San Diegan News September 1995 San Diegan Express Service and San Luis Obispo Service Coming Soon Beginning October 30, Amtrak will inaugurate weekday San Diegan Express service between San Diego and Santa Barbara on round-trip trains 771 and 780. The San Diego - Los Angeles portion of the trip will be reduced to two hours, 25 minutes, and the L.A. - Santa Barbara leg will be reduced to a running time of two hours, 10 minutes. Each of the north and south portions of the run represent a time-savings of at least a half-hour. Existing Train 571 will be renumbered 771. By initiating San Diegan Express service, Amtrak will offer a unique travel option with a more reliable and convenient schedule for the diverse Southern California rail travel market. We anticipate this new service will revitalize existing Train 571, an otherwise poor financial performing train. The San Diegan Express will be equipped with the new, multi-level Amtrak California passenger equipment offering upgraded amenities such as contoured and reclining seats; wall-to-wall carpeting; two restrooms per car; large, closed overhead bins for luggage (as well as luggage storage areas in each car); bicycle storage areas; panoramic windows; face-to-face seating with tables; reading lights; automated easy-to-read destination signs in each car; and low-level doors for easier boarding. Additional improvements to Amtrak's San Diegan service will coincide with the transition to Standard Time on October 29 when Amtrak will extend one round-trip train per day to San Luis Obispo to make the four Santa Barbara trains daily, rather than weekend-only. We'll have complete scheduling information on both the new San Diegan Express trains and the San Luis Obispo extensions, in the October issue of the San Diegan News. Amtrak's Financial Future on Track According to Amtrak's third quarter financial report, the company's plan for focusing on customers and improving its financial bottom line is still on track. Passenger revenues are up, the workforce has been pared down, old equipment is being retired, and on-time and safety performance continues to improve for America's national passenger rail service. Based on current trends, Amtrak will improve its bottom line by $154.4 million by the end of the fiscal year in September, an important step toward ending Amtrak's need for federal operating assistance by the turn of the century. Only six months after Amtrak undertook an aggressive plan to improve its financial status, the company can report that: Passenger revenues are $27 million ahead of plan. Riders stayed with Amtrak even after route and service adjustments, resulting in 17 percent less revenue loss than expected. Selective fare increases have also raised new revenue without affecting ridership. Of 8 services announced for elimination in Amtrak's business plan, all but two were "bought back" by the states at a cost closer to Amtrak's real cost than previously. Such partnerships will be necessary in the future as Amtrak's federal operating assistance declines. 585 managers and 1,520 labor personnel have left since October - a result of route and service actions and productivity improvements. Even when new hires are taken into account, Amtrak has achieved 96 percent of its targeted management reductions and 44 percent of targeted labor cuts. Please see FINANCIAL on page 2 SBA-VEC-OXN-CM L-M PK-SIM-CWT-VNC-BUR-GDL-LAX Ribbit frog n. 1. A tailless, mainly aquatic amphibian with a smooth, moist skin, webbed feet, and long hind legs adapted for jumping. 2. A track structure used at the intersection (switch) of two running rails to provide support for wheels and passageways of their flanges. Ribbit, Squish Q: Why does a train move so slow when coming into a station? A: Because it's running over so many frogs. Where to find the Sa n Diegan News: At most popular San Diegan stations On every AmCafe car Wh ere you can't: Un der your windshield wiper Fr om a telemarketer On the side of the Goodyear blimp Financial (Continued from Page 1) . 189 aging cars and locomotives have been retired, completing half of Amtrak's fleet retirement plan to cut maintenance and operating costs and improve service comfort and reliability. . On-time performance is up 8.5 percent compared to last year. . Passenger and employee injuries are down by 29 percent and 20 percent, respectively. . Although Amtrak has reduced service, the company is putting more people in the remaining seats. For the first time, Amtrak's "load factor" (the percent of available seats which are sold) is up from last year. The load factor is up 14 percent where route and service changes have occurred. . The company's cash outlook has improved. Originally Amtrak had expected it would have to borrow $67 million for FY94 and FY95, but now only $14 million to $43 million will be needed. While doing well on many fronts, the company still faces an $18.6 million shortfall at year's end, having absorbed $92 million in costs for employee buyouts, relocation, training and equipment retirement - an investment in the new Amtrak. "We're truly starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's coming from our rapidly improving trains," said Amtrak President Thomas M. Downs. "There still are major challenges to making America's rail service the healthy business the country needs, but we are well on our way." You'll Come for the Celebration You'll Stay for the Trains The City of Fullerton will be celebrating the completion of the south platform and third main line projects on Sunday, September 17 from 2 until 4 p.m. at the Fullerton Transportation Center. The community event will unveil plaques on the Santa Fe and Union Pacific depots which commemorate their listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Food, entertainment and speeches will be part of the event. Plus, there will be a static display of new and old rail equipment which will be open to the public. Gil Mallery, Amtrak West CEO, will be in attendance as well as representatives from Caltrans, Metrolink and Santa Fe. After eight years and $15 million, this will be a fun way for the whole family to celebrate the completion of the Fullerton Transportation Center. Operation Lifesaver Lo ok, Listen... .. .and Live! LAX-COM-FUL-ANA-SNA-IRV-SNC-SNT-OSD-SOL-SAN AKA: Carl, Calif. The Carlsbad depot was built in 1887 to Arizona serve the Eastern Railway. John A. Fauncher, the first stationmaster, arrived with his wife and two daughters Christmas Day 1886. He carried out his official duties in an old shed for several months until the depot was completed. Before long, the depot also served as a telegraph office, Post Office, Wells Fargo Express Office and general store. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway purchased the rail line, including the depot, in 1905. In 1907 citizens were disturbed when the railroad shortened the depot's name to Carl to avoid confusion with another Santa Fe agency at Carlsbad, New Mexico. After years of protest, the railroad reinstated the original name on August 31, 1 924. Carlsbad became a major agricultural center when new water lines provided irrigation in 1914. From this depot, Carlsbad shipped its fruits, vegetables and flowers all over the nation. After World War IL rail traffic declined and the Santa Fe filed with the California Public Utilities Commission to abandon the agency in 1950. The petition was denied authorization and the depot remained in service until 1960. In 1963, thanks to some hard negotiating by the late B.M. "Chris" Christiansen, AT&SF deeded the building and leases two surrounding parcels to the City. For many year, the building housed the offices of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and now serves as a Visitor Information Center at the original track-side location on Elm Avenue at State Street. Railroading 101 Railroad track between two points tends to follow the "lay of the land" - but logic dictates that it be easier if the tracks ran in a straight line. Here's how the railroad-builders deal with rivers and mountains and coast lines. Although there are stretches of tangent (straight) track in the U.S. (the longest being 78.66 miles), trains sooner or later will be required to make numerous changes of direction both vertically and horizontally. Practical costs of construction and energy considerations require building the roadbed as closely as possible to follow the contour of the land. Tangent track is obviously the easiest to build and maintain. In the U.S., track curvature is measured in degrees or the angle through which the track turns in 100 feet. Curves add significant drag or resistance to a train, so, where practical, railroads attempt to limit curvature to two degrees. However, in mountainous territory, it is often necessary to exceed two degrees in order to minimize the grade, and in severe mountain grades, 10 to 14 degree curves are not uncommon. On curves, the outer rail may be raised to compensate for the effect of the centrifugal force. This allows trains to negotiate curves at higher speeds than what non-elevated tracks would permit. This is known as "superelevation." To attain superelevation so that the car's suspension transitions smoothly to the change in cross-level of the track, a gradually increasing curvature is used, known as "spiraling." "As a loyal Amtrak rider since June 1989, I am dismayed by the proposed schedule change for Train 571. I board 571 every day at Irvine and I need to be in downtown Los Angeles by 8 a.m. If the train doesn't stop at Irvine or if it doesn't get me to L.A. by 8 a.m., I'll either drive or take Metrolink, but I much prefer Amtrak. Furthermore, Santa Anna is not convenient for me as I live in Mission Viejo. In conclusion, I sincerely hope that Amtrak will reconsider." SAN News Sez: We received a number of letters from customers concerned about Train 571's schedule change - here are the facts leading to our decision. Train 571 has been a poor financial performer with an average load factor of only 19% (ridership has declined significantly over the last two years). Other trains with poor ridership numbers were 568, 587 and 584, with average load factors of 9%, 17% and 21%, respectively. Train 568 has been discontinued, and Trains 587 and 584 schedule's have been changed. We recognize the adjustment of existing Train 571 may inconvenience some customers. Amtrak apologizes, and hopes you understand that we would rather alter the schedule of a train in hopes of saving it rather than lose it altogether. Take a minute to read the accompanying story on page I which explains renumbered Train 771's new limited-stop service. "I have made one or two round trips per week from Del Mar (now Solana Beach) for the last six years. Some of us "regulars" were talking the other day, and we noted that many of the regular conductors who covered the Custom Class end of the trains seem to have left; found better routes?" SAN News Sez: When you see a Conductor who works a "regular" train, it's usually a matter of personal preference and/or seniority. Some Conductors prefer to work daylight trains, while others enjoy working afternoon/night trains. Some Conductors enjoy a daily change, and elect to work on an on-call basis. "When expecting noisy party animals from the Del Mar racetrack, please put them together in one car - their language, drunkenness and noise is not appreciated and should not be tolerated as there are lots of kids and older folks on the train. I noticed there were Amtrak Police on our train July 29th (Train 585 out of San Diego) and they walked through the car once in awhile. There were several folks on the train with children who I heard say: 'We will never do this again!!' I told them it was opening day at Del Mar and it was not an everyday occurrence." "This letter is to compliment one of your employees, Jackee Marquez. "On August 3, I took the train from Los Angeles to San Diego. Unfortunately, my luggage did not take the same train, and I was exhausted from having flown from Albuquerque to Los Angeles. In the luggage -were my clothes for a wedding the following evening in San Diego. "All of this added up to my not being very happy as well as nervous about getting the baggage in time for the wedding. Even though Mr. Marquez was already past his normal working hours, he took the time to track my luggage and make arrangements to have it on the next train from L.A. and delivered to my hotel that same night. And he did all this with great courtesy. "It is a pleasure to do business with companies whose employees treat customers in this manner. Please extend my thanks to Mr. Marquez. will certainly consider taking Amtrak again." San Diegan News is published by San Diegan employees for our customers and friends. Amtrak West is the west coast business operation of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation managing Amtrak services from the west coast for the west coast. If you have questions or comments, we'd like to hear from you. San Diegan News: James E. Hatton, Editor SBU Productivity Committee 800 N. Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA. 90012 E-mail: DieganNews@aol.com