INTERMODAL · FREIGHT · PASSENGER · TOURIST
March 26 Meeting Minutes: The February 26 meeting
minutes were accepted with two corrections: correct spelling of Ron Wood’s
name, and the fact that the members voted to waive the by-laws limitation of
three (3) one year terms for the President. (A revised by-laws will be
presented at a future meeting for endorsement by the members and submission to
the NH Secretary of State.) The
Treasurers report was read and accepted at $1296.52.
Legislative Affairs: The Railroad Trespass bill
was discussed, requiring a $10 access fee and up to $1000 fine. This controversial bill is feared by some to
inhibit rail-fan tourism.
Lowell to Manchester MBTA: GRS has suggested that NHDOT
should pay for liability insurance.
Since the rates are based on the safety record of the Maintenance
Contractor, and the legislature seems unwilling to pass any Liability
Limitation legislation, this could be very costly for the State. J. Monahan, GRS lobbyist, suggested a
northern New England (ME,NH,VT) “group” liability insurance approach.
It was suggested MBTA service to
Nashua was still 3 1/2 years away, and Manchester a full 5 years.
Financing: Bill Remington discussed the necessity of getting
more Federal help for the Short Lines.
New Hampshire Main
Line/Northern Line: Karen Songhurst has the
statement-of-work ready to go to
bidders for the Boston - Montreal High Speed Rail Feasibility Study. The contract is hoped to be let by
July. The Manchester Airport’s needs
and opportunities associated with the new Manchester Civic Center should be
included in the study.
Candidate operators for the Northern
were discussed including the Canadian National Railroad. This becomes of broader interest with
Northern Vermont’s (IRR/BAR) interest and financing increasingly in question.
The City of Concord is seriously
considering the role of rail transportation in their “2020” plan now being
formulated.
Manchester to Portsmouth
Rail Corridor: The advisability of establishing a Legislative Study committee was
discussed. generally felt to be
premature.
Railroad Public Relations: Amtrak and the New England Central were to sponsor a
WRJ - Springfield “Family Day” on 27 March.
A “Family Day” was co-sponsored by the Mt. Washington Cog Railway at the
NH Historical Museum, and the Conway Scenic Railway also has a “Family Day”
planned. Steve Flanders suggested the
possibility of an NHRRA excursion from WRJ to Boston via Springfield, MA.
New Hampshire Seacoast Task
Force: A change in NHRRA
representation on the Task Force was discussed because of Karl Smith’s
increasing domestic responsibilities.
Milford and Bennington
Railroad: The GRS portion of the Nashua to Bennington
line is currently held to 5 mph maximum because of track conditions. The New Hampshire owned portion is in operation
at 40 mph.
Stuart Draper and Peter Leishman are
considering running a Tourist/Dinner Train between Wilton and Lindeboro.
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The
meeting adjourned at 9:15, 13 members being present.
Recorded: Gus Sheedy
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Amtrak is heralding rosy ridership numbers.
A record 6 million passengers rode Amtrak between 10/1 and 12/31 2000 ,
an 8.5% increase from the previous year.
Ticket revenue was up 14 % to $298.1 M.
The Acela is exceeding all projections with 11,000 passengers bringing
in $1.25M by 5 January - just four weeks of operation.
BSA Railroading Merit Badge is being updated, in part
by our own Tink Taylor in
preparation for this year’s National Scout Jamboree at Ft A.P. Hill on 20 July
through 3 August. The goal is to double
the number of Railroad Merit Badge recipients from the 1997 Jamboree. More than 100 counsellors are being
solicited for the project - Charles A. Anderson at 800-770-2873.
Three states which are
examining rail vs. highway options are Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. OKI has formed the North-South Initiative to
to study ways of relieving congestion on busy I-75, the nations busiest truck
route (15,000 trucks/day). Both NS and
CSX are interested in receiving federal funds to support related “capacity
improvments”.
Public aid for rail
infrastructure
is being advocated by both Robert D. Krebs, BNSF Chairman, and James K.
Brunkenhoefer, United Transportation Union’s National Legislative
Director. Krebs said that big trucks
pay only 80% of their costs for the use of public highways, and barges pay only
12% of the cost to use their rights-of-way.
Brunkenhoefer said truckers are one of the railroads biggest shippers,
but railroads are powerless to dip into the highway trust fund to support
infrastructure improvements that would help the trucking industry!
“Isn’t it the
railroads turn?”
[Paul W Chapman <milepost10@juno.com>
April 14, 2001 5:44 AM]
