The 2009 Amtrak map still shows the New Orleans - Florida segment of the Sunset
Limited that has not operated since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Further, the
green lines that represent thruway bus services dramatically overstate Amtrak's
national route system. Amtrak... is there no shame?


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

As of 7:39am the BNSF Business train is in Kansas City Union Station along with
the Riverrunner and the Southwest Chief. I wonder if Warren Buffett is touring
his new purchase?

Evan Stair


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This comes from NFA, Inc President Deborah Fischer Stout. *This is a vitally
important gathering! *If at all possible attend, even if you are out of
state. The NFA, Inc. is attempting to get on Visioneering's South Central
Kansas Legislative Agenda. If successful, the NFA, Inc initiative will
secure the full weight of the South Central Kansas Legislative Delegation,
complete with lobbyist services. You will be provided with an opportunity to
vote on passenger rail expansion initiative. *Do not* miss this opportunity.

Evan Stair

Vice President - Oklahoma

Northern Flyer Alliance

---------------------------------------------

Reminder: there will be a meeting of the Visioneering Unified Legislative
Agenda Alliance on Thursday, November 12th from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the
Wichita Realtors Association, 170 W Dewey. At this meeting you will have the
opportunity to review and ask questions about the 2009 ULA Proposals, as
well as to rank the issues that are being considered for selection.

A large show of support is very important.

Please plan to attend, and please forward this to friends, family,
co-workers and encourage them to attend as well !!

Thank you and I'll see you Thursday!

Deborah Fischer Stout

President

Northern Flyer Alliance


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://www.arkcity.net/articles/2009/11/03/news/doc4af0808b7d057692758248.tx
t

Railroad 'Buffetted' by changes


About 150 Burlington Northern Santa Fe employees based in the Arkansas City
area are hopeful that the railroad will benefit from Monday's purchase of
the railroad by billionaire Warren Buffett. The purchase was made in a $34
billion deal by Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Pictured is BNSF
equipment operating on tracks in the Ark City rail yard.



By FOSS FARRAR
Staff Writer
Published:
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 1:18 PM CST
Warren Buffett's purchase of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. may have a
positive effect on the railroad's operations in Arkansas City and may help
Kansas' chances for re-establishing north-south Amtrak service through the
state, including Ark City, local BNSF employees said today.

About 150 BNSF employees are based in the Ark City area. Ark City is a
crew-change point for rail operations through here.

"Generally speaking, it is good for the company if it has big money behind
it," said Rick Lewis, BNSF engineer and legislative representative for the
Brotherhood of Local Engineers and Trainmen.

Lewis and longtime Ark City engineer Jim Hagar, who worked for the railroad
for 41 years before retiring in 2008, both agreed that any changes that
might happen for local employees will take some time.

"We'll have to wait and see," Hagar said. "The railroad is going to
continue to operate the way it is. They're probably just going to change
pennies for nickels.

"You always hold your breath until you find out what direction new
management might take," Lewis said. "We're hoping that it's positive for
BNSF and its employees as a whole."

For more of this story, see Tuesday's Traveler.

Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this story.


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The effects of this buyout will ripple through the Northern Flyer Alliance,
Inc. project.

Evan Stair
Vice President - Oklahoma
Northern Flyer Alliance
www.NorthFlyer.org
517 Claremont
Norman, OK 73069

------------------
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6078eb54-c87a-11de-a69e-00144feabdc0.html?referrer
_id=yahoofinance&ft_ref=yahoo1&segid=03058&nclick_check=1

Buffett agrees $26bn Burlington buy

By Robert Wright in London and Simone Baribeau in New York

Published: November 3 2009 13:45 | Last updated: November 3 2009 14:29

Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the second-biggest US railroad by revenue, is
to become the first major railroad company to sell out to private equity
after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway made an offer valuing the company
at $44bn.

The offer, Berkshire’s biggest ever, follows two and a half years of
stakebuilding in the railroad, one of two major operators in the western
half of the US, since Berkshire Hathaway first emerged as a shareholder in
April 2007.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Ultimate bargain-hunter never had it so good - Feb-06
Buffett could quit Constellation battle - Dec-16
Buffett in line for $593m payment - Dec-03
EDF tries to scupper Buffett’s energy bid - Dec-03
Editorial Comment: The bull of Omaha - Oct-20
Buffett throws his lot in with stocks - Oct-18

Berkshire Hathaway already owns 22.6 per cent of BNSF’s shares. The $44bn
value includes assumption of $10bn of BNSF’s outstanding debt by Berkshire
Hathaway, meaning that Berkshire is paying a total of $26.6bn.

Under the terms of the deal, Berkshire is offering to buy the remaining
shares for $100 a share in cash and stock, a 31 per cent premium to
Tuesday’s closing price of $76.07. The shares rose almost 30 per cent to
$97.30 in pre-market trade. Shareholders will receive 60 per cent of the
payment in cash and a further 40 per cent in Berkshire Hathaway shares. A
“collar” arrangement will vary the number of shares if Berkshire Hathaway’s
shares go either side of a band from $80,000 to $125,000.

Mr Buffett hailed the investment as an “an all-in wager on the economic
future of the United States.”

Matthew Rose, BNSF’s chairman and chief executive, said the company was
thrilled to have the opportunity to become part of the Berkshire Hathaway
family.

“We admire Warren’s leadership philosophy supporting long-term investment
that will allow BNSF to focus on future needs of our railroad, our
customers and the U.S. transportation infrastructure,” he said.

The transaction offered compelling value to shareholders and was in the
best interests of all of the company’s constituents, he added.

Mr Buffett said the investment in BNSF was a huge bet on the company, on Mr
Rose and his team and on the US railroad industry

“Most important of all, however, it’s an all-in wager on the economic
future of the United States,” he said. “I love these bets.”

The transaction raises the prospect that other of the seven biggest US and
Canadian railroads – collectively known as the Class Is – might sell out to
private equity. Canadian Pacific, one of the sector’s worst performers,
rejected an approach from Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management in July 2007.

However, the largest operators had previously been thought relatively
invulnerable to takeover because of the size of investment required.

Mr Buffett said when he started buying railroad shares that he had
previously written the sector off but had now realised how much it had
changed following deregulation in 1980. A number of US railroads have
recently started earning average returns higher than their cost of capital
for the first time in nearly 70 years.

The Burlington deal will require approval by two-thirds of outstanding
shareholders, other than Berkshire, and a Department of Justice review. It
is expected to close during the first three months of 2010.

Thomas Hund, BNSF’s finance director, told investors on a conference call
that he expected the DoJ anti-trust clearance to be the only clearance
required. Previous railroad mergers have become bogged down in months and
often years of wrangling before the Surface Transportation Board, the
industry regulator (or its predecessor, the Inter-State Commerce
Commission), which reviews mergers between railroads.

“This is not a merger of railroads and Berkshire Hathaway does not control
any other railroads,” Mr Hund said.

Goldman Sachs and Evercore advised Burlington on the deal.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. You may share using our article
tools. Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or
post to the web.

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Once again the bean counters have itchy abandonment trigger fingers. Let's
see how far they get within the corporate BNSF structure before this is
killed this time. The first time I heard about a reroute was 1991. That is
not to say it won't happen this time. It is to say that Amtrak and the BNSF
rarely come to agreement. Needless to say, the BNSF does not want passenger
trains on the transcon, even with doubletracking...

Evan

Original Message:
-----------------
From:  VerMontanan@...
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:25:43 EDT
To: southwest_chief@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Southwest_Chief] BNSF to Amtrak: Consider rerouting 'Chief'



BNSF to Amtrak: Consider  rerouting 'Chief'

The story from TRAINS magazine at:
_http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5784_
(http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5784)

--Mark Meyer


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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you have to be a member of the website to read the story!




-----Original Message-----
From: VerMontanan@...
To: southwest_chief@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, Oct 30, 2009 7:25 am
Subject: [Southwest_Chief] BNSF to Amtrak: Consider rerouting 'Chief'







BNSF to Amtrak: Consider rerouting 'Chief'

The story from TRAINS magazine at:
_http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5784_
(http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5784)

--Mark Meyer

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





=


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

BNSF to Amtrak: Consider  rerouting 'Chief'

The story from TRAINS magazine at:
_http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5784_
(http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5784)

--Mark Meyer


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello individuals and Groups:
 
I am in the porcess of preparing the November 16, 2009 update of the Western
Rails at Trainweb Update.
 
The highlights of this update are:
 
Introduction of the Missouri River Runner and Capitol Limited.
 
"Full-Scale" update of Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited schedule sets.
 
New schedules for the California Zephyr and Seattle Section of the Empire
Builder.
 
New station stops at Stanwood and Leavenworth, Wash. and Hope, Ark. (Stanwood
and Hope are to open later on a date to be announced.)
 
The long-awaited extension of trains 513 and 516 to Vancouver, BC.
 
New Cascades timetable for international service.
 
Updates to Hiawatha (southbound), Illinois Zephyr, Carl Sandburg, Illini,
Saluki, Lincoln Service, and City of New Orleans.
 
Revisions to commuter train service schedules to reflect added or reduced levels
of service.
 
Change of route code for the Coast Starlight from CL to CG to make room for the
Capitol Limited to be added to the western schedules index. The Capitol Limited
operates with Superliners, so it does not fit with the set of trains operating
Amfleet equipment.
 
I will also be introducing Central Rails at Trainweb at the same time, a web
site covering all Amtrak trains east of Chicago except for the Capitiol Limited
and the Cardinal.  The Cardinal will be in Eastern Rails as it operates lacking
a baggage car and runs a combined service diner/lounge car for food service. 
Central Rails, in place of the Cardinal, however, will include the new
Lynchburg-Boston service and current Regional Trains operating from Newport
News, Virg. or Richmond to New York or Boston.
Also, the through service Regionals that do not require transferring at New
Haven from Springfield will be in the Central Rails Group.
 
All other Regional Trains will be in the Eastern Rails site.
 
Eastern Rails, at first, will only include Cardinal, Empire, Keystone,
Adirondack, Vermonter, Boston Lake Shore Limited, Donweaster, Ethan Allen
Express, and Silver Meteor.
 
The Maple Leaf will be displayed in Central Rails.
 
Atlantic Coast Line Services:
 
The Silver Meteor will also be displayed in Eastern Rails.
 
Central Rails includes the Lake Shore Limited (New York Section), Wolverine,
Blue Water, Pere Marquette, Hoosier State, Silver Star, Carolinian, Piedmont,
Palmetto, and Pennsylvanian.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

RE: FRA Releases Preliminary Rail Plan: KC - Wichita - Oklahoma City - Fort
Worth Corridor is Included.

Yesterday the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a report
showing the Kansas City - Wichita - Oklahoma City - Fort Worth corridor as
a route under study. Page 11 shows the expansion corridor. It is because
all of you that this has happened. Also thanks to KDOT for being proactive
in their investigation.

http://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/RailPlanPrelim10-15.pdf

Today, I had a black Safeway bag either turned in or stolen off of a northbound
Coaster train (specifically train 631, which arrives on the track farthest from
the station.) that gets to Oceanside as a northbound Metrolink train of
significantly higher profile (train 850 to Riverside) which connects at Laguna
Niguel for a train to Los Angeles (train 687) and at Riverside for a train to
San Bernardino (train 800). Anyhow, I had a bag under my seat aboard the Coaster
that had three SAN-OSD Amtrak tickets and a few telephone charger cords inside.
Sometime between Arriving into Oceanside and returning to San Diego on train 640
at 7:40am the bag disappeared from under my seat in coach 2205 (which was next
to the locomotive). Please post an alert in your news letters with regard to
passenger luggage with valueable items inside. Although this happened on a
northbound morning Coaster train today, IT CAN HAPPEN ABOARD ANY TRAIN
REGARDLESS OF THE OPERATOR WHO IS
  PROVIDING SERVICE ON THAT ROUTE. Thanks, Peter Warner

RE: PUBLIC MEETING: KDOT Update on Kansas Rail Plan

All,

Please review the public meeting schedule below for a Kansas Department of
Transportation update regarding progress on the Kansas State Rail Plan. Please
attend the meeting in your area and ask about the Amtrak study. A file is
included on our web page and on the KDOT web page for further details if you
plan to attend.

Paste the following in your browser to access the schedule:

http://www.northflyer.org/resources/Kansas-State-Rail-Plan-Update-Public-Meeting\
-Schedule.pdf

All meetings 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Wichita
Monday, September 28, 2009

Overland Park
Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Pittsburg
Thursday, October 1, 2009

Topeka
Monday, October 5, 2009

Hays
Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Dodge City
Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Evan Stair
Vice President - Oklahoma
Northern Flyer Alliance
www.NorthFlyer.org
517 Claremont
Norman, OK 73069


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

THIS WEEK ON THE FLYER CORRIDOR September 18, 2009


JAYHAWK CONSULTING BEGINS AMTRAK COST BENEFIT STUDY
[Lawrence, KS]
On Wednesday September 16, NFA, Inc. officers met with five University of Kansas
Business School graduate students, Wichita State University, KDOT officials, the
City of Edmond, OK and Depot Redux to kick-off a landmark Cost-Benefit research
study.  The study, considered the first of its kind, will quantify projected
beyond-the-farebox revenues associated with the proposed Kansas City – Wichita –
Oklahoma City – Fort Worth corridor expansion being studied by Amtrak.  The
study, to be complete in December, will be used as a tool to educate regional
legislators with regards to passenger rail economic benefits.


Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas legislators will consider Amtrak operational funding
decisions during the 2010 legislative sessions.  Jayhawk Consulting work is
considered a key tool for NFA Inc. advocacy efforts.  The NFA, Inc. thanks the
Wiedemann Foundation and the University of Kansas for their contributions to
this vitally important landmark study.


THE TRAIN A-TRACK-TION OCTOBER 17 IN WICHITA
Come celebrate with us as we recognize our official incorporation status on
Saturday, October 17 from 11:00am to 4:0pm. The Historic Wichita Union Station
platform and adjoining Great Plains Transportation Museum will be the site of
this landmark event. Sponsorships are available as well as vendor tables
including food, music, and other entertainment. Learn more about our expansion
efforts and how you can contribute to our growing effort. It is THE Wichita
a-Track-tion on October 17.


CITY MANAGER ALLIANCE FORMING IN OKLAHOMA
A City Manager group is forming to promote the proposed NFA corridor expansion.
This effort is beginning lead by Edmond Assistant City Manager Steve Commons.
The hope is that the combined political muscle along the corridor will generate
another phase of trickle-up-leadership. This leadership is required to provide
the unified support required to effectively communicate with the legislature as
they make Amtrak expansion funding decisions this spring.


CITY OF EDMOND THANK YOU
The NFA Inc. would again like to thank Mr. Commons and the City of Edmond for
providing access to a valuable Internet communications tool; Go-To-Meeting. 
Go-To-Meeting has now been used twice.  A Tri-State Conference Call including
Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, state legislators, DOT officials, city officials,
and the NFA Inc. was held earlier this month. The second connected Wichita State
University, the City of Wichita, and the University of Kansas Business School.
Logistics of the Cost-Benefit Study were discussed. The tool in effect shortens
the corridor by providing decision-makers from Texas to Kansas with the ability
to communicate with audio and video.

All,

The Northern Flyer Alliance will officially celebrate its incorporation on
October 17th at Wichita Union Station and the Great Plains Transportation
Museum. Please watch our web page for more on this exciting event. If you would
like to become a sponsor or are a vendor please sign up!

www.NorthFlyer.org

Evan Stair
Vice President - Oklahoma
Northern Flyer Alliance

Northern Flyer Alliance Activities are intensifying this fall. Every week sees
an incremental advance in our advocacy efforts, especially in Kansas where
leadership is widespread.

1) KU JAYHAWK CONSULTING PARTNERS WITH THE NFA:
The Northern Flyer Alliance has partnered with KU Jayhawk Consulting. The
University of Kansas Business School's, "Best and Brightest students" will be
producing a Benefit Study. The Benefit Study, to be complete in December, will
dovetail with Amtrak's generated route Cost Analysis. The landmark study will be
the first of its kind and will lead to a revolutionary new look at Amtrak
corridor expansion. Students will present their case to the Kansas and possibly
Oklahoma legislatures. It is an economic clarification tool for the Northern
Flyer Alliance as it pleads its case in front of critical decision-makers.

2) TRI-STATE NORTHERN FLYER ALLIANCE UNIFICATION ACTIVITIES:
On Wednesday, September 9, the Northern Flyer Alliance, presented to all three
corridor states on a Legislative, State DOT, Community conference call. The
call, hosted by the City of Edmond, OK, has laid a foundation for further
corridor communication and planning across state lines. Further calls are
planned.

The August 29 Wichita NFA Board Meeting was the first Tri-State (TX, OK, KS)
meeting in NFA history. Mr. Charles Allen, of Sherman, TX accepted the Texas
Community Action Director position.

3) RAIL IMPROVEMENTS HIGHLIGHT ACTIVITIES:
Rail improvements are on the rise in Kansas along the 600 mile corridor. One
significant project is complete while another is proposed through a FRA Stimulus
Pre-Application.

BNSF INSTALLS CONTINUOUS WELDED RAIL WICHITA-ARKANSAS CITY:
This report comes from "Kilroy." Kilroy says, "BNSF has laid out welded rail
along the Ark City sub south of Wichita to Mulvane.  New rail has been laid out
at least twice before and then later picked up in the same location.  This time
the rail is supposed to be laid during September.   Since the Heartland Flyer
Northern Alliance has been working to get an Amtrak connection to the Oklahoma
City train with the Southwest Chief at Newton or Kansas City, this may help
their cause."

KDOT FRA PRE-APPLICATION WOULD FUND WELDED RAIL INSTALLATION:
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) issued a "Track 1"
pre-application with the FRA for welded rail installation between Barclay, KS
and Emporia, KS on July 10. The improvements would also upgrade switches at
Pauline, KS (located on the south side of Topeka near Forbes field) KDOT is
expected to receive FRA funding for this join BNSF Railway - KDOT project.  The
project would immediately improve Southwest Chief performance between the Newton
and Topeka stops. It would also provide a stronger foundation for the proposed
Northern Flyer Alliance expansion project.

4) ODOT PUBLIC MEETINGS ON OKLAHOMA CITY - TULSA HIGH SPEED RAIL:
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Continues to pursue High Speed
Rail between Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. ODOT issued a July 10 High
Speed Rail "Track 2" application between the Texas-line, Oklahoma City, and
Tulsa.

The diversion from the Northern Flyer Alliance corridor between Oklahoma City
and Tulsa is not expected to receive serious FRA consideration. This is because
of cost, geography, and several missing application requirements. ODOT's $2
billion pre-application is a full quarter of the FRA Stimulus Act fund. ODOT's
pre-application did not include an environmental study or a development plan.
Further, a legislative commitment does not exist at this point to funding
operations between the state's two most populace cities.

Public meetings will be held at the following locations:

Oklahoma City
Monday, September 14
6:00 P.M.
Metro Tech Springlake Campus
Conference Center Auditorium
BCC/Auditorium
1900 Springlake Drive

Tulsa
Tuesday, September 15
6:00pm
Central Library
Aaronson Auditorium
400 Civic Center

For more information:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/other.php

ODOT's Pre-Application is located at the following URL:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/a2009/090914/final_pre_app_okla_hsr.pdf

5) DONATIONS A MUST FOR CONTINUED PROGRESS:
The Northern Flyer Alliance is in the process of attempting to generate funding
for a paid staff position. This staff position would work closely with Kansas
legislators as they provide additional leadership for corridor development.
Please review our member benefits matrix on the Northern Flyer Alliance home
page ( http://www.northflyer.org ). Our goal is $25,000 by year's end. Your
generous donation will be greatly appreciated.

6) A FINAL NOTE:
Please spread this newsletter to your family, friends, and neighbors. We need
everyone's participation to succeed with our 2010 goals.

Sincerely,
Evan Stair
Vice President - Oklahoma
Northern Flyer Alliance
www.NorthFlyer.org
517 Claremont
Norman, OK 73069

http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/09/02/contractors-want-roads-not-trains/


Contractors want roads, not trains


POSTED: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 01:32 PM
PT
BY: Justin Carinci
Tags: Amtrak, federal
stimulus, NUCA, ODOT





Contractors are criticizing a decision to spend savings from Oregon’s
federal stimulus projects to buy passenger trains. Money saved
on road projects should be pumped back into road projects, four contractor
groups wrote in a letter to the Oregon Transportation
Commission.


The commission approved the purchase of two trains, for $35 million, to run
on the Amtrak Cascades line between Portland and Eugene. That
made up the bulk of the nearly $43 million left over from what the state planned
to spend on transportation stimulus projects.


Because the savings came from contractors bidding below estimates on road
projects, the money should be spent on more such projects, said Melinda Dailey,
executive director of the National Utility Contractors Association of
Oregon and Southwest Washington. Dailey and the heads of the
Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon and the local chapters
of the Associated General Contractors and Associated Builders and Contractors
signed the letter.


“What I found most disheartening was that they’re going to take (away) that
$43 million surplus that came about because all these companies are doing
whatever it takes to stay open, cutting to the bone and underbidding on
projects,” Dailey said.


“That argume
nt doesn’t hold any water,” Oregon Department of
Transportation spokesman Patrick Cooney responded. The state is getting
the projects it paid for, Cooney said, but has no obligation to spend money left
over on similar projects.


“If you need to buy a new refrigerator, and find out all the refrigerators
are 25 percent less than what you thought you would spend, are you required to
spend the savings on another refrigerator?” Cooney said. “Or would you buy a
new
washer, if that’s what you need?”


In that example, Oregon’s new washer is a train. The state now uses a train
owned by Washington state on the Cascades line between Portland and Eugene.
Washington rail officials plan to use that train to run another round trip
between Seattle and Portland, said Andrew Wood, deputy director of the state’s
rail and marine division.


“When that happens, in a couple years, we wouldn’t have a train set just
sitting there in Portland that runs to Eugene and back,” Wood said.


“If we want to run one on the more profitable (Seattle-to-Portland) route,
that capability wouldn’t exist.”


Oregon hasn’t bought the new trains yet. “There’s not a whole lot of
trains
sitting out there to be purchased,” Cooney said.


But buying new trains serves a dual purpose, he said: continuing the
Portland-to-Eugene route and demonstrating a commitment to rail that will boost
the
state’s chances to win $2.1 billion in federal rail grants. “The federal
government is looking to the states for that level of thinking,” Cooney said.
“You don’t do nothing and come to the federal government with your hand
out.”


ODOT’s decision rankled Dailey. “Instead of putting this into other
projects,
they’re putting it toward a speculative venture, trying to attract $2 billion
in
stimulus money that may or may not happen,” she said. “These companies are
on
the verge of dying on the vine right now and need that money to stay alive.


“We’re more concerned with what’s happening right now than what’s
possibly
happening down the road,” she said.


Roughly $5.8 million of the $43 million savings will go to expand current
road projects, Cooney said. Another $2 million will go to expand the state’s
“solar highway” array along Interstates 5 and 205.


The unanticipated money provided an opportunity to address a pressing need,
Cooney said. And just because buying trains doesn’t require construction jobs,
it doesn’t mean the purchase won’t bring jobs to Oregon, he said.


“The trains don’t operate themselves,” Cooney said.  “You need people
to
operate and maintain the trains after the purchase, to conduct daily operations,
and to keep the line safe and operating.”


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

FYI:







-----Original Message-----
From: evanstair@... <EvanStair@...>
To: evanstair@...
Sent: Fri, Aug 28, 2009 10:47 am
Subject: [heartland_flyer] FW: KDOT Submits Passenger Rail Grant Applications

























Good News out of Kansas



Original Message:

-----------------

From: Ronald Kaufman RKaufman@...

Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:22:03 -0500

Subject: KDOT Submits Passenger Rail Grant Applications



Happy Friday, Everyone!



KDOT submitted two final grant applications on August 24, 2009 to the

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for funding under the High

Speed/Intercity Passenger Rail program.  The completed Tracks 1a and 3

final applications and letters of support are available on the KDOT

Passenger Rail website at

www.ksdot.org/passrail<http://www.ksdot.org/passrail>.



The first application (Track 1a) is for $7.6 million for track improvements

on the Southwest Chief route between Emporia and Barclay.  This is an

increase over the $6.95 million submitted in the pre-application due to

better cost estimates.  The improvements will permit the Southwest Chief to

increase its average operating speed in that section.  Track 1a grants are

funded with economic stimulus funds from the American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act (ARRA).



The second application (Track 3) is for $500,000 to prepare a Service

Development Plan for intercity passenger rail service between Kansas City,

Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.  Track 3 grants do not use ARRA funds and

require a 50 percent state match.  Of the $500,000 total project cost, KDOT

has committed $250,000 for the state match, of which the Oklahoma

Department of Transportation (ODOT) has committed up to $125,000.  We

deeply appreciate this commitment from ODOT.  This is a key application.  A

Service Development Plan, including environmental documentation, will be

required to receive funding for Track 2 grants to implement passenger rail

services.



We will submit a third application (Track 2) by the deadline of October 2,

2009.  It will be for $10 million for signal and crossing upgrades between

Newton and the Kansas/Oklahoma state line.  PLEASE NOTE: We do not expect

to receive this funding because we will not have the required Service

Development Plan or environmental documentation (mentioned above) to be

eligible for a Track 2 award.  It is impossible for KDOT to prepare a

Service Development Plan before October 2 due to the detailed,

comprehensive nature of such a plan.  The Amtrak Expansion Feasibility

Study (due later this year) will not be detailed enough to be a Service

Development Plan, and it will not include environmental documentation.



We are confident there will be more federal funding opportunities in the

future.  In an August 25, 2009 article in the Wall Street Journal, Joe

Szabo, FRA Administrator, said this grant program should be viewed as the

beginning of a long undertaking similar to the effort to build the

interstate highway system.  He said people need to understand this isn't

about winners and losers, that it is the beginning.



Also, KDOT's federal earmark request for $10 million for signal and

crossing improvements between Newton and the Kansas/Oklahoma state line is

still pending.



The FRA has not given us a firm date for announcing the awards although in

the same article mentioned above, FRA Administrator Joe Szabo said "late

September or early October."  Also, according to federal Office of

Management and Budget guidance, applicants are not allowed to contact the

FRA to discuss their submitted applications.



Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.



Ron



Ron Kaufman

Chief of the Bureau of Public Involvement

Kansas Department of Transportation





----------------------------------------------------------

mail2web - Check your email from the web at

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

LAWRENCE BUCKS THE TREND WITH DEPOT REDUX

We have learned from Amtrak that ridership on the Southwest Chief is down 2.8
percent over FY2008 numbers. This is due likely to lower fuel prices. However,
statistics for the Lawrence stop continue to climb. Boarding and Alighting
figures are up 17 percent over last year and 16 percent over FY2007 numbers. The
hospitality and media coverage in communities with late night, early morning
stops, will always bring additional passengers to the depot. In many cases
Lawrence residents never see the Southwest Chief. Its 12:32am Westbound and
5:49am Eastbound stops occur while people are sleeping. Further, the Northern
Flyer Alliance effort to expand passenger rail in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas
has kept Amtrak in the media.

A peer community to Lawrence, Norman, OK shows how valuable volunteers can be to
a community with a daylight train. Norman Amtrak volunteers and the Norman
Performing Arts Studio attracted some 13,414 passengers during FY2008. The
populations and demographics of Norman and Lawrence are very similar. Both
communities host the states' largest universities. Both communities are a short
distance from the largest regional city (Kansas City and Oklahoma City). The
populations of Norman 102,827 and Lawrence 90,520 are similar. So what would
Lawrence ridership look like with a second frequency? During FY 2008 Lawrence
hosted 4,008 passengers. Simple addition would show an approximate 16,000 to
17,000 Boarding and Alighting figure (when considering that Norman is a bit
larger than Lawrence). This would be before considering the number of passengers
attracted to the new route stops.

The efforts of Depot Redux have just begun. Depot Redux has been recognized by
Amtrak for their valiant efforts. We are proud as the Northern Flyer Alliance to
have them as our sister organization.



WILL THE NM RAILRUNNER RENDER LAMY, NM A GHOST TOWN?

It is now possible to take Amtrak to Albuquerque, NM and board a Railrunner
commuter train to Santa Fe. The trip requires about an hour and a half. It
probably takes about 20 minutes to travel from Lamy to Santa Fe by shuttle. From
the west it would make sense to take Rail Runner to Santa Fe. From the east
there is a substantial time savings through shuttle use. Lamy's Boarding and
Alighting figure for FY 2008 was 13,976, or the third busiest behind Albuquerque
and (Boy Scout soaked) Raton. It will be interesting to see what effect opening
a direct route to Santa Fe from Albuquerque, which bypasses Lamy, will have on
Boarding and Alighting figures. We certainly hope that the dip is not
significant and that Lamy can remain as vibrant a stop.

Lamy's population is less than 1,000. Its proximity to Santa Fe makes it a
popular Amtrak stop. Lamy was founded by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe
Railway when it was discovered that a direct route to Santa Fe was impractical
due to the mountainous terrain east of the city. The Santa Fe Southern operates
an excursion train between Lamy and Santa Fe daily.

Santa Fe Southern Website:
http://www.sfsr.com/

WINSLOW'S LA POSADA SHINES AGAIN
The La Posada railroad hotel was the last grand Fred Harvey company lodging
location built. Fred Harvey was a 19th Century entrepreneur that opened up the
era of "Find Travel and Fine Dining" west of the Mississippi. With Santa Fe
Railway and "Harvey Girl" assistance the Harvey company opened a plethora of
railside hotels and eating houses to replace horrid and explotive equivalents.
Hotels were constructed in places such as the Grand Canyon south rim (The El
Tovar which is still open) and even tiny Lamy with the El Ortiz that was raized
decades ago. The La Fonda is still open in Santa Fe and is an equal treat to the
La Posada.

By the 1930's the Santa Fe Railway was bedding more and more passengers through
Arizona in sleeping cars and feeding passengers in diner cars. The La Posada was
Mary Jane Colter's masterpiece but it closed all too soon because the era was at
an end. By the 1960's the Santa Fe Railway had remodeled some of the La Posada
and opened a regional freight office.

In 1997 I took a trip to the La Posada in Winslow, AZ. The Turquoise Room
restaurant renovation had not begun. Only the top floor of the west wing was
open. The price was right at less than $100 and that trip will be considered
priceless because it showed the La Posada in somecases as the Santa Fe had left
it. It was a sleeping giant about to awake. It has become the first step in
revitalizing Winslow's economy.?

I returned to the La Posada this past week. The Hotel is abuzz with activity.
Prices are a little more, but the amenities at the hotel are grander and
greater. A wonderful gift shop and Turquoise Room restaurant have been added.
The food and service in the Turquoise Room are fabulous. Nearby attractions
include Meteor Crater and the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Park. It
is a destination on the Southwest Chief route not to be missed.

I highly recommend a two day-three night visit at the La Posada. The Southwest
Chief makes stops . One day to visit Meteor Crater and to explore the hotel. The
next to explore the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest.

For More Information:
http://www.laposada.org/
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/
http://www.meteorcrater.com/

This newsletter is a product of the Northern Flyer Alliance, Inc
A 501(c)4 Corporation
edited by Evan Stair Vice President - Oklahoma
www.NorthFlyer.org

The Northern Flyer Alliance is promoting a 600 mile passenger rail corridor
between Kansas City - Wichita - Oklahoma City - Fort Worth. To join the Northern
Flyer Alliance, Inc contact Joni Johnon at joni-sue@... with your name,
address, and phone number.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Its your tax dollars at work and http://www.metro.net will have status updates
on a regular basis so you can keep track of the various Measure R funded
projects. Just go to the web site linked above and enter the phrase
"Progress Tracker" in the search box. In November 2008 was approved,
committing over $40,000,000,000.00 USD to fund traffic congestion relief and
transportation upgrades in the greater Los Angeles area over the next 30 years. 
Some of the Immediate benefits that will be available for the 88 cities in the
county. Over the upcoming year alone, they are expected to receive more than
$100,000,000 USD for their transportation needs. Other Measure R funds will fund
dozens of new highway and Transit Projects. Additionally, fares for Metro Bus
Services will not increase for the next year while fares for the discounted fare
category passengers will be frozen at the current levels for the upcoming five
years. Source: Metro Monthly
  newsletter August 2009 (paraphrased by Peter Warner)

Metro is adding Turnstiles as part of the TAP Fare Payment System. The procedure
of entry into any given station (for example Memorial Park), just tap your card
on the target, but the target will now be on a Turnstile rather than the current
Stand Alone Validator . Remember, you must TAP you pass thru the turnstiles.
Failure to TAP the validator before entering could result in a $250.00. Each
station has an accessible entrance marked by a blue square to accommodate
Strollers, Bicycles, Wheelchairs, Walkers, and other large items such as baggage
of various shapes and sizes, and boxes (similar to those used to accommodate
extra weight in Amtrak Passenger Baggage). Tapping targets is not Necessary when
exitting any given station (such as that of Mariachi Plaza). Just pass thru the
turnstile.  As the turnstiles are a two-way operation, detraining passengers
should be aware of reverse-flowing traffic entering the station and be
courteous.

http://www.theindychannel.com/money/20302642/detail.html


Amtrak Shows Off First Fruits Of $19.3 Million Grant

Federal Stimulus Funds Refurbishments
BEECH GROVE, Ind. -- Amtrak on Wednesday showed off the first restored
superliner railcar that was completed using federal stimulus funding.The
company's CEO, Joseph Boardman, was at the company's Beech Grove
mechanical facility for the unveiling, along with hundreds of company
workers.The railcar, which had been damaged in a wreck, was removed from
storage,
restored and returned to use because of funding from the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the economic stimulus
package.The car will be primarily used on trains that travel in the Midwest and
West, Amtrak officials said.The Beech Grove facility will restore 21 railcars at
a cost of $19.3 million. About $13 million more will be used to refurbish 15
diesel locomotives."We've
got a lot of modifications to do to the cars, and it provides a lot of
jobs for people," said Cathy Martin, a 21-year Amtrak employee.About 100
additional jobs have been added to complete the work, and some laid off workers
were called back."I
was hired because of the stimulus package," said worker Greg Smith. "I
think this is a blessing. I was ready to lose my house."Amtrak expects to wrap
up the two-year project in February 2011.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Amtrak  Long Distance Ridership, May 2009:
Rank
Train
May 2009  Ridership
Percentage  change from May 2008
1
Empire  Builder
39,535
-20.5
2
Coast  Starlight
35,215
+3.0
3
Silver  Star
30,696
-9.7
4
California  Zephyr
28,513
-9.4
5
Silver  Meteor
27,889
-7.6
6
Lake Shore  Limited
27,445
-9.8
7
Southwest  Chief
27,200
-13.1
8
Crescent
26,793
-5.5
9
Texas  Eagle
21,181
-11.5
10
Auto  Train
18,844
-3.0
11
Capitol  Limited
18,521
-8.8
12
City of  New Orleans
17,525
-6.4
13
Palmetto
14,504
-16.5
14
Cardinal
9,182
-6.7
15
Sunset  Limited
6,633
-4.3

Total Long  Distance
349,776
-9.4

Total  Amtrak
2,325,659
-9.8
Source: Amtrak
--Mark Meyer






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Amtrak  Long Distance on-time performance, June 2009:
Rank
Train
June  2009
on-time  performance
(percentage)
Percentage  change from June 2008
1
Coast  Starlight
90.0
+31.7
2
Texas  Eagle
88.3
+86.7
3
Crescent
85.0
+33.3
4
Auto  Train
80.0
+10.0
4
Sunset  Limited
80.0
+10.0
6
Lake Shore  Limited
79.2
+29.2
7
Southwest  Chief
78.3
+58.3
8
City of  New Orleans
76.7
+26.7
9
Empire  Builder
73.3
+33.0
10
Capitol  Limited
70.0
+48.3
11
California  Zephyr
46.7
+10.0
12
Silver  Star
41.7
+8.3
13
Palmetto
35.0
+24.7
14
Silver  Meteor
31.7
-20.0
15
Cardinal
28.0
+16.0

Total  Amtrak Long Distance
67.8
+30.3

Total  Amtrak
80.7
+17.2
Source:  Amtrak
Although  on-time performance has increased dramatically over FY2008, it’s
worse than the  previous month, and with some trains well below 50 percent,
it’s reminiscent of  the pre-recession performances.  Only 28 percent for
the Cardinal!
--Mark  Meyer


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Amtrak  Long Distance Ridership, June 2009:
Rank
Train
June 2009  Ridership
Percentage  change from June 2008
1
Empire  Builder
48,677
-0.6
2
Coast  Starlight
40,293
-6.4
3
Silver  Star
32,889
-12.8
4
California  Zephyr
32,607
+33.8
5
Southwest  Chief
30,653
-2.5
6
Lake Shore  Limited
30,357
-5.4
7
Silver  Meteor
28,462
-12.0
8
Crescent
26,366
-5.9
9
Texas  Eagle
25,011
-4.5
10
Auto  Train
20,937
-10.7
11
Capitol  Limited
20,403
-0.6
12
City of  New Orleans
18,641
-8.4
13
Palmetto
15,856
-9.5
14
Cardinal
9,896
+0.5
15
Sunset  Limited
7,914
-5.7

Total Long  Distance
388,962
-3.6

Total  Amtrak
2,347,829
-8.3
Source:  Amtrak
The  Empire Builder is beginning to recover from its ridership slump of
March and  April due to the flooding in North Dakota.  Overall, in FY2009,
ridership on the Empire Builder is 359,814, down 7.4  percent, versus an overall
increase of 2.5% for all long distance trains.  Still, the Empire Builder
retains its  title as the most-ridden long distance train, with second-place
Coast Starlight  having 301,812 riders so far in FY2009, and third-place
Silver Star with  274,022.
--Mark  Meyer


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Amtrak  Long Distance on-time performance, May 2009:
Rank
Train
May  2009
on-time  performance
(percentage)
Percentage  change from May 2008
1
Southwest  Chief
95.2
+48.4
2
Sunset  Limited
92.6
+61.8
3
Crescent
90.3
+33.9
4
Coast  Starlight
88.7
+3.6
5
City of  New Orleans
87.1
+29.0
6
Auto  Train
85.5
+17.7
6
Empire  Builder
85.5
+9.7
6
Texas  Eagle
85.5
+74.2
9
Lake Shore  Limited
76.5
+14.5
10
Capitol  Limited
74.2
+39.8
11
California  Zephyr
67.7
+24.2
12
Cardinal
63.0
+18.5
13
Palmetto
61.3
+4.8
14
Silver  Star
59.7
+3.2
15
Silver  Meteor
56.5
-9.7

Total  Amtrak Long Distance
78.4
+22.0

Total  Amtrak
83.8
+11.1
Source: Amtrak
--Mark  Meyer


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

----- Original Message -----
Subject: Superliner Fans Modifications to SUPERLINER Pages
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2009 7:28:45
From: Peter Warner <osdm@...>
To: headsupsuperlinerfans@yahoogroups.com
<headsupsuperlinerfans@yahoogroups.com>

   

Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the August Western Rails at Trainweb
Superliners Roundup Report. Tonight, I have completed updates to several of my
Superliner Pages. Among the updates are changes to Surfliner and California
Fleet Conversion pages, and new link additions to all of the Superliner and High
Level ROSTER pages. On the pages pertaining to the California Superliner Pages
have been reconfigured to have some info in &quot;two line-two color&quot;
format. This makes the page have fewer cnlumns. The top line in this format is
red lettered and the second one is the standard Blue Text. Also forthcoming is
an update to the list of Surfliner names as there have been many additions since
the last update. I am also introducing a new Superliner Stimulus Package and
other Repais Roster and Information Page. The only changes to the Cross Country
Cafes Page is the addition of a new link and a dating adjustment in the
effective date of the page. The
  other general info pages have also been variously updated. Peter

JULY 11, 2009 : THIS WEEK ON THE NFA CORRIDOR

FRA STIMULUS FUND PRE-APPLICATIONS KDOT and ODOT
It has been a busy week on the Corridor.  July 10th was the pre-Application
filing deadline for Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) High Speed – Intercity
Passenger Rail (HSIPR) grants. The Oklahoma and Kansas Departments of
Transportation (ODOT and KDOT) signaled that they were going to submit
applications last week.  ODOT has apparently applied for Track 1 and Track 2. 
Some of this application includes the Tulsa – Oklahoma City – Fort Worth High
Speed Rail USDOT designated route.  Details are still sketchy regarding the
entire application. We doubt the Tulsa World would have reported on the Wichita
Routing.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20090711_16_A1_WASHIN1\
32817

FRA APPLICATION "TRACKS"
FY-2008 and FY-2009 appropriations were included within the pre-Application
form. This consolidates passenger rail grants within HSIPR. The FRA is routing
grant applications through four "Tracks" as listed below.

=|=|=|=Track 1 =|=|=|=
$8 billion ARRA (Stimulus Fund reserve) 100% federal funding (Shovel Ready
Projects)
=|=|=|=Track 2 =|=|=|=
$8 billion ARRA (Stimulus Fund reserve) 100% federal funding (5 year projects)
=|=|=|=Track 3 =|=|=|=
$9 million in planning funding (FY2009 appropriations) 50% state 50% federal
funding through the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA)
=|=|=|=Track 4 =|=|=|=
$82 million in project funding (FY2008 FY2009 appropriations) 50% state 50%
federal funding PRIIA.

JULY 8 KDOT STAKEHOLDERS CALL
It looked like KDOT was only going to apply for Track 3 funding. However, due to
the astute work of Deborah Fischer Stout, NFA President and several KS state
senators, especially Senator Dick Kelsey, several KS state representatives,
(including Oklahoma State Representative Charlie Joyner) the NFA was able to get
a verbal agreement from KDOT to consider both Track 3 and Track 2
pre-Applications. We continue to seek additional details on both the ODOT and
KDOT applications.

US REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS MOORE VISITS LAWRENCE
The tireless efforts of Depot Redux in Lawrence resulted in a June 29 visit by
US Representative Dennis Moore. Northern Flyer Alliance, KDOT, and Amtrak
representatives were also in attendance. While the general conversation
surrounded Depot Redux's work there was some discussion of expansion. We would
again like to recognize the work of Carey Maynard-Moody and invite everyone to
take a look at www.DepotRedux.org. The City of Lawrence will know by November
whether an agreement can be reached with the BNSF Railway for a sale to the
city. The depot was built by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in 1955
to replace a flood damaged depot.

LOS ANGELES METRO RAIL GOLD LINE BUS BRIDGE - TRMPORARY BUS ROUTE 632 SERVICE
CHANGE EFFECTIVE JULY 6, 2009 - AFFECTING TRAVEL TO AND FROM MARAVILLA, EAST LOS
ANGELES CIVIC CENTER, AMD POMONA/ATLANTIC BOULEVARD STATIONS IN EAST LOS ANGELES
AND MONTEREY PARK; Due to political objection and possible duplication of
service provided by the El Sol Shuttle and by Municipal Service operated by
Montebello Bus Lines Route 40 along Third Street, Pomona Boulevard, and Beverly
Boulevard between Indiana Street and Atlantic Boulevard, effective July 6, 2009,
Route 632 will operate only between Union Station/Gateway Transit
Center/Patsaouras Transit Plaza and Indiana Street at Third in Boyle Heights and
serve the Little Tokyo/Arts District, Pico/Aliso, Mariachi Plaza, Soto STreet,
and Indiana Street Stations only. Passengers wishing to travel to Maravilla,
East Los Angeles Civic Center, and Pomona/Atlantic Stations will neef to
transfer to  Montebello Bus Linws route
  40 AT Indiana Station (Gleason Street).

METRO BUS LINE 632 *FIRST STREET BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION DETOUR* BETWEEN PICO/ALISO
AND LITLE TOKYO/ARTS DISTRICT STATIONS; Due to construction currentlu in
progress between PICO/ALISO STATION AND LITTLE TOKYO/ARTS DISTRICT STATION,
WESTBOIUND ROUTE 632 BUSES FROM BOYLE HEIGHTS TO UNION STATION WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO OPERATE ON FIRST STREET BETWEEN MISSION ROAD AND ALAMEDA STREET. WESTBOUND
BUSES WILL OPERATE ON MISSION ROAD, THE 101 FREEWAY, VIGNES STREET, RAMIREZ
STREET, CENTER STREET, COMMERCIAL STREET, GAREY STREET, AND TRMPLE STREET TO THE
LITTLE TOKYO/ARTS DISTRICT STATION. The detour offers bus riders looking for
rare and exotic mileage a chance to cover new territory. The detour rouyr being
used is part of the los Angeles Department of Transportation DASH ROUTE D'S
Regular routing between Union Station and the South Park area (Grand Avenue Blue
Line station).  Eastbound buses will operate over the First Street Bridge
between Vignes and Mission Road.
   Route 632 is the thruway bus substitution for GOLD LINE.