(erielack) RE: commuter rail-

["Duncan_Watry_@_ci.sf.ca.us"]

In reference to the comment below, back in 1971 when Amtrak took over, none of
the current commuter rail operators existed in their current format.  No one was
giving out millions in 1971 to anyone for commuter operation, and there was no
one champing at the bit to operate competing intercity service to Amtrak.  All
of the private RRs wanted out of the commuter business, even more than they
wanted out of the intercity business.  Losses on commuter services far exceeded
intercity losses for the railroads with big commuter operations.

In 1971, when Amtrak came along, there were only a few locations in the US where
there was public funding for commuter rail.  NJ bought the U34CHs for EL, the
GP40Ps for CNJ, and some minimal operating support.  New York state owned LIRR,
and provided capital and operating support.  Connecticut bought new MUs for Penn
Central for the Connecicut service, and New York state bought some for the
Hudson/Harlem lines.  Everything else was privately owned, funded and operated.

What changed things was the creation of Conrail in 1976, and Conrail's desire to
get out of the commuter business at the same time as the energy crises, and
increasing awareness of transportation issues.  People began to realize that
they would lose all rail commuter service unless public authorities stepped in
and began funding and/or directly operating commuter services.  So, mid-late
70s/early 80s was the birth of the public commuter rail operators.  Prior to
this, there was no issue of anyone wanting to operate longer-distance commuter
operations that Amtrak would consider "competition".

Duncan J. Watry




- -----Original Message-----
From: "Schuyler G. Larrabee" <"SGL2_@_IX.NETCOM.COM"> at ~ctl-internet-po
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 1999 11:15 PM
To: <"KC2WE_@_aol.com"> at ~CTL-INTERNET-PO
Cc: <"erielack_@_internexus.net"> at ~CTL-INTERNET-PO
Subject: RE: (erielack) Hoboken Happenings / Erie RR in Jersey City.


"It strikes me as entirely possible that the legislation creating Amtrak
does indeed carry such a stipulation, as Congress, giving out "all those
millions" (peanuts compared to what air traffic gets) may have looked for a
way to cut competition for Amtrak.  They knew they couldn't outlaw ONE
state line, but TWO, well now, that's not such a problem, is it?  Or
rather, it wasn't, back in 197X, when they did that."

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