Threat to Amtraks eminate domain rights over freight railroads

TO: ALL NARVRE MEMBERS - USA – June 24, 2007

On Wednesday, June 20, 2007, Rep. John Boozman, R-AR withdrew his Amtrak amendment after seeing that he did not have support for passage in the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. Congressman Boozman said his intent was to prevent Amtrak trains carrying only a few passengers from using priority status to delay a fully loaded freight train.

After discussion within the committee he withdrew his amendment when agreement was reached to have the General Accounting Office (GAO) make a study on what would happen if Amtrak’s right of way were taken away.

Opponents of the amendment argued that stripping the passenger rail of its rights to first access on freight rail-owned tracks would ruin the company outside the Northeast Corridor. Thank you all for your rapid response last week when the call came out to oppose the Boozman Amendment. Your support was greatly appreciated.

Thomas J. Dwyer
National Legislative Director

National Association of Retired & Veteran
Railway Employees, Inc. (NARVRE)
11304 Norway Street Northwest
Coon Rapids, Minnesota 55448
(763) 757-1501 Fax: (763) 767-5794
Email: TDwyertcu@aol.com

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TO: ALL NARVRE MEMBERS - USA – June 18, 2007

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Glad this happened. It’s funny but I thought that one of the conditions imposed 1971 by the ICC to the railroads that wanted to “dump” their passenger service was that passenger trains would continue to receive priority status over freight.

If so, it seems that the Class 1 railroads’ lobbyists were pushing this senator to help wipe out that agreement.