Amtrak

International

Operations to

Canada

Eastern Border Transportation Coalition May 25, 2011

1

Brief History

• First Amtrak operations to Canada and Mexico ordered by Congress 1972 – Seattle – Vancouver – “Pacific International”

– Washington – Montreal – “Montrealer”

– Ft. Worth – Laredo – “Inter-American”

• Later additions – New York – Detroit – “Niagara Rainbow”

– Chicago – Port Huron – Sarnia – Toronto – “International”

– New York – Toronto – “Maple Leaf”

• Only one operating today in original form

2

Current Operations

• “Amtrak Cascades” – Portland – Seattle – Vancouver BC

– First train since 1995; second train since 2009

• “Maple Leaf” – New York – Niagara Falls – Toronto

– Since 1981 replacing a former VIA Rail Canada connection

• “Adirondack” – New York – Rouses Point – Montreal

– Since 1974

• All are current or prospective state corridor trains under Section 209 of PRIIA

• All but second Vancouver train pre-date 9/11

3

Potential Future Operations

• “Vermonter” extension north of St. Albans to Montreal – Tentatively late 2012

– High priority for Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin

– Would reconstitute former “Montrealer” but on a daytime

schedule

• Continental Rail Gateway – New Detroit – Windsor tunnel – After 2014

– Potential Chicago – Detroit – Toronto – Montreal combined

Amtrak / VIA Rail Canada corridor

4

International Ridership

0

50

100

150

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011*

Th

ou

san

ds

Northbound Southbound

Cascad

es

(V

an

co

uver)

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Oct-

06

Jan-0

7

Apr-

07

Jul-07

Oct-

07

Jan-0

8

Apr-

08

Jul-08

Oct-

08

Jan-0

9

Apr-

09

Jul-09

Oct-

09

Jan-1

0

Apr-

10

Jul-10

Rid

ers Northbound

Southbound

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011*

Th

ou

san

ds

Northbound Southbound

Map

le L

eaf

(T

oro

nto

)

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Oct-

06

Jan-0

7

Apr-

07

Jul-07

Oct-

07

Jan-0

8

Apr-

08

Jul-08

Oct-

08

Jan-0

9

Apr-

09

Jul-09

Oct-

09

Jan-1

0

Apr-

10

Jul-10

Rid

ers Northbound

Southbound

0

20

40

60

80

100

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011*

Th

ou

san

ds

Northbound SouthboundAd

iro

nd

ack

(M

on

tre

al)

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Oct-

06

Jan-0

7

Apr-

07

Jul-07

Oct-

07

Jan-0

8

Apr-

08

Jul-08

Oct-

08

Jan-0

9

Apr-

09

Jul-09

Oct-

09

Jan-1

0

Apr-

10

Jul-10

Rid

ers Northbound

Southbound

Annual Monthly

*through March

*through March

*through March

5

Lack of Process for Border Security

• Customs and Immigration inspection processes evolved locally and independently following 9/11

• Before 9/11 informal on-train screening was satisfactory

• Passenger rail does not fit air or highway models

• Issues other than terrorism

• On train inspection no longer satisfactory from the perspective of border agencies – Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

– U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

6

Agency Issues with On-Board Inspection

• Lacks the privacy to properly interview travelers especially about sensitive issues

• Inability to clearly match every item of baggage to its owner

• Poor connectivity with agency information technologies

• Safety and security risks with potentially unruly passengers and officer firearms

• Inability to inspect a completely empty train

7

Amtrak Issues with Enroute Off-Board Inspection

• Serious inconvenience to passengers

• Unsafe at low platforms especially in bad weather – Elderly and ADA passengers

– Passengers carrying infants and small children

• Long border dwell times cause longer trip times

• All passengers must wait until the last passenger has cleared

• Frequent delays would exacerbate poor on-time performance at down-line stations

• In conflict with intent of PRIIA to improve on-time performance

8

Possible Solutions

• End point customs and immigration processing in Canada with non-stop closed-door operation north of the border – Vancouver

– Montreal

• New methods for on-board processing that mitigate concerns of border authorities – Niagara Falls for Toronto

9

More Immediate Issues

• “Amtrak Cascades” at Vancouver – CBSA funding for the second train ends October 31

– New funding must be obtained to avoid discontinuance

• “Maple Leaf” at Niagara Falls – Canadian National abandoning Whirlpool Bridge rights

– Bridge Commission seeking agreement with new operator

– Quick resolution needed before service must be discontinued

• “Adirondack” at Montreal – Both CBSA and Amtrak want to do C&I in Montreal

– Tentative conceptual plan developed by Amtrak

– Funding required to validate concept in Canada

– Alternative could be a full offload of passengers and baggage at

the border

High Speed Rail Overview

11

Federal Investment Highlights (2009-2011)

12

Summary of Federal Investments (2009-2011)