Conference President and Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles led a delegation of Conference leaders on the inaugural run of Amtrak's new Acela Express service, providing the first high speed train service in North America along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor between Washington, DC and Boston.

Mayor Coles (right) is joined by Conference Vice President and New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial (center) and North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays (left).

Coles joined with Conference Vice President and New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial, North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays, Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith, and Macomb Mayor Thomas Carper, Amtrak officials, Members of Congress and other distinguished guests November 16 for the trip from Washington's Union Station to New York's Penn Station. The train arrived ahead of schedule, completing the trip in two hours and 26 minutes.

Coles, Morial Tout Acela Express

"The Acela service will inaugurate an era of new and improved high speed rail service in America, putting our service on par with systems in Europe and Asia. I commend Amtrak CEO George Warrington for his leadership on this effort," Coles said. Discussing the connection between intercity passenger rail and local rail systems, Coles said, "Our nation needs a strong national passenger rail network to link with the many light rail and commuter rail projects that are now in varying stages of development in more than 200 communities all across the country."

In his comments on the new Amtrak service, Morial said, "This is a great day for America. Those of us outside the Northeast Corridor are looking forward to the day when we have similar service linking us to other metropolitan hubs and to a national rail system."

Smith, who is a member of Amtrak's Board of Directors and a co-chair of the Conference's Rail Restoration Transition Team, kicked off the day's festivities at a breakfast session in Union Station, telling the guests that Acela was the "new great train of the future." He then said, "we are building an Interstate of steel that will connect our inner cities and our rural areas. And, this is just the beginning." Smith Praises Work of Mayors

During his opening remarks, Smith praised the work of the nation's mayors and their strong vision and commitment to expanded rail services throughout the nation. He recognized each of the mayors, calling attention to each of their leadership roles on rail issues. "Mayor Brent Coles, as President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, has made restoration of this nation's rail systems a top priority for this nation," he said. Smith also noted Mayor Hays' role as co-chair of the Conference's Rail Restoration Transition Team, Carper's position as chair of Amtrak's Mayors Advisory Council, and Morial's role as vice-chair of the Advisory Council.

Governor Thompson Outlines Vision for Amtrak

In his remarks at ceremonies in Washington and New York, Wisconsin Governor and Amtrak Board Chair Tommy Thompson set forth the vision for Amtrak's future. "Every generation is marked by breakthroughs that profoundly affect our society. The launch of Acela Express is one of those defining moments. Acela Express will revolutionize the travel experience," he said. "Acela is our response to the distress call we're hearing from travelers all across this country. People in my home state of Wisconsin and across the nation are crying out for a real rail alternative that relieves our gridlocked highways and winglocked airports. And Amtrak is ready to deliver. The train behind me today gives travelers what they want and expect – it's comfortable, quiet, convenient and fast," Thompson said. Discussing the need for increased investment in rail transportation, Thompson said, "Like our interstate highway system and our air traffic control system, America must invest in rail for the future. While last year we spent $29 billion on highways and $10 billion on aviation, our national railroad has to go begging for paltry scraps at the table in Washington. The time for investment is now."

The day's ceremonies concluded with a late afternoon press event at Boston's South Station where dignitaries on the second leg of the inaugural run between New York and Boston.

Rail Investment is Conference Priority

Under Coles' leadership, the Conference has made high-speed rail investment a key part of his call for a "National Rail Policy for the 21st Century." The Acela Express is the forerunner of high-speed rail projects now under development in several other corridors around the country. Specifically, the Conference has been pressing for action in this Congress on legislation, called the High Speed Rail Investment Act (S. 1900), that proposes to commit $10 billion in tax credit-backed bond financing to high speed rail projects undertaken by the states and Amtrak. This legislation is now part of a tax plan that the U.S. House of Representatives approved prior to the election recess. Congress will resume work on this and other matters when Members return December 5th.

Led by Coles and Morial, the mayors will continue to emphasize these issues throughout the presidential transition, and will convene a National Rail Summit January 17th, 2001, during the Conference's 69th Winter Meeting.

The first phase of the new Acela Express service will cut travel time between Washington and New York by 15 minutes and more than one hour and 25 minutes between New York and Boston. Train speeds on the corridor will reach 150 mph. The new 304-passenger Acela train is scheduled to begin revenue service December 11; by summer, 20 Acela trains will be in service.