The war between Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express may come to a head Tuesday, when all parties will be asked to sit down with federal railway officials to sort out an escalating dispute over the switch to a rival operator.
VRE, the commuter train service, has asked top federal, congressional and Virginia officials to intervene in what it has called sabotage in the planned June 28 switch to French-owned Keolis. The VRE board of operations gave staff initial permission to pursue a lawsuit, regulatory action or other steps against Amtrak, which has operated its trains since the commuter service began.
The move came after Amtrak declined VRE’s request to extend service after its contract ends if the new provider was not ready. Amtrak denies obstructing Keolis, saying it has worked for a smooth transition after coming in third in the bid process.
The Federal Railroad Administration, which regulates commuter rail service and may play peacemaker, does not have evidence that Amtrak has been dragging its feet. “FRA has been monitoring this transition since Day One and has seen no indications of any interference by Amtrak,” spokesman Mark Paustenbach told The Washington Examiner.
At issue is more than the contract for shuttling some 17,000 riders from Northern Virginia to their Washington jobs.
Keolis won the VRE contract in the fall as a first foray into the United States: The system is a respected service in a showcase location where it could prove its prowess.
Keolis won the VRE contract in the fall as a first foray into the United States: The system is a respected service in a showcase location where it could prove its prowess.
It is already eyeing the national market. Keolis has bid to run two of the MARC commuter lines in Maryland and plans to compete for a new Caltrain contract this year, according to company Executive Vice President Steve Townsend. The burgeoning high-speed rail market is another open door. But such moves encroach on Amtrak.
Meanwhile, the workers who operate VRE’s trains and the riders who rely on its service have been caught in between.
“We really don’t want to see this service used as a billboard,” said Herbert Harris Jr., a spokesman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen that represents VRE’s current engineers.
Riders aren’t sure whether to throw goodbye parties for their conductors and welcome new Keolis ones — or whether to find other ways to work if the dispute ends in a deadlock.
Regular rider Steve Dunham said he would think twice before buying a monthly pass during the transition. He is considering other options, such as a commuter bus or taking a more expensive Amtrak train. “I would dread driving a 90-mile round trip to the Metro,” he said.
But VRE Vice Chairwoman Sharon Bulova assures riders: “We will have service for VRE on the 28th of June.”
