Hotline #767

An amendment to strike all Amtrak funding from the Clinton stimulus package was introduced by Sen. John Danforth (R.-Mo.) on March 31. Even though part of the funding is to pay for parts the rehired workers would need, Danforth used simple division to conclude, falsely, that Amtrak funding would produce jobs at a cost of $122,000 per worker. Danforth's opening statement concluded, "What is really outrageous is we are weighing in in such a heavy-handed fashion on the side of one competing mode of intercity transportation as against other very troubled modes of transportation."

Pete Domenici (R.-N.Mex.) spoke in support of Danforth. Several Democrats -- Exon (Neb.), Lautenberg (N.J.), Sarbanes (Md.), Mitchell (Me.) -- rose to defend Amtrak's funding. Sarbanes spoke briefly and angrily, saying, "The European Community has committed itself to spending $30 billion to upgrade the rail system in Europe ... I just want to make the point that someone, somewhere in this world, perceives the advantage of a first-class rail system ... When are we going to wake up in this country and meet this kind of competition that they are imposing on us?"

Mitchell noted that St. Louis light rail got $330 million and Danforth "did not object. He probably took credit for it, and probably deserved it ... I will just close by saying, when St. Louis comes into the next link on this line, I think it should be subjected to very careful scrutiny, the same scrutiny that should apply to all projects."

The Senate tabled Danforth's amendment on a vote of 61-38, on a party-line vote except that Bond (R.-Mo.) did not vote, that six Republicans voted with Amtrak (Chafee, R.I., Coats, Ind., Lugar, Ind., Cohen, Me., Kassebaum, Kans.), and that three Democrats voted against Amtrak (Boren, Okla., Heflin, Ala., Shelby, Ala. -- even though Alabama is where Amtrak this week inaugurated the transcontinental Sunset Limited). Republicans are still in a de facto filibuster against the stimulus package, with Danforth proposing an amendment to strike all funding that costs more than $100,000 per job created. The Senate is likely to remain in session until April 7.

The Sunset Limited inaugural from New Orleans to Jacksonville on March 31 and April 1 was superb, with big, enthusiastic crowds at all the stops. Speaking at the Tallahassee ceremony yesterday, Gov. Lawton Chiles said that when he first went to the Senate, he was told that he could be very popular by getting back the Gulf Wind. Then he said, "It took me 23 years, but here it is."

Amtrak's X2000 makes its last Saturday revenue runs tomorrow on the 10:00 am trip from Washington and the 6:00 pm trip from New York. Some segments are sold out but could open up early tomorrow as there are hold limits for these trips. The X2000 will be on display in Washington April 17, Baltimore April 18, Philadelphia April 24, Newark, N.J., April 25, New Haven May 1, Providence May 2, and Boston May 8. On May 9, there will be three Boston-Providence demonstration round trips for the public. Then, if states help pay, the X2000 will visit the five Section 1010 corridors, though we hear that a visit to California seems unlikely unless Caltrans changes its mind.

Comedian David Letterman, apparently speaking sincerely on his NBC-TV "Late Night" show last night, said he loved Amtrak. This was in a discussion with British comedian and passenger-train advocate Michael Palin. Palin then told of traveling on Amtrak several years ago and being delayed because a woman had been sucked into a toilet.

South Shore passenger service is 100% electric for the first time since January 1982. The last train operated with the borrowed Metra diesel set was train 108 on March 29.