Amtrak Spells Out Long-Distance Plans
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Amtrak has released a paper in which it says it “is committed to operating a national rail network that serves customers across the United States,” including daily long-distance (L-D) services, provided certain conditions are met.
“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have already made temporary reductions in service frequency to our Northeast Corridor (NEC) and State Supported services. We are now extending similar temporary reductions to most of our Long Distance routes, effective Oct. 1.To be clear, our temporary reductions and subsequent plan to restore this service are dependent on sufficient federal assistance—at least $3.5 billion in FY21 assuming a 50% system wide ridership level, but additional assistance could be required if ridership does not reach this level.”
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Among the many conditions, Amtrak says it “will assess COVID-19-related hospitalization rates in the regions through which a given Long Distance route operates. If those rates are stable or declining as of Feb. 15, 2021, this condition will have been met … If the percentage of available seat-and room-miles booked in 2021 is at least 90% of the 2020 percentage, this condition will have been me … Amtrak will compare systemwide ridership levels for the fall (Q1 of FY 2021) with our FY 2021 operating plan, which already accounts for reduced ridership due to COVID. If the number of passengers is at least 90% of the projected figure, this condition will have been met.”
If all three conditions are met for a given L-D route, then in February 2021, Amtrak “will begin working to restore service along that route. Depending on the particular route, that restoration could be complete as early as late May, and no later than June 30, 2021.”
Operating the L-D network will “require billions in investment for the new fleet needed to replace 25-year old locomotives and 40-year old passenger cars that have reached the end of their useful lives, as well as important station development and infrastructure improvements,” Amtrak noted. “These capital funds are not a ‘rainy day fund’ available for times when our revenue is down; instead, they are specifically committed for critical projects that the railroad needs to operate safely and effectively.
“Such capital commitments include safety upgrades, a new fleet on the NEC and National Network, station improvements across the nation, and infrastructure renewal to improve reliability and capacity, such as annual track work and the replacement of [Northeast Corridor] bridges and tunnels that are more than 100 years old … Amtrak’s decisions on where to invest its limited resources are driven by the need to dedicate the taxpayer funds entrusted to us towards their most productive use. With that in mind, we do not think it would be prudent to cannibalize these capital commitments in order to operate trains that do not match demand during the pandemic.”
Recently installed Amtrak President and CEO Bill Flynn and Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Commercial Officer Stephen Gardner discussed the company’s role as a provider of national passenger rail service with Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono on a Rail Group On Air podcast. What is their long-term vision for Amtrak? What role do they see intercity passenger rail playing in the national transportation network? What is Amtrak’s plan for long-distance trains? Flynn and Gardner talk candidly about these and other issues as Amtrak approaches its 50th year:
MORE INSIGHT: RAIL GROUP ON AIR PODCAST
