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<p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>HEARTLAND FLYER RIDERSHIP UP
40%<br>
The Daily Oklahoman reports that the Flyer's Ridership for July was up 40% last
month over a year ago. Gasoline prices likely played a role but maybe more
significant was the fact that Amtrak and ODOT finally added a 4th coach to the
train after several summers of sold out weekend trains. Of note here is that
The Flyer is now running with as many coaches as some long distance trains. The
story also mentioned that rail expansion projects are being studied to Tulsa
and between Austin - San Antonio. It neglected to mention the Kansas - Oklahoma
- Texas corridor study between Kansas City and Fort Worth.<br>
<br>
AMTRAK EQUIPMENT SHORTAGE<br>
The Chicago Sun Times reports that Amtrak's equipment shortage is becoming
critical. After 37 years of funding neglect the nations last intercity
passenger rail carrier is gaining supporters. US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has
introduced the Train Cars Act. This Act would authorize Amtrak to issue $2.8
billion in bonds over four years to help Amtrak rebuild its aging passenger
rail car fleet. The legislation would also use a quarter cent of the federal
gasoline tax to that would generate about $400 million over three years.
Critics claim that the money would better be spent to shore up the struggling
federal highway trust fund, however, Durbin rebutted, "we can't pave our
way out of highway congestion." The trust fund faces a multi-billion
shortfall next year due to driving decreases. <br>
<br>
AMTRAK CEO KUMMANT COMMENTS IN ILLINOIS<br>
The Chicago Sun Times also quoted Amtrak CEO Alexander Kummant, "For the
first time in our history, the emerging mode of transportation is actually one
that's here already." Amtrak bookings are up 14% over last year. Kummant
claims that Amtrak ridership could nearly double over the next ten years to 50
million riders. Amtrak's authorization expired in 2002 but Congress has
maintained the struggling passenger carrier with a sparse $1.4 billion
appropriation on average over many years. The resulting deferred maintenance
has resulted in equipment shortages and downgraded services.<br>
<br>
REVERSING THE RETRENCHMENTS<br>
Passenger rail began its decline following the close of WWII with the nation's
investment in the federal interstate highway system and support for aviation.
Rising fuel costs are now trumping the personal convenience afforded by these
modern transportation modes. In fact, the convenience of aviation now comes
complete with charges for baggage and long security lines that betray personal
privacy. Automobile maintenance and rising gasoline costs are causing people to
think again about their driving habits. While it might be just a look, people
are now considering optional forms of transportation as a 21st Century
alternative. High fuel prices are driving studies that may lead to the first
Amtrak mileage route growth in the carrier's 37 year history. <br>
<br>
50-50 FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM ATTRACTS 22 STATES<br>
The US DOT reported this month that 22 states applied for 50-50 Passenger Rail
Investment and Reform matching fund program. This program, administered by the
FRA, is intended to bring $60 million to capital projects for passenger rail.
Benefits will be felt beyond just Amtrak. It will also provide freight rail
capacity relief for routes between major metropolitan areas such as Kansas City
and St. Louis. Missouri's state supported trains, two eastbound and two
westbound which operate daily, have seen multi-year ridership drops based upon
freight train delays. This has bucked the national growth trend. The reason,
the Union Pacific that owns the route, hauls lengthy coal trains over single
this track railroad. The 1980 Staggers Act brought monumental profits to an
ailing railroad industry but it cost the nation too many miles in route
abandonments, choking the few remaining freight rail carrier routes. <br>
<br>
Sidings where trains can pass were designed for much shorter freight trains of
the 1950's and 1960's. Amtrak takes the brunt of the abuse waiting in short
sidings for the much longer freight trains to pass. Realizing that something
had to be done the Missouri Department of Transportation, that funds the 4
trains, is one of 22 states that are looking to supplement their annual
passenger rail subsides using the 50-50 federal grant program. The details of
Missouri's plan are available in the following one page PDF.<br>
<br>
<a
href="http://www.modot.mo.gov/othertransportation/rail/documents/PassRailTrackImproveJun08WebVersion.pdf">http://www.modot.mo.gov/othertransportation/rail/documents/PassRailTrackImproveJun08WebVersion.pdf</a><span
style='color:blue'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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