Contacts:
Clifford Black, Washington - (202) 906-3860;
Marc Magliari or Debbie Hare, Chicago - (312) 655-2391;
Rick Remington, Philadelphia - (215) 349-2735;
Dawn Soper, Oakland - (510) 238-4360

AMTRAK TO RESTRUCTURE NATIONAL RAIL PASSENGER SYSTEM

WASHINGTON -- In reaction to an accelerated reduction in federal funding, the Amtrak Board of Directors has given preliminary approval to a business plan for Fiscal Year 1997 (October 1996 - September 1997) that would enable the passenger rail company to maintain a national system. The plan involves a major restructuring of the national system, including increased train frequencies on some routes and the discontinuance of some others.

Although a federal transportation appropriations bill for FY97 has not yet been signed into law, the recent votes of both Chambers of Congress indicate that Amtrak's operating grant will be no more than $200 million for FY97. Amtrak had identified and requested an operating grant of $250 million as necessary for FY97. The anticipated funding level is $50 million less than requested. Also, a dedicated source of federal capital funding, essential to the railroad's survival, has not yet been identified, putting further pressure on operating resources. Because of these constraints, Amtrak must accelerate its implementation of a plan, begun in 1994, to provide passenger train service without federal operating grants by the year 2002.

The plan maintains a national network, restores daily service to many routes with less-than-daily service, discontinues portions of some routes, extends one route, and achieves economies by standardizing the number and type of passenger cars on as many trains as practicable. The plan will establish new service or increased frequencies at 131 stations, nationwide. Forty-two stations will lose all Amtrak service.

The FY97 business plan results in a national system where all but two routes offer daily frequencies. Restructuring of Amtrak's route system in FY95 reduced some train routes to less-than-daily service. At first, these three- and four-days-per-week trains sold well. Subsequently, they proved to be unproductive in many markets, because of complex schedules. Meanwhile, operating costs remained nearly the same as daily service.

The plan's combined route and service changes will result in a slight increase in overall train miles.

The Amtrak Board of Directors is expected to give its final approval of the FY97 business plan in September 1996.

Planned Route and Service Adjustments

• Restore daily service on the Empire Builder

  The Chicago-Seattle/Portland Empire Builder currently operates daily between Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul and four-times-per-week in each direction on the Minneapolis/St. Paul - Seattle/Portland segment of its route. As of Nov. 10, 1996, the Empire Builder will operate daily over its entire route.

• Restore daily service on the California Zephyr

  The California Zephyr currently operates between Chicago and Oakland/San Francisco with daily service between Chicago and Salt Lake City and four-times-per-week service in each direction on the Salt Lake City - Oakland/San Francisco segment of its route. As of Nov. 10, the California Zephyr will operate daily over its entire route.

• Restore daily service on the Crescent

  The New York-New Orleans Crescent operates daily between New York and Atlanta and four-times-per-week in each direction over the Atlanta-New Orleans segment of its route. Temporary daily service over the entire route during the Summer Olympics, operating daily July 18 through Aug. 11, has been extended in response to customer demand.

• Restore daily service on the City of New Orleans

  The six-day-per-week City of New Orleans, operating between Chicago and New Orleans, will begin operating daily beginning Nov. 10. Among other cities, the train serves Memphis, Tenn., and Jackson, Miss.

• Restore daily service on the Broadway Limited from New York to Chicago

  The current New York-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Three Rivers, which connects at Pittsburgh with the Washington-Chicago Capitol Limited, will be replaced with service by the Broadway Limited, eliminating a time-consuming train switching operation at Pittsburgh and restoring service over the Broadway's previous route in Northern Ohio and Indiana.

• Restructure New York-Miami Silver Service -- Add Silver Palm train

  Amtrak currently operates two daily trains between New York and Miami. In order to take better advantage of market demand, a third daily train would begin operation between New York and Miami.

• Originate and terminate the Sunset Limited at Sanford, Fla.

  The three-times-per-week Sunset Limited, which operates between Los Angeles and Miami, will originate and terminate in Sanford, Fla., instead of Miami. The current frequency of service between Jacksonville and Miami would be maintained with the addition of a third daily New York-Florida train.

• Discontinue operation of the Pioneer

  The three-times-per-week Pioneer, which operates between Chicago, Denver, Portland and Seattle, would be discontinued between Denver and Seattle, with other service retained between Portland and Seattle. Daily service between Chicago and Denver will be retained on the California Zephyr, operating daily between Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City and Oakland/San Francisco. In addition, Amtrak is developing alternatives which may provide an additional short-distance train between Seattle and Portland. The Chicago-Portland/Seattle endpoint market will continue to be served by the daily Empire Builder.

• Discontinue operation of the Desert Wind

  The three-times-per-week Desert Wind, operating between Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, will be discontinued between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Daily service between Chicago and Salt Lake City would be retained on the California Zephyr, operating daily between Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City and Oakland/San Francisco. In addition, Amtrak is developing alternatives which may provide short-distance service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Daily service between the endpoint cities of Chicago and Los Angeles will be continued with the Southwest Chief.

• Discontinue the St. Louis - San Antonio segment of the Texas Eagle

  The three-times-per-week Texas Eagle, operating between Chicago, St. Louis and San Antonio, would be discontinued between St. Louis and San Antonio, eliminating the connection to the Sunset Limited to and from Los Angeles from San Antonio. Daily service on the Chicago-St. Louis segment of the route will be maintained at the current level of three daily trains in each direction.

• Discontinue the Boston - Albany section of the Lake Shore Limited

  The Boston-Albany section of the Lake Shore Limited, which operates daily between Chicago and New York/Boston via Albany, will be discontinued. The Chicago-New York segment of the Lake Shore Limited will be retained. Dedicated motor coach service will replace train service on the Boston-Albany section. Passengers can continue to travel exclusively by rail between Boston and Chicago by changing trains in New York. Amtrak and Massachusetts officials are working together to explore rail transportation possibilities in Western Massachusetts.