Rahall: Republican Plan to Abolish Amtrak a ‘Transcontinental Tragedy’

I ride Amtrak, I do not drive long distance and trying to pass through security at the airport is almost impossible because of my artificial replacements. And I do not want to be groped by TSA agents, even though they are just doing their jobs. abolishing Amtrak would mean that all passengers would have to find different routes. We need to keep those trains running, that is what this country was built with.  That would make the airlines all to powerful and ticket prices would double and that would not be fair.  Talk about monopoly, that is a scarey thought.
When I was in Philly changing trains to go to Florida, the number of passengers coming in and going out of that huge station was awesome, because there were elders, children, business people, students, foreigners traveling. People said they loved it,there was no rush, no security measures, the red caps were extremely nice and helpful. Most of the trains were on time, and those that were late were by minutes. I know mine was late by minutes, missed my connection, was told by the conductor to find a red cap. they would be able to help me. I did not have a reserved seat for the local train. And I would have to wait until 3:30 to catch the next available train.
Red cap told me go see customer service and maybe they would upgrade my ticket to a reserved ticket. So I did and they changed my ticket and I was able to catch the next train which was at 1pm. better than 3:30 pm. So, people traveling by train is not bad, it may take a little longer in travel time but you get to see some of the country. What you do not have to put up with.  No stress in driving, traffic, restaurants, hotels, no groping TSA agents, delays sometimes an hour or more, no meals, charging for luggage, expensive ticket prices. lots of surcharges.
The people you meet on the train are usually nice, conversational and very helpful.  On trains, people bring coolers with food and drinks, can't do that on a plane. seating on a plane is uncomfortable, too close together, can't lean back in your chair that  much. On the train the seats are like captains chairs, you can lean back and there is a foot rest.  If you want a sleeper they have those, a little expensive but it is like having your own bed room and you get all meals with that. Not bad.
  I think people would use the trains more if they(the trains)  were advertised more and done the right way. I hope this does not happen, I hope that Congress takes into consideration the middle income families that would use this mode of transportation if properly managed.      

JUN 22, 2011

Washington, D.C.– The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing today to receive testimony on a controversial and potentially unconstitutional Republican bill to privatize Amtrak that would put it out of business by auctioning off its assets to the highest bidder.

“The non-partisan Congressional Research Service has determined that this proposal is unconstitutional because it violates the Appointments Clause of the Constitution.  It is also likely that the proposal violates the Takings Clause because it takes Amtrak’s private property without just compensation,” said U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  “As a for-profit corporation, I believe Amtrak’s standing is little different than that of any other for-profit corporation in America.”

Amtrak was created by Congress in 1970 to take over passenger rail services previously operated by private rail companies after years of declining ridership and financial losses.  The Republican proposal would strip Amtrak of its assets, demand that it continues to pay its debts with no means to do so, and would provide $2 million in Federal funds to up to three entities to submit proposals.  The Northeast Corridor Executive Committee established by the bill to manage what would be Amtrak’s former assets, which CRS believes is unconstitutional, would accept the proposals and would select the ‘best’ one.

“There is no criteria contained in the measure as to what qualifications or restrictions might pertain to these entities.  In fact, under a clear reading of the measure, China could qualify and operate the Northeast Corridor.  Now, is that something we want to see happen? I do not think so,” said Rahall.  “I also fail to see why we would hand over $2 million in taxpayer dollars to up to three entities in order for them to develop detailed proposals.  This is rather odd; paying somebody to develop a proposal to submit to yourself.  I do not think this is how things of this nature are normally done.”

Rahall also warned that stripping Amtrak of its assets in the Northeast Corridor will have a devastating domino effect on passenger rail service from coast to coast.  Amtrak CEO and Chief Executive Officer Joseph H. Boardman said in a letter to Chairman Mica that “As currently written, this bill would likely mean the end of Amtrak and the national passenger rail system that Congress authorized nearly 40 years ago.”

“With the abolishment of Amtrak in the Northeast Corridor, the Cardinal in West Virginia will suffer a fatal blow under this proposal, along with many other vital routes that connect rural communities coast to coast including the Auto Train, Capitol Limited, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, and Texas Eagle,” said Rahall.  “Right now, Amtrak serves about 40% of America’s rural population; all of this service would be lost under the draft legislation.”

The Republican proposal would significantly alter labor protections for thousands of American workers.

“I also have significant concerns about the implications of this proposal on rail labor.  Under this measure, the existing contracts of 19,000 Amtrak workers would be abrogated, and new workers would have no Davis Bacon protections and no protections under the Railroad Retirement Act, Railroad Unemployment Compensation, and the Railway Labor Act,” said Rahall.  “In other words, this proposal leaves rail labor sitting at the station.”

At the request of Ranking Member Rahall and Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Ranking Member Corrine Brown (D-FL), Chairman Mica agreed to hold a hearing on the measure instead of rushing for Committee consideration a mere 24 hours after introducing the bill, as previously planned.

“In its present form, this proposal will have serious consequences for commuter rail agencies and freight railroads,” said Rahall.  “And frankly, I am not sure this proposal can even be fixed.  My fear is that if it is enacted, it will result in a Transcontinental Tragedy.”

Rahall: Republican Plan to Abolish Amtrak ‘Death Knell’ for Passenger Rail Service in America

JUN 15, 2011

Washington, D.C.– Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today unveiled a controversial partisan proposal to privatize Amtrak that will destroy American jobs, imperil passenger rail service nationwide, and increase costs for the federal government, states, commuter rail agencies, freight railroads, small businesses, and American taxpayers.

“Taking a play out of President Bush’s book, Republicans are dusting off a chronically unpopular proposal that will cripple Main Street by auctioning off Amtrak’s assets to Wall Street,” said U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), top Democrat on the Full Committee.  “Instead of abolishing Amtrak, Republicans should abandon this ill-conceived ideological assault on passenger rail service – just as we did when President Bush first proposed it – and work with Democrats to build true high-speed and intercity passenger rail in America.”

Amtrak, a private for-profit corporation, was created by Congress in 1970 to take over passenger rail services previously operated by private rail companies after years of declining ridership and financial losses.  With record ridership today, Amtrak currently turns a profit in the Northeast Corridor.  Because of its national scope, Amtrak is able to invest this profit to offset less profitable long distance lines in other parts of the country.  Without the NEC, Amtrak will be forced to shut its doors or be bailed out by the federal government or deficit-ridden states.

“This plan is a death knell for passenger rail service from coast to coast.  Privatizing this profitable corridor will not merely affect train service in that region; it will have a devastating domino effect from coast to coast, leaving trains stuck at the station across the Nation,” said Rahall.  “The Auto Train, Capitol Limited, California Zephyr, Cardinal, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, Palmetto and Silver Service, Texas Eagle and so many other vital lifelines will no longer serve as engines of economic growth but will be mere relics of a bygone era.”

Two years ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation invited proposals from private companies to develop high-speed rail service in America.  Despite not one single proposal being submitted by the private sector for developing high-speed rail in the Northeast Corridor, Republicans are plowing full steam ahead to abolish Amtrak, hand over the conductor’s cap to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and auction off Amtrak’s assets to the highest bidder on Wall Street.

“At a time when Washington should be reining in spending, Republicans are peddling a partisan plan that puts the American taxpayer on the hook while they desperately seek fantasy funding from an invisible investor,” said Rahall.  “In order to create jobs and remain competitive in the global economy, we ought to be looking at ways to help Amtrak achieve the goal of high-speed rail; not looking at ways to dismantle it.  We should be united in cheering on its success; not trying to kick it in the caboose by selling off its assets to private companies.”

“While Congressman Mica refuses to focus on critical infrastructure issues, he is bent on destroying Amtrak.  We have no surface reauthorization bill and next week will be forced to delay the Federal Aviation Administration bill for the 20th time,” said U.S. Representative Corrine Brown (D-FL), Democratic Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials  “At the very time that we should be working together to solve the problems plaguing this nation's transportation infrastructure, Chairman Mica is introducing divisive legislation that is dead on arrival in the Senate.”