Transcript Cross Border Rail Passenger Corridor Development Transportation Border Working Group November 1, 2011 – Niagara Falls, ON.

Cross Border Rail Passenger
Corridor Development
Transportation Border Working Group
November 1, 2011 – Niagara Falls, ON
Presented by Amtrak also on behalf of:
New York State DOT
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Presentation Outline
• Border Security Concerns
 Agency Issues with On Board Processing.
 Carrier Issues with Off Board Processing.
• Two Types of Routes Require Different Solutions
 Single Station in Canada.
 Multiple stations on both sides of the border.
• Single Station Corridor Services
 Amtrak Cascades – Portland / Seattle / Vancouver .
 Adirondack – New York / Albany / Montreal.
 Future – NEC / Vermont / Montreal.
• Multiple Stops Corridor Services
 Maple Leaf – New York / Niagara Falls / Toronto.
 Future – Chicago / Michigan / Ontario / Quebec (Potentially after 2015
with VIA Rail Canada).
• What’s next?
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Lack of Process for Border Security
• Customs and Immigration inspection processes evolved locally
and independently following 9/11.
• Before 9/11 informal on-train screening was satisfactory.
• Passenger rail does not fit air or highway models.
• Issues other than terrorism.
• On train inspection no longer satisfactory from the perspective
of border agencies.
 Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
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Agency Issues with On-Board Inspection
• Lacks the privacy to properly interview travelers especially about
sensitive issues.
• Inability to clearly match every item of baggage to its owner.
• Poor connectivity with agency information technologies.
• Safety and security risks with potentially unruly passengers and
officer firearms.
• Inability to inspect a completely empty train.
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Amtrak Issues with Enroute Off-Board Inspection
• Unsafe at low platforms especially in bad weather
 Elderly and ADA passengers.
 Passengers carrying infants and small children.
• Serious inconvenience to passengers
 Unloading baggage.
 Requirement for coats and hats in cold weather.
• Long border dwell times cause longer trip times
• All passengers must wait until the last passenger has cleared.
• Frequent delays exacerbate poor on-time performance at downline stations.
• In conflict with intent of Passenger Rail Investment and
Improvement Act of 2008 for Amtrak to improve on-time
performance.
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Characteristics of Two Route Types
• Single Canadian Station
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Non-stop operation between the border and the Canadian station.
Entire train operation conducted by Amtrak with BNSF/CN support.
Closed door operation within Canada.
Secure sterile train enclosure in the Canadian station.
Enclosure access controlled by CBSA and CBP.
All Amtrak crew members to be pre-approved by Canadian authorities.
Direct communications between Amtrak train crew, CBSA and CBP.
Examples: Amtrak Cascades, Adirondack, and prospectively Vermont.
• Multiple stations on both sides of the border
 Major communities on both sides of the border that cannot be bypassed.
 Train operation shared by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada with CN and CSX
support.
 Designated future high speed corridors.
 Expedited border process possibilities are unclear … but …
 It makes little sense to run 110 MPH only to stop at the border for an hour.
 Examples: Maple Leaf and prospectively Michigan / Ontario / Quebec.
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“Amtrak Cascades”
• Schedule – Two daily round trips
 Morning northbound train turns for late day southbound.
 Late evening northbound train turns for morning southbound.
 Operate non-stop closed-door in Canada to/from a sterile compound in
Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station (PCS).
 Amtrak operation and crews end to end.
• Customs and Immigration
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Advance manifest to border agencies.
Facility improvements at PCS completed in 2010.
CBSA performs all inspections in PCS.
CBP performs immigration pre-inspection in PCS.
CBP performs customs inspection on-board at Blaine, WA.
• Objective
 A fully functioning joint CBSA / CBP facility performing all customs and
immigration functions for all passengers in both directions and replacing
southbound stop at Blaine WA.
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“Amtrak Cascades”
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“Adirondack”
• Schedule – One daily round trip
 Morning departure and evening arrival in both directions at New York and
Montreal Central Station.
 Currently stops at St. Lambert QC and Montreal but could operate nonstop closed door in Canada to sterile compound in Central Station.
 Amtrak operation and crews end to end.
• Customs and Immigration
 Advance manifest to border agencies.
 CBSA inspection on board at Lacolle QC with secondary screening at
nearby highway facility.
 CBP inspection on board at Rouses Point NY with secondary screening at
nearby highway facility.
• Objectives
 Construct a joint new customs and immigration facility in Montreal Central
Station replacing Lacolle and Rouses Point - estimated cost $3.0 million.
 Discontinue stop at St. Lambert and operate non-stop closed-door
between the border and Montreal.
 Provide same day connections to all primary VIA services.
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“Adirondack”
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“Maple Leaf”
• Schedule – One daily round trip
 Morning departure and evening arrival in both directions at New York and Toronto.
 Entirely Amtrak equipment.
 An Amtrak train in New York State but a VIA Rail Canada train in Ontario.
 Operating crew change at first station in Canada.
 Cleaning and servicing by Amtrak in New York and by VIA in Toronto.
• Customs and immigration
 Advance manifest to border agencies.
 Trains make intermediate stops on both sides of the border precluding end point
customs and immigration inspection.
 CBSA inspection after full offload in the VIA Rail Niagara Falls Station.
 CBP inspection is currently on board the train at station with secondary screening
in Amtrak Niagara Falls station.
 CBP plans full offload at “new” station at the old Customs House now being rebuilt
in Niagara Falls NY.
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“Maple Leaf”
• Whirlpool Rapids Bridge
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Owned by Niagara Falls Bridge Commission.
CN filing for abandonment of rail rights.
Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada in negotiations with NFBC for use.
Roughly $2.0 million more needed for track replacement.
• Customs House Station expected to open January 2014
 Project is fully funded with the City of Niagara Falls as sponsor.
 Thereafter CBP full passenger and baggage offload for inspection will add
more delay.
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“Maple Leaf”
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What’s next?
• Single destination corridors
 Enough known about requirements to get started on implementation.
 Vancouver
o British Columbia to designate a preclearance host agency.
 Montreal
o Validate modified (for CBP) conceptual plan for Montreal.
o Work with Quebec to confirm a “host agency” responsible for managing
construction.
o Canada and U.S. to create a legal basis for preclearance.
o Discussions between Amtrak / Quebec / New York / Vermont / U.S. and
Canada agencies with regard to funding options.
• Multiple stop corridors
 A much more difficult challenge.
 Some possible precedents in Europe and in the Shiprider program.
 Amtrak / VIA / New York / Michigan / Ontario / CBSA / CBP to develop
and discuss options.
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