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Amtrak President said UTU "made the difference" in increased funding

CLEVELAND – Amtrak Acting President George Warrington yesterday thanked the United Transportation Union for its efforts to get increased funding for the national passenger rail carrier.

Warrington personally called UTU International President Charles L. Little and credited the UTU’s political effort in Washington with "making the difference" in a vote by the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee to provide $609 million for its Fiscal Year 1999 operations.

The House voted to provide $54 million more for Amtrak than similar legislation in the Senate, which voted for only $555 million in funding. The $609 million appropriation maintains Congress' commitment to provide the necessary funding to make Amtrak self-sufficient by 2002.

"Amtrak President Warrington told me last night that the UTU made the difference in getting the additional funding for Amtrak," said Little. "It is gratifying to see that our efforts in Washington are bearing fruit."

Little said Warrington singled out National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer, Alternate National Legislative Director/North Carolina SLD James Stem, and Washington, D.C., Legislative Director Steve Fritter as making a difference.

"The financial viability of Amtrak means the financial health of railroad retirement and the preservation of 26,000 union jobs," said Little. "We tried to make a difference, and we did. Now, Washington has learned once again the value of UTU involvement in championing Amtrak and other rail and transportation issues for our nation."

Earlier this week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $555 million in funding for Amtrak. Warrington said Amtrak would push for the funding contained in the House bill throughout the rest of the appropriation's process.

"We will work with Chairman Wolf to ensure the House passes an appropriations bill that meets Amtrak's funding requirements for next year, and we will fight to include the higher House number when the final bill is reconciled in the Conference Committee, he said in a news release."

Warrington continued, "Anything less than meeting Amtrak's full funding requirements for next year could squander the multi-million dollar investment America has made in intercity passenger rail, abandon the promise of a break-even Amtrak when it is finally in reach, and jeopardize the country's passenger rail system," cautioned Warrington.

UP says two lawsuits close to settlement

DALLAS – Union Pacific Corp. says it is close to settling to major lawsuits associated with its service problems.

News reports say that UP is close to settling with Dow Chemical Co. and Union Carbide. Both companies, and others, sued UP claiming they lost money because the carrier failed to provide adequate service. Dow said UP’s problems cost it more than $25 million.

If the two latest deals go through they will join an agreement between UP and DuPont, the nation’s largest chemical company, as well as hundreds of smaller claims.

S&P upgrades BNSF to positive status

NEW YORK – Standard & Poor’s yesterday revised its outlook on Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. and its subsidiaries to positive from stable and affirmed its rating on BNSF and its companies.

S&P’s outlook reflects ongoing successful operation of the combined former BN and Santa Fe Pacific Corp. railroad units, and expectation for modest improvements in the company’s financial profile.

The ratings of BNSF are based on the company’s consolidated credit quality, including operations of its railroad company. They reflect a strong competitive position in a relatively low-risk U.S. freight railroad industry, S&P said.