[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S543-S544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AMTRAK'S DECISION TO CHANGE TRAIN NAMES

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I am a bit of a railroad buff, and 
there have been some recent changes relative to the operation of Amtrak 
that I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues this 
morning.
  I think it is fair to say that it is important that we consider our 
traditions, and how our traditions have really brought us together as a 
nation and preserved the fabric of our culture.
  It has been 30 years ago that we switched our telephones from 
exchange names to all-digit dialing. I think it is fair to say that 
while it increased the efficiency, it lost some of its personality. I 
recall we had Black 789, White 243, Green 910. We had an operator who 

[[Page S544]]
would occasionally talk to you if you had a problem. Yet, this change 
was necessary because of the expansion of telephone service and it 
produced economic efficiencies.
  However, Mr. President, I note with sadness the decision of Amtrak to 
stop using the historical and traditional names for train service in 
the Northeast corridor. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported 
that Amtrak had decided that, for the Yankee Clipper, along with the 
train called the Mohawk, the train called the Mayflower, the train 
called the Connecticut Yankee, the overnight train to Boston, the Night 
Owl, and nearly all the other traditional names will no longer be used. 
In their place, nearly all of Amtrak's Northeast corridor trains will 
be referred to as the Northeast Direct, followed by a number such as 
142, 147, 148. I really cannot understand this decision because I 
cannot see where it necessarily affects the efficiency or service to 
the public.
  A spokeswoman for Amtrak was quoted as saying these names are a 
colorful part of the past but really not helpful today. According to 
the spokeswoman, ``If you hear `the Catskill,' it doesn't really tell 
you where you're going,'' and that may be true, but certainly the 
Northeast Direct 147 tells travelers even less. At least the 
Connecticut Yankee suggests the train is headed to New England; the 
Northeast Direct 147 really tells you nothing. You do not know where it 
is headed.
  Mr. President, yesterday I wrote to the president of Amtrak, Mr. Tom 
Downs, and urged Amtrak to reconsider this decision. Again, I appeal to 
Amtrak in the sense that these are names that are part of the American 
heritage. I think it is a heritage and tradition that is partially a 
public trust, if you will. Unilaterally deciding to change these names, 
I guess, would be equivalent, perhaps, to having the Interior 
Department redesignate Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks as 
Western Park 1, Western Park 2, and perhaps Acadia National Park as 
Eastern Park 4.
  Since 1971, Amtrak has received about $13 billion in Federal funding 
to help cover its operating and labor costs. Legislation which is 
currently on the Senate calendar, S. 1395, would establish an intercity 
passenger rail trust fund. The lion's share of whose funds would go to 
Amtrak. The proposal calls for Amtrak to receive more than $2 billion 
over the next 4 years.
  In my opinion, Amtrak has made a mistake in changing the names of the 
historic trains of the Northeast corridor by replacing them with 
numbers. I urge Amtrak to reverse this decision.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the letter 
which I sent to Amtrak's president be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                 Washington, DC, January 29, 1996.
     Mr. Thomas Downs,
     President, Amtrak, 60 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. Downs. The Thursday, January 25 edition of the 
     Wall Street Journal reports that Amtrak has decided to stop 
     using the traditional names for train service in the 
     Northeast corridor. In conversations with Amtrak officials, 
     my staff has confirmed that Amtrak has decided that the 
     ``Yankee Clipper,'' ``The Mohawk,'' ``Mayflower,'' 
     ``Connecticut Yankee,'' the overnight to Boston, ``The Night 
     Owl,'' and nearly all the others, will no longer be used.
       It appears that nearly all of Amtrak's Northeast corridor 
     trains will be referred to as ``Northeast Direct'' followed 
     by a number such as 142 or 147. Quite frankly, I cannot 
     understand this decision.
       A spokeswoman for Amtrak was quoted as saying that these 
     names were colorful, but not helpful. According to this 
     spokeswoman, ``if you hear `the Catskill,' it doesn't really 
     tell you where you're going.'' That may be true. But 
     certainly, Northeast Direct 147 tells travelers even less. At 
     least, the Connecticut Yankee suggests the train is headed to 
     New England. Northeast Direct 147 tells you nothing.
       Mr. Downs, I urge you immediately reconsider this decision. 
     These names are part of tradition. And it is a tradition that 
     is partially a public trust. It is nearly equivalent to 
     having the Interior Department redesignate Yellowstone and 
     Yosemite National Parks as Western Parks 1 and 2.
       As you know, since 1971, Amtrak has received $13 billion in 
     federal funding to help cover its operating capital and labor 
     costs. Legislation that is currently on the Senate calendar 
     (S. 1395) would establish an Intercity Passenger Rail Trust 
     Fund, the lion's share of whose funds would go to Amtrak. The 
     proposal calls for Amtrak to receive more than $2 billion 
     over the next four years.
       I believe Amtrak has made a mistake and I believe you ought 
     to fix it immediately.
       Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Frank Murkowski,
     U.S. Senator.

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