Passenger Train Fans freak out. Trump is cutting subsidies. We are not Europe. The NAZIs didn’t over-build railroad systems here. We are not NY, NY where subways almost work. The Liberal love affair with passenger trains finally has some headwinds. The passenger train lovers are as delusional as the environmental wackos. This is its own religion. You will be amazed at the size of this lobbying group dedicated to spending hundreds of $billions on unaffordable passenger train systems and trollies to nowhere. Expanding subsidized passenger trains is unsustainable. Subsidies for transit need to be abolished and transit needs to be privatized. The passenger train fans like to ride tax subsidized trains to tax subsidized national parks and we should not be forced to subsidize their recreational activities. See their screams for help in the article below:
Amtrak
To Ban Special Trains; Amtrak Grades Freight Railroads; SEPTA Releases Economic
Report; Trump Says Infrastructure Plan To Be Issued After Midterms
March
30, 2018
We Need Your ‘Nose
For News’! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or
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in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news
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rail.
Amtrak
will no longer support special trains or private charters except in very
limited circumstances, according to a new alert that the company sent to
employees. The internal notification, which was obtained by Trains
magazine, said that effective “immediately” Amtrak would no longer operate
charters or special trains because they “caused significant operational
distraction, failed to capture fully allocated profitable margins and sometimes
delayed our paying customers on our scheduled trains.”
“We understand that Congress has directed Amtrak to look at
every possible way to cut losses, but in many cases these charters and specials
inject real economic benefit into the communities served, sometimes to the
extent of millions of dollars,” said Rail Passengers Association President Jim
Mathews. “One reason taxpayers invest in a National Network of mainline trains
is to foster economic growth in communities that aren’t otherwise profitable to
serve. And abruptly dropping support to these operators will in some cases gut
important revenue sources for smaller communities.”
Amtrak allowed customized private-train journeys for a variety
of events, including corporate meetings, sports teams and train/railfan trips.
The prices for such services started at $10,250, depending on the class of
cars, the destination and the level of decorations and catering. However,
Amtrak’s announcement said that the revenue was not worth the time, delays and
overall cost of providing these services.
One historic tradition under threat includes the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society in Huntington, WV.
Under the new Amtrak policy, the non-profit will not be able to operate its New
River Train with Amtrak, which will end a 51-year tradition. This will result
in a major loss for the local economy.
"The New River Train is one of the largest and most popular
single events in Huntington," said Tyson Compton, president of the
Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitors Bureau. "For the four days over
two weekends that they operate the train, going from here to Hinton, there is
an economic impact to our area of around $2.2 million. We average about 4,800
people each year, and they are staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants
and many stay for several days to enjoy other sites in the city. And that
number only accounts for that one event. The society has many other trips
throughout the year, including last year's very popular train ride with Santa,
geared toward families."
The brief to employees did say that there could be “a few narrow
exceptions” if they “support specific strategic initiatives, for example trial
service in support of growing new scheduled service.” The notification did not
specify Amtrak’s plans for privately owned railcars, but Trains has found that
Amtrak is already denying some private car operators’ move requests. Owners of
such rail cars pay Amtrak $2.90 per mile, plus additional fees for services.
Add the expenses of crew and connection transportation, and a cross-country
trip can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Storing the cars costs about $600
to $1,000 a month.
“I met this week with Amtrak officials and expressed concern
about the potential unintended consequences of this decision. We are drafting a
formal letter outlining those concerns and seeking a management response,” said
Mathews. “The West Virginia situation highlights the many ways a seemingly
simple decision--dropping special moves because of their complexity--can ripple through Amtrak’s stakeholder community,
imposing millions of dollars of losses in local jobs and tourism.”
Canadian
Pacific and BNSF were at the top of the class as Amtrak published its very
first report card for its host railroads. Amtrak graded six Class
I railroads based on scheduling and freight train interference-driven delays.
CP came out on top, earning an “A,” followed closely behind by BNSF with a B+.
At the other end of the scale, two railroads received failing grades: Norfolk
Southern got an F for imposing more than 1,500 minutes of delays for every
10,000 train miles, as did Canadian National.
Some freight railroads have thumbed their noses for years at the
federal law outlining passenger-dispatching preference. The preference law was
part of the deal railroads made with taxpayers to rescue them in 1970 and
relieve the hosts of their common-carrier responsibility of having to run passenger trains. The quid pro quo was
the preference clause in the law (49 U.S.C. § 24308(C), which is still on the
books), originally written so that host railroads had to give passenger trains
preference unless they could win a DOT exemption by proving that preference
would “materially lessen the quality of transportation provided to freight
shippers.”
“It is outrageous that freight railroads regularly subject
passengers to 90-minute delays,” said Rail Passengers President Jim Mathews.
“Freights have violated the preference requirement with impunity for decades.
Only the U.S. Attorney General can bring a complaint on Amtrak's behalf, and in
Amtrak's entire history the AG has only done it once, in 1979. We all hope this
report card will highlight where freight railroads can improve their
performance, as well as shining a spotlight on the stars who do a good job for
America’s rail passengers.”
Other grades in the report card were Union Pacific, earning a B-, and CSX receiving a C grade for averaging over 40
minutes of delays for Amtrak trains.
Your
Rail Passengers Association filed a letter to the
Surface Transportation Board supporting Amtrak in a dispute with chronically late Canadian
National over whether Amtrak can introduce a new incentive-payment regime
designed to spur better on-time performance.
“Late trains remain the single most significant cause of
passenger dissatisfaction,” said Rail Passengers President Jim Mathews, “and CN
is among the worst performers. Our members rely on--and pay for--timely and
regular service.”
Faced with CN’s chronic underachievement, Amtrak proposed an
arrangement with CN that balances the incentives so that the host railroad is
no longer rewarded for stranding passengers for hours on end, as it is today,
but is paid handsomely for superior performance. CN’s response--which is why
the case is at the STB now--was instead to demand millions of dollars of
additional compensation from Amtrak.
So far, CN’s record of host-railroad delay (HRD) minutes is 42%
worse than the average of all other Amtrak host railroads.
Mathews filed the letter late last week to ensure that the
passengers’ voices are heard during this proceeding at the STB.
Support Rail Passengers Through Amazon Smile
In the mood to shop
and make your purchase support our advocacy efforts?
The Amazon Smile
triple donation promotion kicked off last week, and that means Amazon.com is tripling
the donation amount to 1.5% when customers make their FIRST eligible smile.amazon.com purchase.
The promotion runs
from March 12 - 31, and is a great opportunity to increase the Rail Passengers
Association’s AmazonSmile donations.
Andy
Byford, President of the New York City Transit Authority, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that
he has plans to help modernize the city’s subway system decades ahead of its
current timeline. Byford said that there are a number of challenges that he
wants to address to help ease and speed up the commute for riders, but the
biggest challenge will be upgrading the subway’s signaling system, which was
installed more than 40 years ago. The outdated system has led to regular delays
for trains, and has also restricted how many trains can run at a given time.
Byford said that current estimates for updating the signal system will take 40
years, but said that it’s possible to complete the work in 10 to 15.
A problem that lays before Byford and the agency, however, is
acquiring appropriate levels of funding with the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority, which is already projecting a $400-million deficit by 2020.
“This plan will need money, it will need time, it will need
political will, and it will need the forbearance of New Yorkers,” Byford said.
The current system used in the subway is a block-signaling
system that breaks up track into sections. Only one train at a time is allowed
in a section, until the front of the first train has left the section.
A newer system, based on communication, allows trains to run
closer together. Byford estimates that a modern system could increase capacity
by 20 percent or more, which would mean an additional five or six trains an
hour on some lines.
To read the full interview between Byford and The Wall Street Journal, please visit the paper online
(registration required).
The
Lakes and Parks Alliance, which opposes the Southwest Corridor light-rail line in Minnesota, has appealed Judge John Tunheim’s decision to
throw out their lawsuit challenging the project. The group filed its lawsuit
three years ago, and claimed that the Metropolitan Council violated federal law
when it picked the current route before it had completed the required
environmental studies. Judge Tunheim ruled in favor of the Council, and said
that it, “did not irreversibly and irretrievably commit itself to a specific
light-rail route, despite the appearance that it did.”
The alliance, in its appeal, said that the Metropolitan Council
limited itself to the current route by entering into agreements with the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, as well as with the cities of
Minneapolis and St. Louis Park. Judge Tunheim already focused on this issue
however in his original decision. The judge wrote that the pacts were,
“promises that could be broken,” for the 14.5-mile route.
Despite the appeal, Council members are confident that the
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals will affirm Tunheim’s decision.
Construction on the $1.9-billion line is set to begin this fall,
with a completion date of 2023.
Only two weeks before the start of RPA’s Spring
2018 Advocacy Summit; ‘Day on The Hill’: Annual Congressional Reception and
Meeting - Sunday, April
15 to Wednesday, April 18, 2018
·
Monday’s sessions will include presentations by Amtrak on
PTC implementation and fleet strategy, and by FRA on the ongoing Southeast
& Midwest planning studies.
·
RPA’s ‘Day on The Hill’ is Tuesday, April 17. The Annual RPA
Congressional Reception will be held that evening from 5:30pm - 7:30pm in the Capitol
Visitors Center.
·
Wednesday’s Council Business Session will include the election
of Board Officers & Directors and ‘At-Large’ Council representatives.
This is THE opportunity of the year for rail passenger
advocates to have their voices heard directly by the decision makers on Capitol
Hill. With drastic cuts being proposed in 2019 for Amtrak and grant programs
such as TIGER, it is VITAL
that rail advocates make this year’s Summit and ‘Day on The Hill’ the
largest event ever. We need to flood ‘The Hill’ with our message that passenger
rail matters! Please join in this effort.
·
Event registration is open!
FYI...Reduced advance registration rates are available through Saturday, March
31. Higher rates will apply for all registrations made starting April 1 and at
the door.
·
The
host hotel is the Hilton Old Town Alexandria, located adjacent to the King
Street Metro & Alexandria Amtrak Stations. Discounted
group-rate rooms are now SOLD-OUT! Regular market rate rooms are available at
the Hilton, and a list of other nearby hotels can be found on the Events Page.
Brightline
crews have completed a series of safety upgrades that will reduce the sound of train horns for the
passenger rail line, as well as freight trains. The upgrades were made at about 30
rail crossing on the the Florida East Coast Railroad corridor in West Palm
Beach, which will be the first of six cities to have completed quiet zones.
Before the quiet zone can be made official, the city has to inspect the safety
upgrades.
A spokeswoman for West Palm Beach did not provide a timeline on
when inspections will be completed, but said, “the City is expeditiously moving
forward with its inspection.”
Quiet zones are also under development in Lake Worth, Lantana,
Delray and Boca, with work expected to be completed within the next week.
Upgrades in Boynton Beach will take a little longer due to the type of upgrades
that are planned.
The
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) demonstrated the value of its
public transit services to the state and economy in a new report, before it
requested $6 billion over 15 years for major upgrades. In the new report, “SEPTA Drives the Economy of Pennsylvania,” the Authority offers
multiple values to the state including, increased home values near service
routes; reduced traffic congestion; reduced need for parking; and, a boost for
the state’s economy.
“We’re handling 53 percent more riders than we did in the ’90s,
without adding tracks or cars,” said SEPTA general manager Jeff Knueppel during
a news conference on the report. “We’re constantly running near capacity, and
that’s tough on equipment. We’re worried about being able to keep supporting
the economic activity in the region.”
The release of the report also led to SEPTA officials requesting
funding to support major transit initiatives. SEPTA said some of its major
priorities for the next decade include:
·
Expanding Market-Frankford Line trains from six cars to eight;
·
Modernizing trolleys to make them compliant with the Americans
with Disabilities Act and able to carry more passengers;
·
Updating Regional Rail lines to replace 231 cars, “dating from
the Nixon era”;
·
Adding a second set of tracks north of Ardsley on the Warminster
Line; and
·
Extending the Norristown High Speed Line to King of Prussia.
The report cost $120,000, was paid for by SEPTA, and prepared by
Econsult Solutions.
Is Your Mayor Onboard? As Congress plans
ahead for next year's spending, it's critical that local cities play an active
part in the process. Contact your Mayor today!
Just last year, we
saw efforts in both Congress and the White House to kill Amtrak's National
Network. With a concerted campaign of station rallies, calls, and meetings,
passenger advocates were able to turn back these efforts, and secure additional
funding for passenger rail in both the House and Senate. Now we need to move
these bills across the finish line.
That's why RPA is
asking you to write your local Mayor's office and recruit them in the campaign
for better train service for all Americans!
Rail Passengers is
providing you with materials to help make your argument. Joining our campaign
is as easy as clicking a button, so take
action today!
Passenger
Resources:
·
Passenger Trains: An Energy + Climate Solution. This printable one-pager
details the energy and environmental benefits of passenger rail investment.
·
Passenger Trains: Growing America's Economy. This printable one-pager
details the economic benefits of passenger rail investment.
·
FAST Act Funding Table. A printable funding table to
help you in your conversation with local transportation staffers.
·
RPA Rail & Transit Infrastructure Projects Unsure what rail and
transit projects to promote to your representatives? This list of projects can
help!
·
Long Distance Trains - A Foundation for National
Mobility. This fact sheet
details the economic and mobility benefits of Amtrak's national network.
·
National Network Trains - A Medical Lifeline. Share stories from users of the
national network who depend upon Amtrak to connect to vital services.
·
Manufacturing Benefits of Railcar Investment. This information illustrates
the manufacturing supply chain and job creation supported by investment in
railcars.
The
East San Fernando Valley in California is set to receive $202 million for transit development, including a potential light-rail
line or a rapid bus system. Overall, the California Transportation Commission
(CTC) approved $482 million for Metro from the State Transportation Improvement
Program (STIP) to be used for transportation projects in the Los Angeles area.
Should the light-rail project be in the future for the East San Fernando
Valley, the line would connect Metro's Orange Line bus stop on Van Nuys
Boulevard to the Metrolink's Sylmar/San Fernando Station. The project will also
be funded through Metro's Measure M sales-tax, which was approved in 2016.
“Our transportation network is the engine that powers our
economy forward — and a catalyst that drives us toward a more sustainable and
interconnected future,” Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric
Garcetti said in a press release. “This new funding will ensure
Metro can continue to deliver Measure M projects on time and on budget.”
The projects are also part of the city’s Twenty-Eight by 2028
initiative. The goal is to build 28 major projects in time for the 2028 Summer
Olympics and Paralympics, which will be held in Los Angeles.
Do
you live in Maryland? There’s a new chapter of Rail Passengers especially for
you, and they need your help! As early steps, Rail
Passengers Maryland was out leafleting to save MARC train service into West
Virginia, an effort that succeeded and proved the value of getting
involved! Get
in on the ground floor, Join today, and help them take the message that Marylanders want more rail
options to Annapolis! Contact them with direct questions and comments here.
The
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has requested
public comments regarding automation
in the railroad industry.
The FRA is seeking input from industry
stakeholders, the public, local and state governments, and other interested
parties on the potential benefits, costs, risks and challenges to implementing
automated railroad operations.
The goal of the solicitation is to help the agency determine how
it, "can best support the railroad industry's development and
implementation of new and emerging technologies in automation that could lead
to safety improvements or increased efficiencies in railroad operations.”
The deadline for submitting a response is May 7.
$10,000 Sweepstakes for Education Continues Through
April 26 - RPA kicked off a new sweepstakes in February for
college students who can use assistance paying for higher education. RPA
understands that paying for college is not easy, and this is why the
Association is offering one lucky student a chance to win $10,000 for the
2018-2019 school year.
To be eligible to
win the sweepstakes, students can nominate themselves, or a student can be
nominated by someone else - a friend or a parent, for example. The only
criteria is that the winning student must be enrolled in a U.S. accredited
college or graduate program for the 2018-2019 school year.
For details on how
to enter or nominate a student, as well as rules for the sweepstakes, please
visit:www.crowdrise.com/rpascholarship. Nominations will close on April 26 at 11:59:59.
Amtrak
has taken Track 18 at New York’s Penn Station out of
service as part of its renewal
effort which first began last summer. The track was taken out of
service on Monday after Amtrak crews completed work on Track 15 last month. The
work for Track 18 will include, “localized concrete demolition,” as well as a
replacement of track ties and rails.
Also, Amtrak has continued its work on Penn Station’s, “C
Interlocking.” Amtrak crews have been renewing and replacing three turnouts
that controls the trains entering and exiting the east end of the station. Work
began March 2, and is on schedule to be completed by the end of May.
The
Seattle Mariners are providing a new perk for fans who purchase tickets for their baseball games - free Link Light Rail rides with
Sound Transit.
As of Opening Night at Safeco Field on March 29 and through June 3, game
tickets will be valid to ride the light rail on game days starting three-hours
before the first pitch through the end of Sound Transit's regular daily schedule.
"We know from surveys that traffic and parking are two of
the biggest frustrations our fans face. This partnership is a great way to
utilize an existing public asset to help fans get to and from Safeco Field in a
fast, convenient way," Seattle Mariners President and CEO Kevin Mather
said in a press release.
"What could be easier?," said Sound Transit Chief
Executive Officer Peter Rogoff. "You buy your game ticket and
automatically buy your trip home and back. Sound Transit is thrilled that the
Mariners are sponsoring such an easy way for fans to reach opening season
games."
Upcoming Regional Rail Passenger & State
Association Member Meetings and Other Events:
Please
contact Bruce
Becker to have a local, state or
regional event or meeting added to the RPA calendar of upcoming events!
During
an infrastructure speech to union workers in Ohio, President Trump said that an infrastructure plan can be expected after the 2018
midterm elections in November. If Trump’s comments hold true, the White House continues to
delay a promise to rebuild the country’s infrastructure that Trump made during
his election campaign and it leaves a lot of uncertainty for passenger rail.
This was Trump’s first public speech to promote the White
House’s infrastructure initiative, which pushes $200 billion of federal seed
money with the goal of generating a $1.5 trillion package. The plan has stalled
in Congress and rightfully so, as the White House proposes gutting Amtrak’s
budget in half. The plan would virtually eliminate long-distance passenger
rail.
Still, both the White House and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) have
said infrastructure rebuilding plans will be passed in multiple pieces of
legislation, including last week’s omnibus spending package, a reauthorization
of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA), for example.
Fortunately, the federal government approved $2.813 billion for
intercity rail, which includes:
·
$2 billion in federal funding for Amtrak, including $1.3 billion
for the National Network and $650 million for the Northeast Corridor.
·
$593 million for the Consolidated Rail Improvement, which
includes $250 million for PTC implementation; $250 million for the State of
Good Repair program; and $20 million for the Rail Restoration program.
The
Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) has canceled its plans to run passenger rail service from Brunswick, ME
to Rockland over
the summer. The group was looking into running service over three weekends as
part of a pilot program to bring the Amtrak Downeaster service to the area,
with stops in Bath, Wiscasset, Newcastle and Rockland.
Due to other priorities Amtrak is facing, the passenger railroad
will not be able to conduct the trial service.
NNEPRA executive director Patricia Quinn, however, said this is
not the end of the organization’s efforts to bring service to the region. The
rail authority plans to come up with a schedule for summer 2019 that,
“hopefully can be more robust than three round trips,” Quinn said. “We’re
committed to trying to make this happen.”
Take Action Now! - Our voices were
heard -- the FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill included key passenger rail
funding. Though we have passed a major hurdle, we must remain vigilant in our
efforts, and continually remind our representatives, and the White House, that
passenger rail funding in an infrastructure bill is necessary for the growth
and success of our economy.
RPA has set up an
online tool to permit riders and members alike to let the White House know
directly that they disagree with any cuts to passenger rail funding.
The
Minnesota Department of Transportation's Rail Office is ready to move from the planning phase of the Northern
Lights Express (NLX) line to the design and construction phase of the project.
The government agency has already been in talks with Amtrak and BNSF Railway,
which owns the tracks that run between Duluth and Minneapolis, to bring
higher-frequency passenger rail to the region.
"There is no more planning that needs to be done. Now we
are ready to build," said Frank Loetterle, project manager in the
Minnesota Department of Transportation's Rail Office. Loetterle also said that
he expects that the line could open two and a half years after the final design
process begins.
In addition to moving to the design phase, the agency will need
to focus on securing the funds for the project. MnDOT officials estimates that
it will cost between $500 million and $600 million to get the proposed line up
and running.
Once the line is operational, officials plan to operate four
daily trips, with stops in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley and Superior. The
NLX would also connect to the Midwest rail system and national Amtrak system,
and operate at top speeds of 90 MPH.
Orange
County, CA and Milwaukee, WI both took major steps forward in their streetcar
programs this
week. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) board of
directors approved
the purchase of new streetcars from Siemens. The deal is for eight vehicles,
along with spare parts and tools, and will cost up to $51.5 million. At any
given time, the OC Streetcar will have six vehicles running, with two cars
acting as spares.
“This is an important and exciting milestone for the OC
Streetcar project as we have decided upon the vehicles that will provide Orange
County residents another public transit option,” said OCTA Chairwoman Lisa
Bartlett. “We’re looking forward to making the vision for a modern electric
streetcar here in Orange County a reality.”
The OC Streetcar project is estimated to cost $299 million, with
funding coming from Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for
transportation improvements, and a mix of state and federal funding.
Downtown Milwaukee received its first streetcar, which is expected to
begin service this fall as The Hop. Before service begins, testing will
commence with empty streetcars in about a month. The new streetcar is the first
of five to arrive, with the other cars arriving at a rate of one per month.
"It's here!" Mayor Tom Barrett said. "This is a
significant step forward, and you can sense the excitement growing as we get
closer and closer."
The planned route will span 2.5 miles, and connect the Milwaukee
Intermodal Station with the city's lower east side. The downtown route will
open later this year, while the lakefront line is expected to start operating
in 2019.
Nominations for 2018 ‘At-Large’ And Board Positions
CLOSE TOMORROW, March 31 - Rail Passengers Association/NARP is inviting
members in good-standing to consider running for one of the up-to 10 available
‘At-Large’ positions on the Council of Representatives. These positions are for
two-year terms. Elections will be held at the Council's Annual Business Meeting
on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 in Alexandria, VA. For more information on the
‘At-Large’ positions, including the duties, responsibilities and required
qualifications, and to submit a self-nomination, go to: http://ow.ly/Yxzs30hxl4P.
Self-nominations
are also now being sought from qualified members interested in being elected by
the Council of Representatives to an Association officer position (Chair of the
Board; one of four Vice-Chairs; Treasurer or Secretary) or to one of three
available Board Director positions. Board officer positions are for a two-year
term and the Board director positions are for a three-year term. For
information on Board Officer & Director positions, including the duties,
responsibilities and required qualifications, and to submit a self-nomination,
go to: http://ow.ly/LGSj30hxlaf.
NOTE: The deadline to submit Candidate Information
Statements is TOMORROW, Saturday, March 31, 2018!
The 2018 - 2020 State Representatives on the RPA Council of Representatives have
now been announced. There are still a number of state representative openings
available (as noted in the listing) and qualified RPA members in the applicable
states are encouraged to consider seeking appointment to these positions.
Please contact Bruce Becker for more
information or if you would like to be considered.
In
the wake of Amtrak’s efforts to streamline its business strategy and improve its
revenue, the passenger railroad has now cut military veteran
discounts. The steps come shortly after Amtrak eliminated student
and AAA member discounts. The discount had been in place for veterans since
2001, and provided a 15 percent discount for Amtrak and Acela trains
nationwide.
The recent cuts have been part of new Amtrak President and CEO
Richard Anderson’s plan to set up Amtrak with similar business practices to
those he initiated at Delta Airlines.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has called out Amtrak’s
actions as “outrageous and unconscionable” and has urged Anderson to reinstate
the veteran discount in a letter. In it, Blumenthal said:
“I urge you to cease these efforts and reaffirm that veterans
will always be welcomed and encouraged to use the nation’s railroad with a
discount program that recognizes and rewards their service to our country. I
urge you to continue to honor veterans with discounts, and reinstate your
partnership with an organization like Veterans Advantage to ensure veterans and
their families have access to all the discounts they are due. These benefits
are a small token of appreciation to veterans who have committed their lives to
protecting our nation and help preserve a strong customer base for Amtrak.”
Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods said in response to the change
in discounts that: “Amtrak has eliminated its involvement with private company
membership clubs which charge fees to obtain discounts for their members, such
as AAA and the Veterans Advantage Plan. The goal is also to improve overall
revenue performance by expanding the use of tactical fare sales to generate
ridership growth versus the everyday discounts provided by membership groups.”
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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