House Appropriations orders Amtrak to go on new track

A report from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee very directly tells Amtrak to reverse course on plans on some cuts and shifting of funding of long-distance trains to state governments.

“The Committee strongly reminds Amtrak that Section 24701 of title 49, United States Code, requires Amtrak to operate a national passenger rail system,” the committee said in its report June 4 on its planned markup of the 2020 Transportaion and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. “Further, the Committee directs Amtrak to seek any potential changes to the National Network through the reauthorization of the (Fixing America”s Surface Transportation) Act and urges Amtrak to ensure any such proposals also increase ridership in rural areas and improve service for long-distance customers.”

The appropriations bill is far from complete, still having committees to go through and votes in both the full House and Senate, and the directives of the report do not have the force of law.

However, the directives are coming from the committee that starts the process of appropriating money for Amtrak.

“The Committee — which has the power of the purse — expects agencies to adhere to report language,” House Committee on Appropriations Deputy Communications Officer Mike Burns said.

Amtrak has made or attempted several cuts in recent years, including an attempt to replace some 450 miles in the middle of the route of the Southwest Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles with buses, and removed ticket agents last year in 16 stations including Havre and Shelby. It also has cut back on some services such as downgrading the meals served on some long-distance trains and has placed restrictions on and increased prices for private or charter cars hooking onto Amtrak trains.

President Donald Trump’s budget proposal also calls for using grants to states to fund long-distance routes and responsibility for states to gradually take over the long-distance routes.

The report gives direction on Amtrak to restore or improve many of those services and to continue to run long-distance routes.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari in Chicago said Amtrak is continuing to discuss the coming fiscal year’s appropriations.

“It would be premature for us to comment at this stage in the legislative process,” Magliari said.

Travis Hall, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., said Gianforte would continue to support long-distance rail.

“Greg has fought against efforts to cut to Amtrak and reduce service, particularly for the Empire Builder that runs along the Hi-Line,” Hall said Thursday. “Greg will continue pushing to fund the long-distance network and to ensure our communities have reliable access to rail service.”

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said he supports the intent of the Appropriations Committee directives.

“Train travel is critically important to rural America, and this report is a step towards making sure Amtrak can continue to provide this essential service,” he said Thursday. “I’ll do my best to get these directives through the Senate and I will keep fighting to make sure Amtrak has the resources it needs to defend against mounting attacks from this Administration.”

The Havre Daily had not received a request for comment from the office of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., by print deadline this morning.

The Appropriations Committee report said the committee was not funding grants to provide to states for transition to their operating long-distance routes, with the president’s administration saying due to low ridership in rural areas rail transportation could be replaced with bus services.

“The Committee strongly rejects this proposal and provides strong funding for Amtrak to continue to provide service through long-distance and state-supported trains,” it said.

Congress included in a funding bill earlier this year funding for the full Southwest Chief route, and directed Amtrak to restore customer service agents in the 16 stations where ticket sales were eliminated.

Amtrak said at the time it would give customer service duties to its station caretakers but would not restore ticket agents.

The committee report rebuked that idea, telling Amtrak to provide a station agent in each station where ticket sales were cut last year, with duties to “assist passengers with their intercity passenger rail travel, conduct the sale of tickets, provide customer service during all hours the station is open and peform building maintenance duties.”

The report also directs Amtrak to re-examine and work to restore private and charter car use on Amtrak trains, to maintain the current level of Amtrak’s Police Department and to work to improve on-time performance.

It also directs Amtrak to use a public procedure when it is considering changes to its policies.

“Amtrak must engage in an open and transparent process which encompasses anyone who could be impacted, positively or negatively, by such proposals,” it said.