(The following story by Kytja Weir appeared on the Washington Examiner website on May 10, 2010.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A company slated to take over the operations of Virginia Railway Express has only hired one conductor or engineer away from Amtrak, according to the commuter train agency, prompting concerns among riders that the new operator will not be ready to run the trains next month.
French-owned Keolis beat out Amtrak, the current operator, for a contract to run the commuter train service that shuttles Northern Virginia residents into downtown D.C. for jobs each weekday. The switchover is slated for June 28.
But only one out of about 45 current conductors and engineers was signed up as of Friday to stay with the commuter train service under the new operator, said VRE spokesman Mark Roeber. The news has made riders nervous about the lifeline to their jobs. Those concerns emerged in online chats with service officials last week.
VRE blames Amtrak for the problem, saying the railroad company that lost its contract is now dragging its feet on letting its workers return to the property wearing a new uniform. Roeber said they have “more than double digits” of Amtrak workers who want to make the switch, but he said Amtrak officials are telling VRE they won’t be allowed back onto Amtrak property.
“Right now, feelings are what they are,” Roeber said. “I’m not saying they’re bad guys. Let’s just say they’re being very deliberate in how they’re moving forward.”
Amtrak, however, denies any obstruction and says it has not barred any employees.
“We’re not standing in the way. We’ve been helpful throughout the process. We want a smooth transition but we value our employees,” Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm said. “If Keolis’ plan was to use our employees, that’s not happening.”
Representatives from the two main unions representing the engineers and conductors did not return calls for comment, nor did Keolis.
The issue hinges on turf. Amtrak owns the last section of track entering into Union Station and runs the platforms there, so it is allowed to block other company’s employees from entering its property.
But the issue could go beyond employees. VRE needs Amtrak’s cooperation for storing trains at Union Station and other operations in the future, which Roeber called a “leverage point” that Amtrak is using. “We simply have to move through it,” Roeber said.
“At no time do we think that will be a stumbling block,” he added. “We will get employees hired. We will get them ready and rolling. They will be qualified.”