always contribute using our secure online donation system, you can do so by clicking here. It’s safe, secure, easy, quick...and completely free from the unreliability of the U.S. Postal Service.
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Get Your Own ‘Rail Passengers’ Signature Federal Credit Union VISA Card!
Rail Passengers Association members have access to a full service, nationwide federal credit union with extensive product and service offerings. Signature FCU is the exclusive provider of the Rail Passengers Association-branded Visa credit card with our logo, which supports our work by giving back to our organization, and gives you 1 point for every $1 you spend to redeem for travel and merchandise. The card has no annual fee, no balance transfer fees, no foreign transaction fees, and has a very low interest rate.
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A selection of passenger rail and transportation stories from the week. For more, check out our social media feeds on Twitter & Facebook
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- Amtrak Addresses ‘Significant Demand’ to Fill Roles, Railway Age
With over 4,000 open positions, Amtrak is ramping up hiring efforts and making appearances at hiring events, job fairs, and campuses.
- Operation Lifesaver offers new transit safety educational materials, Progressive Railroading
New materials from the rail safety group include bilingual audio-video public service announcements, transit safety brochures, graphics for social media, and a transit safety video.
- First section of Long Island Rail Road third track expansion opens, CBS New York
After decades of back and forth, delays, and distractions, the LIRR is finally getting its third track along one of the region’s busiest corridors. The project came in $100 million under budget and is expected to be fully operational by next spring.
- Equipment issues lead to reduction of Amtrak Chicago-St. Louis service, Trains
Issues with equipment have affected service in the Midwest. Trains no. 300 and 305 will be suspended until next Wednesday.
- Amtrak's City of New Orleans sees schedule changes for CN track work, Trains
Heads up for those riding New Orleans - Chicago this fall! Canadian National is doing track work that could impact your trip. Read the full piece for details and construction timeline.
- SMART system to continue reduced rail fares through mid-2023, CBS San Francisco
SMART transit is making the brilliant move to continue reduced fares into next year. As ridership returns and new riders convert amidst the gas crisis, some fares are as low as $1.50. Their monthly pass will remain $135. Low-income, senior, under 18, and passengers with disabilities receive a 50% discount on fares and passes.
- A red-eye train between LA and SF is a no-brainer for California travel — why don't we have the option?, SF Gate
Bill Buchanan dives into the how, why, and when of overnight rail travel in California.
- Northern Michigan passenger rail plan, from Ann Arbor to Traverse City, one step closer to reality, Click on Detroit
Senator Wayne Schmidt and others voted to advance the Northern Michigan Phase II planning study focused on connecting Traverse City and Ann Arbor. Secretary Pete Buttigieg awarded a supporting RAISE grant to the Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority, securing a total $2.3 million lead for the potential A2TC route.
- Check your SEPTA schedule. Changes are coming as Regional Rail ramps back up, Philadelphia Inquirer
SEPTA timetables are changing beginning this Sunday as demand for extending regional service increases.
- All Aboard Northwest stops in La Grande to advocate for passenger rail, East Oregonian
“We’ll always need cars in rural areas and elsewhere, but we really need to ensure that communities of all sizes can participate in mobility that works for everyone,” said AANW President and Rail Passengers Director Daniel Bilka at last Saturday’s event in LaGrange, speaking up on behalf of the 30% of adults in the United States that can’t drive, don’t want to drive, and do not own personal automobiles.
- Brightline will use grant money to up game on grade crossing safety, RT&S
After receiving $25 million in RAISE funding and an additional $20 million from the Florida DOT, Brightline is committing this money to improving safety and securing grade crossings all along their route.
- Brightline Announces Boca Raton Station Will Open In 2022, Station Now Topped Off, The Next Miami
Next stop, Boca Raton! This Brightline station is almost ready to open, with Aventura and Orlando soon to follow. See the article for photos, timeline, and details.
- Illinois announces six-year program to invest $34.6 billion in transportation, infrastructure, Chicago Sun-Times
Over the next six years, the state of Illinois will commit these funds to improving roads, bridges, airports, transit, rail, and ports. With $10 billion committed to rail and $6.4 billion for bridge improvements, things are looking good for the Land of Lincoln.
- CTA Red Line extension project clears environmental review, Progressive Railroading
A 5.6-mile extension has been approved taking Chicago’s Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street, including a new rail yard, four new stations, and line improvements.
- New mixed-use urban community, FrontRunner station to open in Utah County, ABC 4
Governor Spencer Cox, Vineyard City Mayor Julie Fullmer, and others attended the opening of the Vineyard FrontRunner Station this week. Servicing the growing community between Provo and Ogden, this $22.5 million project was made possible by the Utah legislature and UTA both committing to funding and project oversight.
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If you aren’t following along on social media, join us via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and our blog posts on RailPassengers.org We are covering all the breaking news America’s passengers need to stay informed on local, regional, and national issues.
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If you are working with a local organization and have news you would like to share, please reach out and let us know by emailing Madison Butler (mbutler@narprail.org) with links to your press release, blog, or article.
Are you holding a community meeting, networking opportunity or another kind of rail-advocacy event? We can help spread the word if you send them to us. Email Joe Aiello (jaiello@narprail.org) We will include those updates in our coverage and put them on the website here.
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Where are we, and what are we working on? This section will update you on what Rail Passengers HQ is up to…even when we’re all working online or from home
- Jim Mathews, President & CEO, dove headfirst into details around continued delays and cancellations of trains while also meeting with Administration officials and Amtrak managers and preparing for the upcoming Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit.
- Sean Jeans Gail, Vice President of Policy, is working with Rail Passengers Council Members and staff on developing a Passenger Bill of Rights in response to recent degradations in on-board service, and helping RPA staff prepare for the Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit taking place next week.
- Jeanne Lawrie, Director of Resource Development, has been working on getting new emails ready to send, learning more about our revenue and our budget so reports for accounting are done properly and beginning to draft an outline of a development plan to have a strong strategy for the rest of 2022 and as we head into 2023.
- Joe Aiello, National Field Coordinator, updated some of the front page items on the Association website, spent time responding to members regarding the service quality survey we launched last week, worked with Council & Board members on outreach for the fall meeting in Kansas City, and helped fellow staff prep for next week’s rail summit in Billings, MT.
- Madison Butler, Communications Manager, helped senior staff build components of the Passenger Bill of Rights, attended multiple Food and Beverage Working Group meetings, and prepared materials for the Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit.
- Samantha Brown, Membership Associate, with the help of the support team, worked to serve our members through phone and email while thanking them for all of their support of our work.
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Go to railpassengers.org/events for more information.
Please contact Joe Aiello ( jaiello@narprail.org) to have a local, state or regional meeting added to the Rail Passengers calendar (print and on-line) of upcoming events! |
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Rail Passengers Association Earns Coveted 3-Star Rating from Charity Navigator
Rail Passengers Association’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.
The Rail Passengers Association’s Charity Navigator profile can be found by clicking here.
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- The Rail Passengers Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our federal tax identification number is 36-2615221
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To help facilitate dissemination of electronic thank you receipts in 2022, please make sure your contact information, specifically your email address, is up-to-date in your Neon profile.
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If you need assistance with your membership, please call the Office at 202-408-8362.
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While our staff continues to work remotely, we are unable to provide permanent membership cards. You can print a temporary membership card by creating an account at www.railpassengers.org (select “My Account” on the homepage).
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Complete all information! -- Before sealing your envelope, PLEASE double-check the credit card information on the buck slip!
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Print credit card information clearly.
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Include an expiration date, month and year, as well as the CVV number.
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Without COMPLETE information your membership renewal or donation can’t be processed.
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If you have your financial institution send a check on your behalf, without a buckslip, PLEASE instruct them to add:
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a notation in the memo field if the payment is for membership dues or a donation, AND,
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your Rail Passengers Association member ID. If we have multiple members with the same name, i.e., John Smith, it can be hard to identify the correct member to attribute the payment, without the member ID.
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Remember, you can renew your Rail Passengers Association membership online through “My Account” on the home page.
You can also make a donation online, here.
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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes new tax incentives for charitable giving. --- We’ve provided a quick overview here and encourage each of you to seek advice from a financial planner.
If you have a donor advised fund, please consider recommending a grant from your fund to be the Rail Passengers Association. It is a great way to maintain flexibility with your support throughout the year. For more information, go to http://myimpact.railpassengers.org/daf. As always, please feel free to contact Jonsie Stone if you have any questions.
The Rail Passengers Association would like to
thank our Annual Partners for their support!
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