2001 news archives

Photo gallery

Subscription info

Rail gift shop

Rail Travel News is a twice-monthly print publication, published since Dec 10, 1970.
Publisher: Message Media Company,
PO Box 9007,
Berkeley CA 94709.
Website copyright © 1997-2005 by Message Media Co.

Contact us
Site map

  Joseph Boardman, nominated by the Administration as the new head of the Federal RR Administration (FRA), the section of the federal DOT that oversees all U.S. railroads, appeared before the Senate Science, Commerce and Transportation committee April 12 in a confirmation hearing. He received a favorable reaction from the committee.

  The National Association of RR Passengers reported: (excerpted)  Boardman noted three areas on which he plans to concentrate: safety; intercity passenger rail; and human factors-"building an organization to accomplish changes" in the other
two areas. He said Congress needs to "restructure and reform passenger rail...I don't believe the current 'one size fits all' model works."

  Boardman is transportation commissioner for the State of New York. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) tried to nail Boardman down on that state's
willingness to fund passenger rail 100% as contemplated by the Bush budget. Boardman said "I don't think any state volunteers unless called
upon....New York will be committed to supporting passenger rail." Boardman pointed to the $1.4 billion a year he said the state spends on
passenger rail transportation (primarily in the New York City area).

  Lautenberg: "So you believe New York State would step up to run those services [New York-Buffalo-Niagara Falls; New York-Albany- Montreal] on their own?" Boardman: "I wouldn't put it that way."

  Lautenberg noted Boardman's role in development of the 2003 report, "Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation," of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, a report that advocates more, not less, federal support for both capital and operations. The report, at pages 51-52, says: "To continue the successful growth of the rail passenger network and its resulting benefits to other modes of
transportation in terms of capacity and competitive choice, it is impossible to escape the conclusion that the federal government must provide increased and reliable levels of dedicated capital and operating assistance."

  Boardman insisted that the FY 2006 budget figure for intercity passenger rail "will not be zero," and later told a reporter that U.S. intercity
passenger rail definitely has a future.
 (End of NARP excerpt)

  An AP article on Boardman's nomination hearing stated that the nomination signals that the Administration is willing to compromise on its passenger rail stance. NARP supported the nomination of Boardman.

  Westbound Empire Builder, train 7, derailed at low speed in Milwaukee April 12, with a dining car leaving the rails. The incident forced Amtrak to bus some passengers on and put up others overnight to take the next day's train.

Join or donate to the National Association of Railroad Passengers.
Donate to tsunami relief
Site map