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Source: United Transportation Union(UTU)
WATERBURY, Vt. -- Amtrak wants Vermont to participate in a rail demonstration project by buying new smaller passenger cars that could save the state money and increase ridership on the Vermonter passenger route that runs between St. Albans and New Haven, according to this report by Nancy Remsen published by the Burlington Free Press.
Agency of Transportation officials briefed two dozen lawmakers on the proposal Monday, saying they would like approval to order the new cars as early as September.
"I'm really enthusiastic about Amtrak and these cars," said Sen. Don Collins, D-Franklin, who is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee that will make a recommendation on the proposal. "It has the possibility to take rail in Vermont into the 21st century."
Sen. Robert Starr, D-Essex/Orleans, had a different reaction.
"The way I look at this, we are buying a pig in a poke," Starr said. The state would be responsible for buying and maintaining the new, untried cars while still paying Amtrak to operate them, he noted. He worried that state officials hadn't explored leasing rather than buying the new equipment.
Sam Lewis, director of operations at the Agency of Transportation, made the case for the state's participation in this demonstration of smaller cars. Currently Amtrak operates two big locomotives and train cars with seats for 400 passengers for its run to St. Albans because that configuration is needed on the southern end of the line as it travels to New York and Washington. In Vermont, Lewis said, "We are pulling empty seats with more power than is needed."
Under the demonstration project, passengers for the Vermont leg of the trip would switch in New Haven, Conn., to smaller cars called diesel multiple units.
"Amtrak came to us and said we'd like to try something -- to see what the new DMUs can do on inter-city routes," Lewis said. He noted that Amtrak would provide the state with $2 million to help with transition costs, retooling a maintenance facility and marketing.
The Federal Rail Administration has said it would loan the state the $17.5 million to buy five cars, with no payments due for the first three years -- the duration of the demonstration, Lewis explained. The loan would be for 20 years at 4.5 percent interest.
Lewis estimated the state would save $4.25 million during the three-year demonstration because the new cars require smaller crews and less fuel.
The state considered another source of cars, Farmrail, which is interested in reconditioning some 50-year-old smaller cars.
"Farmrail represents more risk to us," Lewis argued. Costs could be higher on rebuilt equipment compared to new, he said. Also Amtrak wouldn't provide its $2 million grant if the state bought those cars.
Lewis noted that the switch to smaller cars would be only on the Vermonter line. The Ethan Allen line, which runs from Rutland to New York, would still use the older, larger equipment. Lewis said, "We thought we shouldn't jump in with both feet."
Neale Lunderville, who took over Monday as Secretary of the Agency of Transportation, said he had reviewed the feasibility of this project months ago in his former job as an advisor to Gov. Jim Douglas. He said, "The governor is very enthusiastic about this."
"With a new train and new faster service, coupled with some marketing money, we can make it an attractive option," Lunderville said.
Many of the lawmakers listening to the presentation were intrigued by the possibilities.
"I'm willing to look at it," said House Transportation Chairman Richard Westman, R-Cambridge. He wants to be sure the state can resell the cars if the project flops. He said there also needs faster travel times on the route.
Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Bartlett, D-Lamoille, nodded her approval of the project and its finances. "I think it is definitely something we should look at."
Senate Transportation Chairman Richard Mazza, D-Chittenden/Grand Isle, also cheered the chance to try the new cars and save money. "I support passenger rail."
Mazza said he especially liked that Amtrak would provide money to market the train service. Currently, he said, "The promotion is terrible. You don't know where to buy tickets. The stations are always closed. It can only get better, not worse."
Transportation officials promised to provide lawmakers with more information over the coming weeks. They will ask the Legislature's Joint Fiscal Committee to approve the purchase plan at its Sept. 19 meeting.
Lewis said the Colorado Rail Car Co. would need 14 months to fill Vermont's order for five cars. If ordered promptly, service with the new equipment could start in late 2007.
(The preceding report by Nancy Remsen was published by the Burlington Free Press on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006.)
WATERBURY, Vt. -- Amtrak wants Vermont to participate in a rail demonstration project by buying new smaller passenger cars that could save the state money and increase ridership on the Vermonter passenger route that runs between St. Albans and New Haven, according to this report by Nancy Remsen published by the Burlington Free Press.
Agency of Transportation officials briefed two dozen lawmakers on the proposal Monday, saying they would like approval to order the new cars as early as September.
"I'm really enthusiastic about Amtrak and these cars," said Sen. Don Collins, D-Franklin, who is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee that will make a recommendation on the proposal. "It has the possibility to take rail in Vermont into the 21st century."
Sen. Robert Starr, D-Essex/Orleans, had a different reaction.
"The way I look at this, we are buying a pig in a poke," Starr said. The state would be responsible for buying and maintaining the new, untried cars while still paying Amtrak to operate them, he noted. He worried that state officials hadn't explored leasing rather than buying the new equipment.
Sam Lewis, director of operations at the Agency of Transportation, made the case for the state's participation in this demonstration of smaller cars. Currently Amtrak operates two big locomotives and train cars with seats for 400 passengers for its run to St. Albans because that configuration is needed on the southern end of the line as it travels to New York and Washington. In Vermont, Lewis said, "We are pulling empty seats with more power than is needed."
Under the demonstration project, passengers for the Vermont leg of the trip would switch in New Haven, Conn., to smaller cars called diesel multiple units.
"Amtrak came to us and said we'd like to try something -- to see what the new DMUs can do on inter-city routes," Lewis said. He noted that Amtrak would provide the state with $2 million to help with transition costs, retooling a maintenance facility and marketing.
The Federal Rail Administration has said it would loan the state the $17.5 million to buy five cars, with no payments due for the first three years -- the duration of the demonstration, Lewis explained. The loan would be for 20 years at 4.5 percent interest.
Lewis estimated the state would save $4.25 million during the three-year demonstration because the new cars require smaller crews and less fuel.
The state considered another source of cars, Farmrail, which is interested in reconditioning some 50-year-old smaller cars.
"Farmrail represents more risk to us," Lewis argued. Costs could be higher on rebuilt equipment compared to new, he said. Also Amtrak wouldn't provide its $2 million grant if the state bought those cars.
Lewis noted that the switch to smaller cars would be only on the Vermonter line. The Ethan Allen line, which runs from Rutland to New York, would still use the older, larger equipment. Lewis said, "We thought we shouldn't jump in with both feet."
Neale Lunderville, who took over Monday as Secretary of the Agency of Transportation, said he had reviewed the feasibility of this project months ago in his former job as an advisor to Gov. Jim Douglas. He said, "The governor is very enthusiastic about this."
"With a new train and new faster service, coupled with some marketing money, we can make it an attractive option," Lunderville said.
Many of the lawmakers listening to the presentation were intrigued by the possibilities.
"I'm willing to look at it," said House Transportation Chairman Richard Westman, R-Cambridge. He wants to be sure the state can resell the cars if the project flops. He said there also needs faster travel times on the route.
Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Bartlett, D-Lamoille, nodded her approval of the project and its finances. "I think it is definitely something we should look at."
Senate Transportation Chairman Richard Mazza, D-Chittenden/Grand Isle, also cheered the chance to try the new cars and save money. "I support passenger rail."
Mazza said he especially liked that Amtrak would provide money to market the train service. Currently, he said, "The promotion is terrible. You don't know where to buy tickets. The stations are always closed. It can only get better, not worse."
Transportation officials promised to provide lawmakers with more information over the coming weeks. They will ask the Legislature's Joint Fiscal Committee to approve the purchase plan at its Sept. 19 meeting.
Lewis said the Colorado Rail Car Co. would need 14 months to fill Vermont's order for five cars. If ordered promptly, service with the new equipment could start in late 2007.
(The preceding report by Nancy Remsen was published by the Burlington Free Press on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006.)