Your weekly source of fresh takes on news affecting America's passengers. See also the NARP Blog.
August 24, 1993
A District of Columbia judge this afternoon granted Amtrak a temporary restraining order, we believe for ten days, preventing the United Transportation Union from conducting a national strike against Amtrak during that time. The UTU had planned to strike at 12:01 am tomorrow, over an issue involving the Metrolink commuter train system in Los Angeles, which is operated under contract by Amtrak. The...
August 23, 1993
The United Transportation Union has notified Amtrak that it plans a nationwide Amtrak strike at 12:01 am on August 25 -- that is later than a deadline reported here previously. The issue involves the Metrolink commuter train system in Los Angeles, which is operated under contract by Amtrak. The UTU objects to Mechanical Department employees moving trains within the maintenance facility at Taylor Y...
August 20, 1993
The United Transportation Union representative to Amtrak has been given formal authority by union leadership for a nationwide Amtrak strike. The issue revolves around an alleged contracting-out of services on the Los Angeles Metrolink system. The UTU is prepared to carry out the strike at 12:01 am on August 23, so beware if you have travel plans! Amtrak will try to block the strike in court over t...
August 13, 1993
The Senate confirmed Jolene Molitoris as Federal Railroad Administrator and Gordon Linton as Federal Transit Administrator on August 5, just before summer recess. Molitoris will be sworn in at Washington Union Station on September 8. Don't forget to write your Senators about Amtrak funding for 1994. The House will pick up H.R.2750, and the Senate will start work on that bill, after Congress retur...
August 6, 1993
Congress adjourns today for its summer recess, to return after Labor Day. H.R.2750, the House 1994 transportation appropriations bill, was not acted upon this week, thereby delaying any further action in either house until September. Write your Senator during August to ask for better Amtrak funding than it got in the House! The August newsletter, which has more on H.R.2750, was mailed today, secon...