In this letter I tried to be polite, and not as hostile as I might have been. At about the same time as this was sent the New Jersey ARP wrote specifically calling for Anderson’s dismissal. There is now a clear pattern, as reported by Bill Vantuono of Railway Age, of simply ignoring the media and advocacy groups. Difficult questions? Easiest answer is to ignore them.
Here’s what I wrote to Coscia:
Mr. Anthony Coscia 13th July, 2018
Chairman of the Board
National Railroad Passenger Corporation
60 Massachusetts Avenue NE
Washington DC 20002-4285
Dear Mr. Coscia:
RailPAC is a 501c3 all volunteer California corporation that has, since 1978, campaigned for the improvement of mobility for all by increased passenger rail service. We support the National Network of overnight trains as well as regional and commuter services. We are recognized at State and local level as having been influential in the establishment and expansion of rail passenger service in California, and for having considerable expertise among our members.
It is our understanding that public policy, enunciated in legislation in 1971 and confirmed many times since, is for the United States to have a National Network of passenger trains, to be operated by NRPC.
It appears to us that, by his statements and actions, your recently appointed CEO Mr. Richard Anderson is not aware of the support for the National Network among many key constituencies, or the negative financial consequences and loss of political support if the national route structure is destroyed. In his interactions with the congressional delegates from Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico, he seems to have been so badly briefed by his staff that the presentation made by NRPC contained deliberately deceptive statements that amounted to falsehoods in their description of the performance of the Southwest Chief. It is hard for my organization to imagine that this is the intention of you and your board.
Over the years the National Network of overnight trains has been blamed for Amtrak’s deficits. We disagree. The National Network generates more passenger miles and revenue than the Northeast Corridor and is mostly hampered by being starved of investment and freight railroad issues for at least two decades. You and your Board should remember that the NEC was not part of the original Amtrak and that it was dumped on the company in 1976, because no other agency wanted to take on the crippling backlog of infrastructure repairs. With $300 – $400 million in yearly maintenance costs and $30 to $50 Billion in state of good repair and capacity needs, it’s the NEC that is the burden on Amtrak, not the National Network.
Part of Mr. Anderson’s announced policy is to operate medium distance corridors in “partnership” with the States. Again, he appears to have been given a very poor analysis of the State’s appetite for participation in such ventures. Surely the Board, in its experience, does not expect States like Arizona and Kansas to pay for a rail service which is currently a federal program? Look at recent events in Alabama. Yet this seems to be what he is proposing. Indeed, if the National Network no longer exists, what need would California have for Amtrak? The National Network is a federal program and should remain so, even if this requires amending PRIIA legislation.
We cannot say whether Mr. Anderson’s statements and policies are the result of information he is receiving from officers of the company, from direction of the Board, or from other influences. NRPC Board should immediately issue a clarification. Is it still the role of NRPC to operate a National Network of passenger trains? If so, you need to give direction to your CEO to carry out that policy. You may also wish to institute some inquiries regarding the information that was given to Congress regarding the Southwest Chief.
RailPAC will not blindly support NRPC policy; indeed, we will actively oppose the destruction of the National Network, which is a national asset whose full potential is yet to be realized and we will make every effort to prevent the expenditure of any state funds to pay for interstate rail service.
Yours faithfully,
ORIGINAL SIGNED
PAUL DYSON
Paul Dyson, President, [email protected] cc RailPAC Board and interested parties
818 371 9516