|
|
|
|
Rail Passengers
WEEKLY HOTLINE
Issue #1,282
October 28, 2022
|
|
Table of Contents:
(click to auto-scroll)
|
|
|
|
|
“There’s only so much we can do physically to protect the existing infrastructure. It's been there since 1910, and obviously we're in a very dense part of the country. It's not like we can do a whole lot.”
- Amtrak spokesperson Craig Schulz, on the possibility of a storm flooding the Hudson River Tunnels while the Gateway Project is under construction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to issues you may have had on a recent (or upcoming) Amtrak trip. Dining or observation car taken off? Faulty equipment during the trip? Dirty windows & exterior? Rebooked to coach due a missing sleeper?
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.
Help us keep hammering the message home and share this survey with other passengers!
|
|
Amtrak Board of Directors to Hold Public Meeting in St. Louis
The Amtrak Board of Directors announced this week that it will hold a public meeting on December 1 of this year at the historic Union Station Hotel in St. Louis. There will be options for the riding public to attend in-person or virtually, with attendees required to register in advance.
This public meeting is the result of a provision that Rail Passengers successfully advocated for, passed by Congress as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which requires Amtrak’s Board to meet annually with the riding public. In addition, the BIL requires the Amtrak Board to meet annually with representatives from the disability community and with Amtrak employees. Our Association worked with Congressional allies to include this requirement because we believe it's important for the Amtrak Board to be accountable to the public; that means being transparent in its decision-making on the use of public funds and hearing directly from passengers about their experience of the network.
Amtrak said the meeting will review fiscal year 2022 and provide an overview of Amtrak’s strategic priorities and annual operating plan for fiscal year 2023. Rail Passengers is also encouraging the Amtrak Board to address recent service failures, and answer questions outlined by Rail Passengers President & CEO Jim Mathews in a letter to Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose.
“We have already begun conversations with Amtrak management about what happened that day, and we were encouraged to learn from Amtrak leadership that the railroad recognizes the seriousness of the incident and its aftermath,” wrote Mathews. “Nevertheless, we feel an obligation in representing our members and the traveling public to elevate our request for a formal debriefing and review whose results – subject to appropriate redaction of personally identifiable information – can be shared with the public.”
[You can read the full letter here.]
The registration deadline is November 23. Capacity will be limited.
WHEN: 10:00-11:30 a.m. CT; Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022
WHERE: St. Louis Union Station Hotel; 1820 Market St.; St. Louis, Mo., 63103
RSVP: Register by Nov. 23, 2022
STB Could Decide Amtrak Gulf Coast In December
By Jim Mathews / President & CEO
The Surface Transportation Board scheduled two potentially final days of evidentiary hearings for November 17th and 18th in Amtrak’s long-running attempt to compel Norfolk Southern and CSX to permit Amtrak to exercise its statutory right to re-start limited service between New Orleans and Mobile, and could even make a final decision on the case on December 7th.
The hearings will be conducted in public, and will include direct- and cross-examination of witnesses from all sides, but in its order released today STB was quick to stipulate that the hearings will be limited to questions related to capacity modeling evidence and other replies filed in July and August after the previous hearings wrapped up in May.
“Because the Board is familiar with the Parties’ filings, the Parties are encouraged to keep any direct examination to a minimum,” the Board ordered. “At no point should the Parties’ direct examination or cross-examination involve evidence that was submitted prior to the conclusion of the hearing on May 12, 2022.”
That means we can expect to hear questions and answers about the capacity modeling around the route and its sufficiency, evidence showing the results of operational changes and infrastructure improvements, and potential effects of the service on customers.
Perhaps in a nod to the seemingly endless stream of filings, claims, pleadings, and arguments, the Board told Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Port of Alabama that it “expects the evidentiary part of this hearing to be completed within five hours.”
STB’s voting conference on December 7th will be open for public viewing here, but without any participation from the railroads or the Port. At that session, which begins at 2pm, Board members “will discuss among themselves, and may vote on, the outcome of the case.”
They could also choose to delay a vote or make some other kind of decision.
Ever since this stage of the dispute began more than a year ago with Amtrak’s motion asking STB to order host railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern to let Amtrak start its Gulf Coast service, all sides have been squabbling over the credibility of the route modeling CSX and N-S used to claim the new Amtrak service would “unreasonably impair” freight service.
The “unreasonably impair” language is important: that’s the legal standard the host railroads must use to stop new Amtrak service. The law is written to presume that Amtrak’s service will be acceptable unless the hosts can prove it would be bad.
For what it’s worth, it’s not just Amtrak (and your Association) claiming that the modeling doesn’t pass the smell test. In January, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation dropped an unusually forceful amicus brief into the STB’s Gulf Coast restoration docket, declaring flatly that the STB “should order the restoration of the Gulf Coast service” and undercutting much of the evidence the two railroads submitted.
DOT told the Board that the host railroads’ operational analyses submitted as evidence were “insufficient” to prove that adding two trains each day to the area would “impair unreasonably” the freight transportation offered by the hosts.
The posture DOT adopted in its filing mirrors many of the arguments your Association has been making for some time – that the host railroads are acting in bad faith to block Gulf Coast restoration, that Congress has always intended that host railroads must affirmatively prove that new service will harm their operations, and that the host railroads continue to benefit each and every year from the “Grand Bargain” they struck in 1971 with the U.S. taxpayer, who pays some $2 billion every year to relieve the railroads of their common-carrier obligations in exchange for access to tracks and infrastructure.
STORE UPDATE!
|
|
|
---
Donate Online with Confidence
You can donate to the Rail Passengers Association online with confidence, knowing your credit card information is secure. Fundraise Up uses industry-standard SSL technology to keep your information secure. Supply chain disruptions are impacting our print production vendor. Don’t wait for a paper appeal to donate, support the Association by donating today.
|
|
---
Rail Passengers Webinar Series
|
|
Rail Passengers Timetables Update!
|
|
|
|
Rail Passengers President & CEO Jim Mathews gives an "on location" update on what we have been up to with our timetables page!
|
|
|
JOIN THE RAIL PASSENGERS GOOGLE GROUP
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
A selection of passenger rail and transportation stories from the week. For more, check out our social media feeds on Twitter & Facebook
|
|
- [Video] Women in Transportation Central Florida Chapter Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Brightline’s Bright Pink 2, Brightline
A great short video highlighting Women in Transportation and their support for breast cancer awareness month with a unique tour and travel aboard Brightline’s Bright Pink 2. Check out the modern interiors and learn more about their mission.
- Texas Central Update: Houston Delegation rides Japanese bullet train, tours Operations Center, Texas Rail Advocates
“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated!” While on a trade and investment trip to Japan, Mayor Sylvester Turner and a number of other officials from Houston, TX gave an update on the planned Texas Central bullet train and met with Japan Central Railway to tour the Shinkansen control center.
- U.S. transportation secretary rides train on eroding Del Mar bluffs. 'It just doesn't meet today's needs', San Diego Tribune
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg met with local officials and engineers while on a short NCTD Coaster trip to see the eroding bluffs just north of San Diego. Secretary Buttigieg was updated on the current plans to reroute the tracks along the 350-mile LOSSAN corridor.
- Missouri River Runner trains 311, 316 suspended for a few weeks, KRCG
Equipment shortages have affected the Missouri River Runner. While trains 318 and 319 will run as scheduled, Trains 311 and 316 will be suspended until Thursday, November 17. The schedule on Amtrak’s website has been updated to reflect this temporary suspension as crews wait for new equipment.
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi releases memo showing Canadian Pacific Railway dispatchers cause Metra delays, Chicago Sun-Times
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D-IL 08) highlights how the potential KCS & CP merger could worsen conditions and delays for passenger rail. In this memo, Rep. Krishnamoorthi illuminates the reality for how many delays have been caused by CP between 2017 and 2022. Manny Ramos explains the reality of the situation in this Sun-TImes piece.
- 10 years after Sandy, Hudson River tunnel just as vulnerable to flooding – and a fix isn’t coming until 2038, Gothamist
Many in the northeast remember the flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Some worry that if another hurricane of that magnitude were to hit, the Hudson Tunnel could flood, leaving thousands without exit or emergency evacuation options. Though the Gateway Project is underway, folks are looking for a better solution than hoping for good weather until its completion in 2038.
- Why the US falls behind in passenger train travel, LI Herald
A great overview of the unique situation of how passenger rail in the U.S. falls behind. From freight dominance to corporate track ownership and lack of funding. This piece shows the facts and exemplifies how other countries more committed to public rail infrastructure have better quality of life for passengers.
- CP agrees to back Amtrak expansion plans, Progressive Railroading
Take a look at this piece from Progressive Railroading to learn more about the potential increase in frequencies and restoration of Amtrak services, with CP agreeing to support many of their passenger rail expansion plans.
- A taste of railroading: Scouts sample train life at Age of Steam Roundhouse, Times Reporter
In happier news, Scouts from the Netawatwees District of the Buckeye Council took a tour of the Age of Steam Roundhouse to learn about the history of railroading. Driving stakes, running handcars, and diving into history has done a lot to help these Scouts appreciate the hard work of those that came before us.
- [Video] How America's Largest Railroads are Ruining our Supply Chains, The Armchair Urbanist
The Armchair Urbanist digs into a situation most railfans are aware of. With almost constant supply chain issues, now is the time to better educate oneself about how these problems arise.
- Why Railroad Workers United wants US rail infrastructure publicly owned, Freight Waves
Paul Lindsey makes the case for why RWU wants publicly owned rail infrastructure in this piece for Freight Waves. RWU is advocating for managing the physical plant and the tracks similarly to how highways, waterways and airports are managed, dispatched, controlled, maintained publicly.
- Fatal Amtrak derailment was enough as MoDOT asks for major increase in state money, RT&S
The Missouri Department of Transportation is asking for $50 million in state funds to increase rail safety following the tragic derailment in Joplin. There are over 1,400 crossings in the state with no lights or gates, and the team at MoDOT wants to take aggressive measures to fix this.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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, met this week with the Federal Railroad Administration on both the Corridor Identification program and the Long-Distance Service study mandated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as participating in a OneRail cross-industry coalition meeting and preparing for upcoming sessions of the Rail Safety Advisory Committee and the Passenger Safety Working Group.
- Sean Jeans Gail, Vice President of Policy, returned from a leave of absence this week, working with colleagues to prepare a post-election brief for passengers and finalize the end-of-year advocacy campaign before Congress adjourns for the holidays.
- Jeanne Lawrie, Director of Resource Development, has been working on plans for 2023, as well as working on end of year fundraising to ensure we hit our revenue goals for 2022. Continuing to evaluate CRM platforms as potential solutions if we decide to make a change in an effort to improve our systems.
- Joe Aiello, National Field Coordinator, is catching up with emails & calls following a successful Fall Symposium in Kansas City over the weekend. He has been assisting fellow staff members on a number of fronts as we prepare for the end of 2022 and look forward to the new year. Joe is also looking forward to launching our latest “I’d Rather Be On The Train” holiday fundraiser next week.
- Madison Butler, Communications Manager, met with the Current Situation and Best Practices Working Group subcommittees to begin outlining FBWG recommendations to Congress. They also supported the work of senior staff by aiding in merchandising, press, and policy developments.
- Samantha Brown, Membership Associate, spoke with many supporters to broaden their understanding of the benefits of membership and provided back up resources for those participating in the Kansas City Conference. She updated dozens of membership records and worked with volunteers to help members automate their yearly renewals, making it easier than ever to remain a committed donor and supporter of our cause.
|
|
|
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! |
|
|
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.
|
|
- The Rail Passengers Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our federal tax identification number is 36-2615221
-
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.
-
If you need assistance with your membership, please call the Office at 202-408-8362.
-
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).
-
Complete all information! -- Before sealing your envelope, PLEASE double-check the credit card information on the buck slip!
-
Print credit card information clearly.
-
Include an expiration date, month and year, as well as the CVV number.
-
Without COMPLETE information your membership renewal or donation can’t be processed.
-
If you have your financial institution send a check on your behalf, without a buckslip, PLEASE instruct them to add:
-
a notation in the memo field if the payment is for membership dues or a donation, AND,
-
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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 Jeanne Lawrie if you have any questions.
The Rail Passengers Association would like to
thank our Annual Partners for their support!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
