NATIONAL RAILWAY BUSINESS CAR SERVICES
DIRECTOR: Louis Charles Hoffman Alloin
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CONTACTS FOR MOVEMENT REQUESTS

Submit All Movement Requests Orders To: Bille Ernest
Consolidated National Operations Center


NAME
Vacant
TITLE
Senior Director of System Operations
ADDRESS
15 South Poplar Street, Wilmington, DE 19801-5008
PHONE

VOICE: 302-683-2062
PAGER: 800-759-8888 PIN#: 1758860
CELL: 302-545-9765
FAX: 302-683-2090

EMAIL
Not available at this time
WEB PAGE INFO
Not available at this time


CONSOLIDATED NATIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER CONTACTS
NAME
Billie Ernest
Gwen Barringer
Donna Myers
Sheila Marlowe
TITLE
Manager
Supervisor
Supervisor
Supervisor
ADDRESS

15 S. Poplar Street
Wilmington, DE
19801-5008

15 S. Poplar Street
Wilmington, DE
19801-5008
15 S. Poplar Street
Wilmington, DE
198012-5008
15 S. Poplar Street
Wilmington, DE
19801-5008
PHONE

302-683-2297
Cell 302-528-5547

302-683-2155

302-683-2110
Cell 302-379-6389

302-683-2051
FAX
302-683-2121
302-683-2121
302-683-2121
302-683-2121
EMAIL
SCHEDULED
Sunday-Thursday
Tuesday-Saturday
Tuesday-Saturday
Sunday-Thursday



2003-2011 AMTRAK NOTICE ARCHIVES
Consolidated National Operations Center
System Service Alerts And Notices  

2011
  • 2-11 Amtrak Manager of Private Car Standards (9/14/2011)
    2010
  • NONE ISSUED
    2009
  • 3-09 Changes: Amtrak Coordinator of Rolling Stock Engineering (7/05/2009)
  • 2-09 California Zephyr Scheduled Re-Route (6/03/2009)
  • 1-09 Presidential Inauguration: WUT Facilities Safety & Security Information (1/16/2009)
    2008
  • 7-08 Service Disruption Trains:# 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 (7/04/2008)
  • 6-08 Service Disruption Trains:# 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 Convention Train Positioning(6/19/2008)
  • 5-08 Service Disruption: St. Louis Station Impacted By UP Trackwork(6/13/2008)
  • 4-08 Update: UPRR Mudslides Coast Starlight Remains Impacted (2/07/2008)
  • 3-08 UPRR Mudslides Coast Starlight Impacted (1/22/2008)
  • 2-08 Private Car Administrative Fees (1/11/2008)
  • 1-08 Safety (10/18/2007)
    2007
  • 5-07 AAPRCO 30th Convention Travel Service (9/25/2007)
  • 4-07 Parking & California Zephyr Re-Route (Due to UP Trackwork)(6/07/2007)
  • 3-07 New Appointment - Sr. Manager - Special Trains (6/01/2007)
  • 2-07 Private Car Tariff Revision - Customer Service Desk Phone Number (5/21/2007)
  • 1-07 Special Movements Organizational Changes - Garden Track Information(3/14/2007)
    2006
  • 2-06 Service Adjustments: Coast Starlight & California Zephyr (4/06/2006)
  • 1-06 Major Track Work and Service Adjustments - STL - KCY (4/03/2006)
    2005
  • 7-05 Sunset Limited Service to NOL-Oakland-Kansas City-Information (11/04/2005)
  • 6-05 Hurricane Katrina and Tim Donovan's Retirement (8/31/2005)
  • 5-05 Safety and Security (8/30/2005)
  • 4-05 Private Car Surcharge Rescinded-Car Activiation Fee Implemented (4/06/2005)
  • 3-05 Three Rivers Discontinuance - Portland, OR-Insurance Certificates (3/10/2005)
  • 2-05 Operational Update - Sunset Limited (New Schedule & Consist) (3/02/2005)
  • 1-05 Operational Update - Service Restoration & Person-In-Charge Info (2/25/2005)
    2004
  • 7-04 Operational Update (10/22/2004)
  • 6-04 Current Update Regarding Mail and Express Changes (10/12/2004)
  • 5-04 Mail and Express & Norfolk Southern Switch Charge Increase (9/09/2004)
  • 4-04 Service Disruptions, UP Rate Increase & CSX Switching Policy Change (6/07/2004)
  • 3-04 UP Switching at San Antonio and Service Adjustments (4/02/2004)
  • 2-04 Safety Alert, Security and California Zephyr Re-Route (3/16/2004)
  • 1-04 Various Topics (2/06/2004)
    2003
  • 4-03 Organizational Changes: PC Tariff, Adjustments and Emergency Radio(10/24/2003)
  • Attachment 1: Rules Alert 9-26 Instructions Governing Use of RR Radios(10/26/2003)
  • 3-03 Inspections: Insurance, Payments, Changes And Service Adjustments(9/19/2003)
  • 2-03 Kentucky Cardinal, FRA Waiver, Insurance & FY02 Private Car Audits (7/10/2003)
  • 1-03 Parking Fees and Service Outages (6/20/2003)



  • CONTACT FOR MOVEMENT REQUESTS

    NAME
    Nancy Beaulieu
    TITLE Officer, Contracts Operations Department
    ADDRESS
    201 Ash Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3K3K2
    PHONE
    514-934-7544
    FAX
    514-934-7599
    EMAIL
    nancy_beaulieu@viarail.ca
    PRIVATE CAR WEB INFO
    Railcar Movement



    Information Required for Crossing the United States International Border

    CNOC is using movement forms to collect information on private car occupants (owners, crew and passengers) who will be crossing the USA/Canada international border on The Adirondack. It is assumed that Amtrak provides this information to both the Canada Border Services Agency and US Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, in advance of the train's arrival at the border port of entry.

    Reporter: Kevin Tankersley
    10/05/2011


    Amtrak Northeast Regional Trains to/from Newport News VA

    Private cars operating to Newport News VA on Amtrak Northeast Regional trains may once again operate as the rear car of the train. Amtrak trains are now using a different wye located at the east end of the CSX Newport News yard, and the entire trainset is being turned once again. This takes about an additional 30 to 45 minutes longer than the previous procedure, as the wye is a couple of miles further east of the location where the train is stored and serviced. Washington DC NRHS Chapter's Franklin Inn issued this move on September 18th.

    Reporter: Kevin Tankersley
    10/05/2011


    Amtrak Northeast Regional Trains to/from Newport News VA

    Effective October 2010, private cars operating to Newport News VA on Amtrak Northeast Regional trains must operate on the head end of the train. In addition, there may be a limitation to a maximum of one private car per train. This is the case for trains 67 (Boston to Newport News) & 66 (Newport News to Boston); for other trains to/from Newport News, it will depend on their exact consist. This special operating requirement is due to the shortened wye tail track, that will accommodate only the locomotive and a maximum of three cars, in the CSX yard at Newport News. The tail track was shortened when some property was sold to Walmart to build a new superstore. Current turning of the trainset involves cutting the inbound train; the head end cars are then turned on the wye track with the locomotive. The remaining cars, coaches only, are not turned, but are simply recoupled to the head end cars that have been turned on the wye. In view of this opeerating procedure, a PV that was in the rearmost position in a consist arriving at Newport News would then end up in the middle of the train consist for the northbound trip departing Newport News.

    Reporter: Kevin Tankersley
    4/22/2011


    AAPRCO Investigative Report: Via Rail Canada Update

    AAPRCO has been conducting official discussions with Via Rail Canada since August 2010. The focus of these discussions has been individual private car movements, with an emphasis on access to trains/destinations and tariff charges. These discussions began with a letter from Lovett Smith to Mr. Marc Laliberte (President and CEO) and then took the form of several detailed letters and email messages exchanged between Lovett and Mr. Joseph Cianci (Director, Operations Planning and Inventory Management) and Mr. Steven Del Bosco (Chief Marketing Officer), followed by a meeting at Via 92s Montreal headquarters. Lovett was assisted by Jack Deasy, who developed a comparative analysis of Amtrak and Via private car tariffs, and how their interpretation affects the cost of a trip; Jack has also been working with Via 92s Nancy Beaulieu to determine operating opportunities and limitations.

    The net results of these negotiations is:

    a. A re-awakening of the official AAPRCO-Via relationship, which has been dormant since the unsuccessful 2005 Halifax convention negotiations, placing it back on a sound professional foundation.

    b. An incremental improvement in operating opportunities and an incremental reduction in the cost of trips, primarily benefiting travel to/from Montreal on Amtrak's Adirondack and travel between Montreal and certain destinations in eastern Canada.

    c. Via interprets the provisions of the Via tariff differently than Amtrak interprets the provisions of the Amtrak tariff. The billing of minimum mileage charges, parking charges, adding charges, cutting charges and switching charges are examples.

    d. While there is some good news, there is also some negative news, primarily no changes in the status quo in certain areas.

    The following items may be considered in the positive-neutral category:

    a. Occupied parking is generally available at Montreal Central Station from Friday evening until Sunday. Via cited the demand for track space for both Via inter-city trains and AMT commuter trains, as well as ongoing construction activities, as the limiting factor. This allows northbound travel on Amtrak's Adirondack on a Friday, two nights and one full day parked in Central Station, followed by departure on Amtrak's Adirondack on a Sunday morning. It is possible this window of opportunity may be expanded to include an additional day on Canadian three day holiday weekends when commuter trains are not being operated and construction work is suspended.

    b. Via is willing to park PVs at their Montreal Maintenance Centre (MMC). If the car is occupied by guests/passengers, then security services will be required and charged per the tariff. If the car is empty or occupied by owner/crew only, then Via is willing to waive the security requirement, provided a 93 hold harmless 94 clause is added to the contract. Via will closely monitor the behavior of anyone (owners, crew, guests/passengers) associated with a PV at the MMC. If their activities do not meet Via 92s rules of conduct, then security services will be imposed and billed to the car owner. This represents a significant concession by Via. The security requirement was imposed in 2009 because the behavior of the occupants of one or more PVs did not measure up to Via's standards of conduct during their stay at the MMC.

    c. As a goodwill gesture, Via has revised some of their tariff rates for 2011. Charges for switching, cutting and adding a car have been reduced by a small amount. More importantly, daily parking charges have now been split into two 12 hour blocks, one from midnight to noon and one from noon to midnight. If your car is parked on Via property at noon, then you will be charged for that 12 hour block of parking. If your car is parked on Via property at midnight, then you will be charged for that 12 hour block of parking. If your car is parked on Via property for some portion of any 12 hour block, but is not there at either noon or midnight, then you wil not be charged for that 12 hour block. This new method for computing parking charges, which represents another concession by Via, may save you some money on a future trip.

    d. Via 92s tri-weekly trains between Montreal and Jonquiere and Senneterre are operated with Budd heritage equipment and generally remain fully accessible to PV travel, with occupied parking available at the end point of the two routes. The routes traverse some remote and scenic countryside.

    e. Operation of PVs on other trains, such as Montreal 96 Quebec City corridor trains and Montreal 96 Ottawa corridor trains, with occupied parking at Quebec City and Ottawa, will be considered on a case by case basis, subect to approval by their Chief Operating Officer. Via's primary concern is on time performance ... maintaining advertised schedules.

    The following items may be considered in the neutral-negative category:

    a. Via remains adamant in their unwillingness to operate a PV behind a PARK observation car at any time.

    b. The minimum mileage charge (currently $775) applies to each individual train movement, not the sum of mileage charged for all trains covered by a single movement request. For example, a trip from Montreal to Quebec City will trigger the minimum mileage charge. Montreal to Quebec City is 272 kilometers or 169 miles; at the current mileage rate of $4.00 per mile, that is $676, but it must be increased to the minimum mileage charge of $775. The same math applies to the return trip from Quebec City to Montreal. Montreal to Ottawa will trigger the minimum mileage charge. Montreal to Halifax or Jonquierre or Senneterre = will not trigger the minimum mileage charge.

    c. Charges for adding, adding and switching,cutting, cutting and switching,and switching can add up to a significant cost element on some trips. ADDING ($250) is when a train backs down against your car and the crew couples it to your car. CUTTING ($250) is when a train crew "pulls the pin", uncouples from your car and pulls = away, leaving your car standing at a location. ADDING AND SWITCHING ($600) is when a switcher moves your car from a certain location and then couples it to a train. CUTTING AND SWITCHING ($600) is when a switcher couples to your car, then uncouples it from a train and moves it to some location. SWITCHING ($350) is when a switcher couples to your car, parked in location A, and moves it to location B, then uncouples, leaving it parked in location B.

    d . Toronto has become more problematic as a destination. There is no parking at Toronto Union Station. Via is unwilling to park a PV at their Toronto Maintenance Center (TMC). This precludes travel on the joint Amtrak-Via Maple Leaf between New York, Albany-Rensselaer and Toronto, including a one night "turn with the trainset" at Toronto. Via is willing to consider operating PVs on trains that pass through Toronto en-route to another destination, but did not identify any specific trains in their current timetable that meet that criteria.

    e . As a result of the Toronto parking prohibition, travel on Via trains between Toronto and destinations such as Montreal, Ottawa, Sarnia, Windsor and Niagara Falls is not feasible at this time.

    f . June 15 through October 10, 2011 will be the peak season for travel on The Ocean. A PARK observation car will be assigned to the train during that period. Requests for PV travel on The Ocean at non-peak times, when a PARK observation car is not in the consist, will be considered, but will require lease of (and payment for) a Renaissance transition car. The PV owner must pay the daily lease fee for use of the Renaissance transition car for each day, or any portion of a day, the car is reserved for his use. The Renaissance transition car lease fee is in addition to=20 all of the charges for the PV itself.

    g . Consists are made of one locomotive and up to 8 cars. If a PV is operated as a ninth car, then the use of an extra locomotive (if available) will be billed to the car owner. The Ocean's consist requires two locomotives. Although Via did not specify a number for The Ocean, in view of the one to eight ratio, it appears that a Renaissance transition car and a PV operated as the 17th and 18th cars in The Ocean's consist would trigger a requirement for a third locomotive.

    h . If a consist is operating as a run-through train, PVs will only be switched into or out of a consist at the original and final terminal, not at any intermediate destinations.

    i. Taxes are a significant add-on to the tariff charges. The Federal sales tax is 5.0% of the total Via charges. The Provincial sales tax is 8.5%, which is levied on the sum of the total Via charges and the Federal Sales Tax. Example: Total Via tariff charges $5000.00, Federal Sales Tax $250.00, Provincial Sales Tax $446.25, Total Via invoice $5696.25.

    Reporter: American Association of Private Railcar Owners
    AAPRCO Investivative Staff
    3/03/2011




  • Tariff: June 1, 2007
  • Tariff: April 11, 2005
  • Tariff: March 10, 2005
  • Tariff: June 1, 2004
  • Tariff: April 15, 2003


  • Movements Rates
  • Storage Rates




  • DOCUMENTS & FORMS

    Private Railcar Movement Forms:

  • Amtrak

  • Mexico
  • Via Rail Canada


  • RAILWAY BUSINESS CAR SERVICES
    All Inquires submitted To:
    rbcs@usa.com

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