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Index to recent news postings Rail Travel News is a twice-monthly print publication, published since
Dec 10, 1970.
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AMTRAK TO DELAY FARE INCREASE
Facing a flood of complaints, Amtrak decided to postpone its planned September 20 fare hike. The starting date of fare increases is now unannounced. The biggest complaints came from officials and riders in the Northeast, where Amtrak had planned a massive jump in the price of its Smart Pass discount tickets. Undoubtedly, fare increases will eventually have to take place to cover increased fuel costs. Some observers guessed that the timing of Amtrak's announcement was partly a political move to influence Amtrak funding legislation, which is due to be addressed by Congress within a few days. There is also the possibility that Congress, beset with
other pressing problems, may pass a continuing resolution to keep transportation
funding in place at its current levels, rather than vote specifically on
Amtrak funding.
AMTRAK TO RAISE FARES SEP 20 (from Sep 16) Amtrak issued the following: ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2005, AMTRAK WILL RAISE FARES OVER MOST OF THE SYSTEM. THESE ADJUSTMENTS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING COSTS OF FUEL. RISING OIL PRICES HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED THE COST OF LOCOMOTIVE DIESEL FUEL AND THE PRICES OF ALL OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES AMTRAK CONSUMES. WHILE AMTRAK HAS TAKEN AGGRESSIVE STEPS TO REDUCE FUEL AND OTHER EXPENSES WHILE RUNNING MORE TRAINS THIS YEAR, FUEL COSTS HAVE RISEN NEARLY 40-PCT OVER ONE YEAR AGO AND ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE. THE FARE ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDE A 5-TO-7-PCT INCREASE ON REGIONAL SERVICES IN THE NORTHEAST AND OTHER SHORT- DISTANCE TRAINS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 7-PCT ON LONG-DISTANCE COACH FARES, 5-PCT ON SLEEPING CAR ACCOMMODATION CHARGES, AND 7-PCT ON ACELA EXPRESS AND METROLINER. ON AN AVERAGE TICKET PRICE OF $50 THE FARE ADJUSTMENT WILL RUN AROUND $3 TO $4 PER TICKET. REGRETTABLY, AMTRAK CAN NO LONGER OFFER DEEP
DISCOUNTS ON SMART PASS TICKETS IN THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR AREA, WHICH
HISTORICALLY WERE 70-PCT OFF. HOWEVER, THE SMART PASS TICKETS
WILL CONTINUE TO REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT FROM THE REGULAR
FARE.
AMTRAK PRESIDENT UPDATES EMPLOYEES
ON GULF COAST SITUATION
SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES LOTT-LAUTENBERG AMTRAK AUTHORIZATION BILL SENATE COMMITTEE TO ACT ON AMTRAK AUTHORIZATION TODAY NARP applauds their bill SENATE COMMITTEE ADDS $50 MILLION TO AMTRAK FUNDING CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR TO BE HIT WITH DETOURS IN LATE SUMMER AND FALL CALIFORNIA TRAINS REACH MORE RIDERSHIP RECORDS SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE OKAYS $1.4 BILLION FOR AMTRAK DOT WANTS TO CUT OUT SLEEPING CAR, DINER, LOUNGE AND CHECKED BAGGAGE SERVICE ON AMTRAK TO SAVE MONEY. NARP RELEASES REBUTTAL TO PROPOSAL: HOUSE VOTE SAVES AMTRAK FUNDING SUMMER SOLSTICE IN BERLIN 1971 HOUSE COMMITTEE FAILS TO INCREASE AMTRAK FUNDS President Gunn Reacts to House Subcommittee's Anti-Amtrak Vote Amtrak President Talks of Acela and Food Service (see complete article) Amtrak computer outage creates problems with trains, reservations, tickets (see complete article) RailPAC endorses Amtrak-Laney funding proposal with reservations (See complete article here) Sources of hostility to Amtrak funding: Analysis AMTRAK VERSUS MINETA IN MONTANA: THE STRANGE BATTLE OVER THE EMPIRE BUILDER
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