April 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – "A new report requested by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and released today describes how delays to Amtrak trains that operate over freight railroad lines cost the company almost $137 million in fiscal year 2006, an amount equal to 30 percent of its federal operating subsidy.

"This report puts in real dollars what these delays are costing Amtrak, taxpayers and rail travelers. Passengers shouldn't have to miss their meetings or family engagements because a freight train is blocking the tracks," Sen. Lautenberg said. "With high gas prices, widespread traffic congestion and flight delays the norm, we must ensure passenger rail is a reliable option for travelers."

"The audit was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General (IG). Sen. Lautenberg requested the audit in February 2007 to study how much money could be saved from Amtrak's federal operating subsidy if Amtrak was not delayed when using railroad lines. A full copy of the IG's audit is located at: http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2273.

"More than 97 percent of Amtrak's 21,000 miles of routes run along tracks owned and maintained by private freight railroad companies. By law, these railroads are required to provide Amtrak with priority use of their tracks; however, this law is not often followed and the U.S. Attorney General has never pursued a case."

Lots of information

All I can say is that so far as I knew, in thousands of miles travelling by Amtrak, not once did we pass a freight that was waiting for us to go by. And countless times we pulled onto a sidetrack and waited for a freight, sometimes more than one to pass.

I'll put that up against you guys's intuitions any time.