Senator raps decision to drop LV train

Kate Lowenhar

Thursday, Sept. 12, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Amtrak's decision to eliminate rail service between Las Vegas and Los Angeles seems misguided to Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev.

The senator said the route could become highly profitable and help the railroad survive in an era of federal budget cuts.

The Desert Wind route connecting Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas is one of four routes targeted for elimination as Amtrak faces a $243 million shortfall next year, a possible $50 million cut in federal subsidies, and an order from Congress and the Clinton Administration to become self sufficient by 2002.

At a congressional hearing this week, Amtrak President Thomas Downs said the railroad will go out of business within five or six years if Congress does not provide more support.

Bryan agrees that more federal dollars should be provided to the rail service, but disagrees that cutting a potentially profitable route is a necessary reaction to budget shortfalls.

"While no other transportation mode -- highways, airports, seaports, or mass transit -- operate without some type of government subsidy, our rail system is expected to do so," Bryan said. "I know Amtrak is under severe financial pressure, but the answer to its problems cannot be cutting off routes with great potential for tomorrow.

"(Las Vegas) continues to have the most rapidly expanding economy in the nation, and is one of the premier tourist destinations in the world. It is difficult for me to understand why Amtrak cannot operate a route profitably between these two markets."

While acknowledging that Amtrak has had some management problems, Bryan did not place the full blame for these cuts on Amtrak.

"Since its inception in 1971, and despite $18 billion in federal subsidies, Amtrak has never been properly capitalized," Bryan said. "As a result, America's passenger rail system is second rate.

"The current pressure for Amtrak to operate without federal operating assistance by 2002 is unrealistic and has set the stage for the type of cuts we are discussing today."

All is not lost, however, for train travelers between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Friday, Amtrak will unveil a state-of-the-art high-speed European train to Las Vegans in the hopes of enticing partners into a new Las Vegas-Los Angeles passenger route.

Currently, there are three Amtrak runs between Los Angeles and Las Vegas each week, the final leg of the Desert Wind's Chicago to Southern California route. The new Flexliner would provide additional nonstop runs between the two cities and feature cellular phone service, computer laptop hook-ups, adjustable seats, and panoramic views for a round-trip cost of anywhere from $77 to $148 depending on available discounts.

In addition, the train may offer poker on both ends of the route and slots and other table games when the train crosses into Nevada.