Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission

August 2008: The MIPRC signs on as supporter of Trains CARS Act of 2008

In late July, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Train CARS (Creating American Rolling Stock) Act of 2008 (S. 3360). The bill would create jobs and help Amtrak meet the increasing demand for an efficient, cost-effective and reliable alternative mode of travel. Durbin’s bill aims to promote the replacement and rehabilitation of Amtrak’s aging fleet of passenger cars and to revive the train car industry in the United States. The MIPRC has signed on as a supporter of the bill.

During its June visits with Members of Congress, the MIPRC highlighted the urgent need for increased federal funding for passenger rail train overhauling and the purchase of new equipment (see MIPRC press release). As ridership has exploded across the country, Amtrak is having trouble keeping up with demand because of the lack of passenger rail train cars and equipment.

A press release describing the legislation, issued by Sen. Durbin’s office, outlined the steps that would be taken to help alleviate the shortage: (full press release here)

Grants and Tax-Credit Bonds for Domestically-Manufactured Train Cars: Creates a new matching grant program at the Department of Transportation for Amtrak and states to rehabilitate existing equipment and purchase new, American-made equipment.
Buy American Requirements and Labor Protections: Ensure that any funding or tax credits provided in the bill are used for domestically produced train cars and that workers in the manufacturing and rehabilitation of train cars are paid a prevailing wage and protected under federal railroad labor laws.
Capacity Improvement Charge Matching Program: Allow states to receive a dollar-for-dollar match on any equipment fee they impose for the purchase of new domestically produced train cars.
Next Generation Equipment Pool: Mandate that Amtrak establish a committee, along with Federal Railroad Administration and interested states, to design and develop specifications for a procurement standard for the next generation of passenger rail equipment.
Intercity Passenger Rail Rolling Stock Trust Fund: Create a new trust fund to give Amtrak and the states a secure and reliable source of capital funding to replace the nation's train cars.
National Passenger Rail Electrification System Study: Directs the GAO to conduct a study of the costs, benefits and economic impacts of providing intercity passenger rail along a national electrification system.
Job Transition Services for Workers: Requires the Department of Labor to identify existing programs and recommend changes to help transition workers leaving the aviation and automobile industries into rail car manufacturing, rehabilitation and maintenance.

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