Posted 19 March 2006 - 07:02 PM
From
National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), newsletter for March 2006:
- A Harris Poll has determined that most Americans want trains, and they want them to be a responsibility of the federal government.
- President Bush has proposed at $900 million funding level for Amtrak in FY 2007. That is $900 million more than he proposed for 2006, but it represents a shutdown budget. Bush calls for the end of overnight trains and more service added to short haul routes.
- LRT is taking shape in Charlotte, NC. The first light rail route will open in 2007 between Uptown Charlotte and Pineville, a distance of almost ten miles. It will serve Charlotte's proposed intermodal station, which will house Amtrak, CATS light rail, commuter rail, and and buses.
- NARP calls attention to the fact that the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1991 has a provision that calls for new requirements to be in effect by 2010. Among those regulations are higher platforms, which may cause a problem for stations served by Superliners. High platforms also would cause trouble for passing freights, so the installation of gauntlet tracks may become necessary if a station is to remain open.
March's Travelers' Advisory:
- The simplified dining service is scheduled to start on April 15th on the SILVER STAR, LAKE SHORE LIMITED, and SOUTHWEST CHIEF. Then on May 3rd is will commence on the CRESCENT and COAST STARLIGHT. And finally, on May 24th, it begins on the CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR and SILVER METEOR.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
