WRP_CircusMovesByRail_Jan15_6v_Layout 1 11/30/
reminds us. “Significant investment in the ag- ing NEC infrastructure is necessary to deliver capacity and reliability to meet current and projected future demand for passenger rail service,” a tall order considering the decades of under-investment by the private railroads prior to the creation of Amtrak for passenger operations and Conrail for freight. (Conrail turned out to be a successful private freight company, ultimately split between CSX and Norfolk Southern. Amtrak... Well, intercity passenger is whole different story that defies the normal rules of economics, as outlined above and in several previous columns.) Highlighting projects in need of attention
include the new replacement Gateway Hud- son River Tunnel project, explained a few paragraphs ago; the Portal Bridge in New Jersey and the Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel in Maryland; station planning and develop- ment efforts; and not to mention the “next generation” high-speed rail service and other major projects. Amtrak VP Stephan Gardner says it would
be difficult to overstate the importance of the NEC to the regional and national economies.
Speaking of the passenger train’s fate
All of this brings to mind one of the speakers at last October’s annual “Passenger Trains on Freight Railroads” conference (see our col- umn last month). Advice was offered by Jason Kuehn, vice president of the consultancy Oliver Wyman Rail Practice, which has made the fol- lowing suggestions as to the industry’s success: • Embrace the passenger train. It is the
public face of the industry and the canary in the coal mine for freight traffic. • Capacity is golden (which some are now learning the hard way—W.V.). • The days of surplus capacity are waning (another thing we are learning the hard way, but we were warned long before this “push vs. shove” intersection, but… Well, the words “learning the hard way” are redundant). • Future demand is difficult to predict. • Public infrastructure investment is dry-
ing up. Congestion hits everyone in the pock- etbook. That includes shareholders, shippers, and travelers. • Leverage all available sources of help
such as tax incentives similar to short-line credits, or so-called TIGER grants for the larger lines.
Transparency and cooperation yield better
results faster than STB investigations and legal skirmishes. Regulatory intervention, in fact, historically leads to reduced capital in- vestment.
Transportation “disappointing?”
The Council on Foreign Relations was formed after World War I to head off another “Great War” (World War II). Today, after nearly a century of serial warfare, CFR has seen fit to weigh in on the domestic issue of U.S. trans- portation policy. The CFR blog (
http://tinyurl.com/capito-
l1503a) gives short shrift to high-speed rail, noting that U.S. population density does not match either that of Europe or Japan. We have considered all that and discarded it.
Wes Vernon is a Washington writer and veteran broadcast journalist. You can reach him with questions or comments at
capitollines@railfan.com.
Moves by Rail The Circus
This Carstens Classic is the definitive book on American circus trains from the earliest days to the big, modern Ringling Brothers operations of today. Including Ringling, Hagenbeck, Wild West Shows, Clyde Beatty and others. Features 400 pages of detailed information on circus train cars, operations, rebuilding, lettering, and more. Order your copy today!
COME ONE, COME ALL!
$39.95
Plus shipping & handling Order Item #CMBR-CRS
(877) 787-2467
WHITERIVERPRODUCTIONS.COM P.O. BOX 48, BUCKLIN, MO 64631
AMERICA BY RAIL Presents: GREAT NORTH AMERICAN CIRCLE TOUR
Featuring the entire: CRESCENT, SUNSET LIMITED COAST STARLIGHT, THE CANADIAN
The rail vacation you’ve been waiting for! Travel 8,119 miles on Amtrak and VIA Rail trains. Across the scenic deserts of Arizona, up the California coast, through the towering snow capped Canadian Rockies, and down the shoreline of Lake Champlain. Spend the daytime in glass walled Amtrak Sightseer Lounge cars and Canadian Vistadomes. Includes 24 full-course dining car meals and sleeping accommodations on all overnight trains. Travel with fellow train enthusiasts. Fully escorted from Albany, NY.
17 Days - $5,495 October 10 - 26
Also featuring: THE ADIRONDACK, EMPIRE SVC CASCADES SVC, VIA CORRIDOR SVC
For a complete itinerary or to receive our 140-page catalog
call 888-777-6605 or visit
www.americabyrail.com
Florida Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST35919
• Canadian Rockies • California • New Orleans • Vienna • 17 National Parks • Grand Canyon . . . and many more!
America by Rail • 5000 Northwind Dr. East Lansing, MI 48823 27 Travel with America by Rail to other exciting destinations:
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72