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S. Florida Amtrak service sliced (The following report by Michael Turnbell appeared on the Sun-Sentinel website on November 5.) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Amtrak cut its train schedule in South Florida by a third this week after discontinuing its contract to deliver U.S. Postal Service bulk mail to focus instead on carrying passengers. Amtrak officials say the cutbacks are part of a restructuring that will provide the state with more convenient schedules and improved service. The changes leave South Florida with two daily roundtrip Amtrak trains instead of three. Amtrak's Palmetto train from New York, which ran all the way to Miami until Monday, now ends in Savannah, Ga. Ross Capon, executive director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, said he's unhappy about the loss of service but added that the schedule changes could attract new riders in South Florida because of better arrival and departure times. "We kind of took the view that the good points outweigh the bad. "The changes represent a reasonable effort to make the best use of their resources," Capon said. "I'm sure the scheduled times in Miami are going to be a lot more attractive than the old ones." Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said the Silver Star train has been rerouted through Tampa to replace the Palmetto train. Sleeping and dining cars have also been added to the Tampa route. The Silver Star's new timetable trims about one hour from its 29-hour Florida-New York schedule. The Silver Star now leaves New York at 10 a.m. and arrives in Miami at 4:20 p.m. the next day. Another train leaves Miami at 12:20 p.m. and arrives in New York at 7:02 p.m. the next day. The Silver Meteor now leaves New York at 2:15 p.m. and arrives in Miami at 5:15 p.m. the next day. A second train leaves Miami at 10:35 a.m. and arrives in New York at 1:22 p.m. the next day, except Friday and Saturday, when trains arrive at 1:33 p.m. Amtrak ridership at the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach stations combined was down about 11 percent in fiscal 2003 compared with 2000. Ridership has rebounded since Sept. 11, 2001, and could come close to equaling or surpassing numbers reached in 2001 by the end of the year. Friday, November 05, 2004 © 1997-2010 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

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