Amtrak challenges VRE's planned contract with French firm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103002747.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103002747.html)
By Jennifer Buske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 30, 2009; 4:44 PM
Amtrak is challenging a recommendation made by Virginia Railway Express officials this month that VRE abandon its 17-year relationship with Amtrak and allow an international company to operate and maintain the commuter rail service's fleet.
On Friday, Amtrak officials sent VRE a letter challenging its intent to award a five-year, roughly $85 million contract to Keolis Rail Services America -- a U.S subsidiary of a French company. The contract, which needs to be approved by the Northern Virginia and Potomac and Rappahannock transportation commissions Nov. 5, would give Keolis its first foothold in the U.S. transportation industry.
"As one of the bidders, we have the right to challenge," Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm said. "We believe that we provided good service to VRE and its passengers, and we would have liked to continue on in that capacity."
Amtrak officials said there might have been some "improper scoring" done when VRE reviewed the four applicants who applied for the operation and maintenance contract the commuter rail service opened to bids in May. Amtrak claims VRE's request for the proposal stated that 80 percent of the scoring would be based on an applicant's "performance and experience," and Keolis has no experience operating under U.S. rail safety and security regulations, Amtrak officials said.
(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:8LHqrNkIoxZhAM:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/ca/Virginia_Railway_Express.svg/200px-Virginia_Railway_Express.svg.png)(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:vK59qw9fv_NwqM:http://www.3i.com/img/keolis.gif)
VRE spokesman Mark Roeber said 80 percent of the scoring looked at commuter rail operations in totality, addressing everything from an applicant's experience and system safety to maintenance and management plans. The other 20 percent looked at cost effectiveness.
Kulm said Amtrak has also filed a Freedom of Information Act request, asking VRE to turn over copies of Keolis's proposal as well as evaluators' notes and score sheets. Once those are in Amtrak's hands, Kulm said, the company might challenge other aspects of the application review process.
According to the request-for-proposal document on VRE's Web site, the applicant can protest an award or a decision to award a contract in writing no later than 10 days -- not 10 business days -- after the decision to award or the award itself, whichever comes first. The VRE operations board made the decision to award the contract to Keolis on Oct. 16. No Amtrak officials were present at the meeting.
Roeber said VRE will respond to Amtrak's letter within 10 days, as well as to its FOIA request.
"VRE remains confident that all the appropriate and legal protocols were put into place, " Roeber said. "In the meantime, we will address Amtrak's concerns."
I really don't care, as long as they don't attempt to bring the stupid EU type couplers, or smaller frame "rounded roof" coaches that wipe out many square feet of interior. BUY AMERICAN/NORTH or SOUTH, and let the best operator have at it.
Canada
Mexico
USA
Argentina
Brasil
and others have corporations capable of building new American Style trains. Gotta wonder if Amtrak loses this bid, how many well trained Virgina employees might like to move to a sunny Florida location? I could suggest a city... the name starts with a "J" .
OCKLAWAHA
Would this mean Amtrak would have "extra" equipment? Perhaps to bring south.
Amtrak makes buses for BRT? ;D
Rightfully so! If on time performance,service and trains were lacking then I can understand a change! But if not then I would have to ask who got bought off and how! I have no problem with a change if it is warrented but if there were problems and they were not addressed there should be a change without question!
NO! Fact is each City or agency owns it's own "Tren De Occidente," (just kidding) EACH has it's own equipment, stations, benches, signs, parking, etc.. They also either have a freight railroad, or they build their own, or go with LRT, or a buyout and lease back of trackage rights (HINT! JTA!-JPA!).
So what Amtrak does is provide professional staff to operate the trains, this could/usually includes the train crews, engineer, Conductor etc.. Usually the freight railroad does the dispatching, but you can see in one of the other situations, lease backs, industrial trackage, TROUT RIVER, etc., there might not be any signaling, (called DARK TERRITORY) PTC may correct this completely. Already switch stands, trackside manual devices and such in deep dark territory, are being designed for not only remote action, but a small signal light. These can be in sites so remote they use solar power, and cellular communications.
So think of VRE, as using Amtrak like a giant temp service, or some type of staffing company. THIS is why I said, if they're all let go, what a chance to "invite some Virginians and Marylanders to our house..." Extempore!
OCKLAWAHA
Ock........I won't hold my breath for either JTA or JPA to come out swinging for rail of anykind. Both Agency's have a concrete mind set and will probably take C4 to change it! Idiots!!