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>>> WELCOME TO NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES CITY SLICE.
I'M BOB BATCHER AND I'M SO EXCITED BECAUSE I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT A BRAND-NEW SERVICE RIGHT HERE IN NORFOLK, BUT ALSO WITH A
VERY SPECIAL PERSON, THELMA DRAKE.
DIRECTOR OF RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
I HAD TO READ THAT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SO MANY THINGS IN
THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF HAMPTON ROADS.
TODAY, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE THE DIRECTOR OF RAIL AND PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. CAN WE TALK TRAIN?
>> ABSOLUTELY, BOB. GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
>> NOW, I GOT TO SAY, CAN WE TALK TRAIN.
WHEN HAVE YOU NOT TALKED TRAIN IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF?
>> WELL, I TALK TRAIN ALL THE TIME.
I LEARNED TRAIN IMMEDIATELY WHEN I WENT IN AS DIRECTOR OF
DEPARTMENT OF RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
>> OKAY. OF ALL THOSE YEARS OF DRIVING TO
WASHINGTON -- >> YES.
>> -- IS THAT WHEN YOU SAID I'M GOING TO START TALKING TRAIN?
>> NO, IT WAS WHEN I WAS ASKED IF I WOULD TAKE THE POSITION AS
DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF RAIL, AND JUST WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT
WORK IN THE AGENCY AND THE TRANSIT DIVISION AS WELL ALWAYS
IN THE RAIL DIVISION. SO I LEARNED IT PRETTY QUICKLY
BECAUSE OF THAT REMARKABLE OFFER OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHAT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT TRAINS?
>> WELL, I -- >> WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK THE JOB.
>> NOT VERY MUCH. IN FACT, I QUESTIONED THAT AND,
OF COURSE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BROUGHT TO THE TABLE WAS
KNOWING LEGISLATORS IN RICHMOND, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN D.C.,
HAVING LOTS OF PEOPLE'S PHONE NUMBERS IN MY CELL PHONE, AND SO
IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING IN THE AGENCY THAT I'VE PLAYED A
ROLE THEY HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE. WHEN THEY NEEDED SOMETHING FROM
A MAYOR, I WOULD PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THAT MAYOR, SO IT
JUST MADE IT EASIER FOR US CONNECT ALL THE DOTS AND FILL IN
THE HOLES AND WHAT I REALLY DID WAS ALLOWED THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
AGENCY TO JUST PICK UP THE BALL AND RUN.
>> OKAY. BUT NOW HERE YOU ARE, YOU'RE
TOTALLY PREOCCUPIED WITH THE TRAIN.
I MEAN, WE'RE SITTING THERE WATCHING THE PARADE IN DOWNTOWN
NORFOLK AND YOU TURN AROUND AND SAY, HOW CAN WE GET THE WORD OUT
ABOUT THE TRAIN? >> YES, BECAUSE I WAS SITTING
THERE AND I SAID, OH MY GOSH, WE DON'T HAVE A FLOAT.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE A FLOAT ABOUT A TRAIN?
AND I REALIZED, BECAUSE IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD
TO GET IN THE PARADE, WE WEREN'T SURE THAT THE TRAIN COULD COME
UP IN DECEMBER. SO I WAS LIKE, OH, WELL, THAT'S
THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE A TRAIN IN THE PARADE.
>> OKAY. BECAUSE I'M GOING TO -- YEAH,
YOU REALLY MESSED THINGS UP. >> I DID.
>> BECAUSE THINGS ARE DONE BY GOVERNMENT ARE ALWAYS OVERBUDGET
AND LATE ON SCHEDULE. SO LET'S REWIND TO WHAT, JANUARY
2010? >> JANUARY OF '10, END OF
JANUARY. >> YOU ATTEND WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO
BE A SLEEPY LITTLE COMMUNITY MEETING --
>> OH, SLEEPY? A THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE IN THAT
MEETING! >> SO OTHER PEOPLE WERE
INTERESTED IN THE TRAIN. >> IT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
THE FEDERAL PROJECT INTO NORFOLK, THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL
CORRIDOR. THE OCTOBER BEFORE, THE ENTIRE
REGION CAME TOGETHER AND VOTED THAT THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL
CORRIDOR COME IN TO NORFOLK RATHER THAN INTO NEWPORT NEWS,
SO THAT WAS A REAL EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, OF THE
HAMPTON ROADS PTO, AND ALL OF OUR MAYORS TO COME TOGETHER AND
SAY THIS MAKES SENSE, WE'RE THE LARGEST SECTION OF VIRGINIA THAT
DIDN'T HAVE PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE.
SO THEY ALL UNITED ON THAT AND SO WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF
LOOKING AT THE STUDY, WHICH, BY THE WAY, JUST LAST WEEK, WE
FINALLY GOT THE RECORD OF DECISION FROM THAT WORK OF
JANUARY 2010. IT WAS SUBMITTED TO THEM IN
DECEMBER OF '10, AND WE GOT THE FINAL DOCUMENT THAT WE NEED JUST
LAST WEEK. >> WOW.
DID IT GET -- >> THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN
FEDERAL. >> DID THEY REALIZE THE TRAIN
ALREADY RAN? >> WELL, THAT'S A STATE PROJECT,
SO IT'S A DIFFERENCE IN FEDERAL AND STATE.
>> BUT KIND OF SETTING -- I MEAN, WHAT WAS -- BECAUSE WE
HAVE NOW BEEN CELEBRATING RECORD RIDERSHIP ON THE TIDE.
YOU HAD TO PUT EXTRA CARS ON THE TRAIN, SO WE HAVE THIS
TREMENDOUS SUCCESSES, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, SOME OF THESE
SUCCESSES WERE BORNE OUT OF SOME CONTROVERSY.
>> VERY MUCH SO. >> NOT THAT I WANT TO DREDGE ALL
THIS, BUT IN THIS MEETING, THERE WERE SOME NICE THINGS.
>> PEOPLE IN THIS REGION HAVE BEEN VERY UNITED ABOUT WANTING
TRAIN SERVICE AND WANTING FASTER AND FASTER TRAIN SERVICE AND
THIS IS REALLY OUR FIRST STEP AND NOW WITH THAT RECORD OF
DECISION LAST WEEK, WE ARE PART OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR,
BUT YOU HAVE TO WALK BEFORE YOU RUN AND TO HAVE TRAIN SERVICE
INTO A REGION MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TOO.
>> OKAY. NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF
THAT'S GOT TO BE DONE, SO WHY DELIVER IT 11 MONTHS EARLY?
>> WELL, WE COULD HAVE DELAYED AND HAD ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS IN
PLACE, BUT I THOUGHT THE PUBLIC WOULD BE MUCH HAPPIER LEAVING
TEN MINUTES EARLIER OUT OF NORFOLK AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE
TRAIN SERVICE THAN WAITING SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS.
SO IT'S WORKING AND PEOPLE WERE VERY PLEASED AND I'VE ACTUALLY
HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THE TRAIN WAS GOING FASTER THAN CARS IN THE
460 CORRIDOR. >> WELL, I FOUND OUT, I THINK
YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE -- NO, YOU WERE COMING BACK THE
NEXT DAY. A LITTLE INSIDE SCOOP, THEY WERE
ALL PREPARED FOR WELCOMING THE TRAIN AND SOMEBODY CAME RUNNING
INTO THE ROOM AND SAID YOU BETTER GET OUT HERE, IT'S EARLY.
THE TRAIN WAS ACTUALLY EARLY SHOWING UP THE FIRST DAY.
>> AND IT WAS EARLY THE SECOND DAY TOO.
SO THAT'S GOOD AND IT SHOWS HOW WELL OUR RAILROADS ARE WORKING
TOGETHER AND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS
TRAIN IS IN THE PAST, YOU DIDN'T GO NORTH.
YOU DIDN'T GO TO D.C., YOU DIDN'T GO TO NEW YORK, YOU
DIDN'T GO TO BOSTON, BUT THROUGH THE WORK OF BOTH NORFOLK
SOUTHERN AND CSX, THERE'S NOW A CONNECTION TRACK SOUTH OF
PETERSBURG THAT YOU RODE OVER, THAT WAS BUILT AS PART OF THIS
PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN CONNECT TO CSX AND GO NORTH.
>> NOW, LET'S TALK TURKEY ABOUT CSX AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN BECAUSE
THEY ARE COMPETITORS. >> THEY ARE COMPETITORS.
>> THEY'RE ALSO PRIMARILY FREIGHT.
>> YES. >> WHO GOT OUT OF THE PASSENGER
BUSINESS LONG, LONG TIME AGO. SO HOW DID YOU GET THEM -- HOW
DID THEY GO FROM, OOH, NO, NO, NO, TO EMBRACING IT?
>> WELL, AND I ACTUALLY REALLY THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE
THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY IN FREIGHT, AND PASSENGER REALLY
INTERFERES. THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEIR FREIGHT SCHEDULE AND WE'RE NOT
INTERFERING WITH THAT, THAT WOULD REALLY CAUSE THEM HARM.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENS AND THEY
WANT TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LOOK AT -- BECAUSE WHAT A
GREAT EVENT FOR THE HOMETOWN OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO NOW HAVE
TRAIN SERVICE. AND THAT THEY WERE SUCH A MAJOR
PART OF MAKING IT HAPPEN. >> BUT WE DON'T SEE THE DAY
WHERE THERE WILL BE 200 COAL CARS BEHIND A PASSENGER LINE?
>> NO, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THE STATE BOUGHT WHAT WE CALL
TRAIN SLOTS. >> YOU'RE GOING TO HEAD DOWN A
RAIL THAT WE HAVE TO -- YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT SOUND REALLY
SENSIBLE, RIGHT? >> YES, I WILL MAKE IT SENSIBLE.
THAT'S THE WAY MY BRAIN LIKES TO WORK, BUT WHAT WE BOUGHT FROM
NORFOLK SOUTHERN WAS THREE TRAIN SLOTS.
WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR THOSE. >> IS THAT TIME ON THE TRACK?
>> IT'S A SLOT ON THEIR TRACK TO BE ABLE TO RUN AND TO BE ABLE TO
INTERMINGLE WITH THEIR FREIGHT. SO WHAT THEY DID WITH THE
FUNDING THAT WE SPENT TO BUY THE TIME SLOT --
>> THE WE IS THE -- >> THE STATE.
THEY HAVE DONE IMPROVEMENTS ON THEIR TRACKS TO ALLOW, WE CALL
THEM CROSSOVERS, SO THAT IF YOU'RE GOING WEST ON THAT TRACK,
WHICH IS TWO TRACKS, ONE GOES EAST, ONE GOES WEST, THEY DON'T
CROSS OVER TODAY, BUT THERE'S A SIGNAL SYSTEM NOW AND CROSSOVER
IN PLACE SO A FASTER MOVING PASSENGER WILL JUST PASS THE
SLOWER MOVING COAL OR FREIGHT AND IT ALWAYS BENEFITS OUR PORT
AND THE MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT BECAUSE A FASTER MOVING FREIGHT
WILL BE ABLE TO PASS A SLOWER OR COAL.
SO IT BENEFITS ALL THE WAY AROUND AND WE LIKE THAT.
WE LIKE THAT THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE USES OF IMPROVEMENTS
THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THE STATE.
>> NOW, I KNOW THAT ON AN OPENING DAY, AND WELL DESERVED,
THE CREDIT YOU GET FOR BRINGING THIS IDEA TO LIFE, BUT CAN I BE
CANDID? IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.
>> OH, IT DOES MAKE SENSE. AND ACTUALLY, THE REACTION TO
THE TRAIN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE TRAIN SO FAR IN WHAT?
IT'S BEEN RUNNING NOW A WEEK? FOR REVENUE, IT'S DOING VERY
WELL, SO JUST SHOWS THE PENT-UP DEMAND THAT WERE HERE THAT
PEOPLE WERE VERY INTERESTED IN AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE KEEP IT IN THE FRONT OF THEIR MINDS THAT THERE'S A GREAT
OPTION TO NOT SIT IN THE TRAFFIC ON 64 AND 95, TO TELL YOU I CAME
HOME FROM D.C. LAST FRIDAY, IT TOOK ME FOUR HOURS TO GET TO
ASHLAND, AND THE WHOLE TIME I'M THINKING, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON
A TRAIN. >> YOU HAVE THAT OPTION NOW.
>> WELL, I WAS A LITTLE FURTHER WEST.
I WAS IN THE TYSON'S AREA, SO FOUR HOURS FROM TYSON'S TO
ASHLAND. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT IS THE IMPACT OF THE TRAIN ON THE CITY OF
NORFOLK, ON THE RESIDENTS, REALLY HAS MADE US EVEN MORE OF
A CONNECTION TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY IN THAT WE HAVE A
STATE-OF-THE-ART PREMIER AIRPORT.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO DRIVE, WE HAVE THE MAKINGS OF A GOOD INTERSTATE
SYSTEM THAT STARTS RIGHT HERE, AND NOW RAIL.
SO -- >> AND LIGHT RAIL.
>> THE WHOLE MOVIE ALL AT ONCE. >> WE'RE THE ONLY LIGHT RAIL
SYSTEM IN VIRGINIA AND CERTAINLY THAT CONNECTION AT HARBOR PARK,
THAT ONCE THIS IS EXTENDED TO VIRGINIA BEACH, WILL BE ONE OF
ONLY A HANDFUL OF PLACES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE -- LET'S SAY YOU
LEAVE D.C. ON A FRIDAY AND YOU CAN COME IN TO NORFOLK BY TRAIN,
GET ON THE LIGHT RAIL AND GO TO THE OCEANFRONT.
THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL OF CITIES YOU CAN DO THAT AND NOT EVEN
NEED A CAR FOR YOUR VACATION. MY HUSBAND HAS A GREAT SAYING
AND IT IS THAT HALF THE FUN OF GOING IS GETTING THERE, SO THIS
IS GREAT FUN GETTING THERE. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE
I WENT OVER THE MONDAY BEFORE IT OPENED TO THE COOKOUT THAT WE
HAD OVER AT -- >> OH, YOU WENT TO ST. JULIAN'S,
YES. >> AND IT WAS SO COOL, BECAUSE
FOR MOST PEOPLE, ME INCLUDED, WE'VE NEVER BEEN IN A DINING
CAR, SO WE WERE HAVING HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS, AND TO SEE THE
KIDS' EYES LIGHT UP BECAUSE THEY SAW A VISION OF WHAT THEY COULD
DO, THAT THERE WERE NO BOUNDARIES TO LIFE ANYMORE.
THEY COULD GO ANYWHERE. >> YES.
>> AND IT WAS SO COOL TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER, BUT
THAT REALLY HIT HOME WITH ME. WHEN YOU -- AND I LOVE FLYING
BECAUSE YOU GET THERE QUICKLY, BUT YOU'RE GETTING TO YOUR
DESTINATION, WHEREAS THE DESTINATION BEGINS AT HARBOR
PARK WITH TRAINS. >> EXACTLY, ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND I FELT THAT -- >> YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, THE SEATS
ARE BIGGER, YOU HAVE THE CAFE CAR LIKE YOU SAID TO HAVE A CAR
WHERE YOU CAN GO IN AND SIT DOWN AND EAT.
AND IN FACT, WE SOLD OUT OF FOOD VERY QUICKLY ON THAT FIRST
REVENUE TRAIN. I FELT SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
GOT ON A LITTLE FURTHER IN TOWN. THEY PROBABLY GOT ON AND THOUGHT
THEY WOULD HAVE BREAKFAST AND COFFEE AND WE HAD ALREADY BOUGHT
IT ALL OUT. >> SO THE TRAIN DOES STOP AT
STOPS ALONG THE WAY TOO? >> YES, IT DOES.
>> THAT YOU CAN GET ON AND OFF ON, RIGHT?
>> YES. THE FIRST STOP AFTER YOU LEAVE
NORFOLK IS CALLED ETTRICK, IN THE PETERSBURG AREA, AND THEN
RICHMOND-STAPLES MILL. WE DO NOT GO TO DOWNTOWN
RICHMOND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT WOULD ADD TOO MUCH TIME TO THE
TRAIN. THEN ASHLAND, SO IF YOU'VE GOT
SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, IN COLLEGE IN ASHLAND AT RANDOLPH MACON, A
GOOD WAY TO GO BACK AND FORTH. >> OH!
>> I MEAN, THINK AS A PARENT HOW MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE YOU ARE
KNOWING THAT YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT IS ON THAT TRAIN GOING
BACK AND FORTH. >> OH, YEAH, BECAUSE I MEAN I --
I'VE BEEN STUCK ON 64 AND 95. >> AND THEN AFTER ASHLAND, IT'S
FREDERICKSBURG. WE STOP AT QUANTICO MARINE BASE,
WOODBRIDGE, XAND DRY YEAH. IF YOU'RE USING THE METRO IN THE
D.C. AREA, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE METRO MAP AS WELL BECAUSE IT
MIGHT BE EASIER TO GET OFF IN ALEXANDRIA AND TAKE THE METRO.
YOU TALKED ABOUT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND THAT'S
WHERE YOU WOULD GET OFF AND GET RIGHT ON THE METRO, RIGHT THERE
BY THE TRAIN STATION, AND GO TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY OR
YOU CAN GO INTO LA FONT AND THEN INTO UNION STATION.
>> NOW, UNLIKE THE LIGHT RAIL, WHERE YOU CAN GET ON AND OFF AND
IT'S PART OF YOUR FEE, WHEN YOU BUY A TICKET, YOU BUY A TICKET
TO A DESTINATION, RIGHT? >> YOU DO.
YOU CAN'T GO FURTHER. YOU CAN GET OFF SOONER.
IF YOU BUY YOUR TICKET TO UNION STATION AND SAY I WANT TO GET
OFF HERE AT THE METRO, CERTAINLY YOU CAN DO THAT.
BUT YOU CAN'T GO BEYOND UNION STATION.
THAT CONDUCTOR IS GOING TO COME AND WANT TO SEE YOUR NEXT
TICKET. >> DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE
TO US? YOU'VE GIVEN US A WHOLE NEW
OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK. >> TO RETHINK TRANSPORTATION.
>> YEAH. >> RIGHT.
INSTEAD OF PAYING FOR THE GAS, AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT PARKING
COSTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND IN D.C.?
I MEAN, GOSH, I WOULD -- LAST TIME I WAS IN NEW YORK WAS '01
AND IT WAS $50 A DAY IN THE HOTEL.
>> IT'S CRAZY. >> D.C., LAST I PAID WAS 25, BUT
25, $35 A DAY. >> NOW, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY,
BUT IT'S FOUR, FOUR AND A HALF HOURS TO D.C.
>> BUT IF YOU WERE DRIVING TO D.C. TO GET TO A MORNING
MEETING, YOU'D HAVE TO LEAVE FIVE, SIX HOURS TO GET THERE AND
MAKE SURE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON 95.
>> IT'S THE NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> IF I DRIVE AND HAVE TO DRIVE UP BECAUSE OF TIMES OR
SOMETHING, WHAT I'M DOING, I'M ALWAYS EITHER AN HOUR EARLY OR
I'M LATE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ANTICIPATE THE TRAFFIC.
>> NOW, TICKETING. >> YES.
>> IT'S STATE OF THE ART. >> IT'S NOW E TICKET AND THAT'S
NEW FROM JUST THIS SUMMER. IT USED TO BE THAT YOU GOT
SOMETHING YOU TOOK TO THE STATION AND IT READ IT AND GAVE
YOU A TICKET. TODAY, IT'S JUST LIKE THE
AIRLINE. WHEN YOU GO ONLINE, YOU BOOK
YOUR TICKET, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE OPTIONS OF WHERE YOU WANT TO GO,
AND WHAT'S NICE FOR NORFOLK IS IT GIVES YOU THE OPTIONS OF
USING NEWPORT NEWS SERVICE. THERE'S TWO ROUND TRIPS A DAY
FROM NEWPORT NEWS, BUT THE AMTRAK BUS STILL WILL COME TO
HARBOR PARK AND TO VIRGINIA BEACH.
SO YOU COULD LEAVE EARLY IN THE MORNING IF YOU WANTED ON NORFOLK
SERVICE, LEAVING YOUR CAR AT HARBOR PARK, AND IT MIGHT BE
MORE CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO COME BACK ON ONE OF THE NEWPORT NEWS
SERVICES. SO YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THAT ON
THE AMTRAK WEBSITE AND THEN YOU COME ON THE AMTRAK BUS BACK TO
HARBOR PARK. >> WOW.
>> SO IT JUST GIVES US THREE SERVICES RIGHT AWAY WHILE WE
WORK TOWARDS BRINGING UP THOSE OTHER TWO TRAINS.
>> I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE ALMOST HANDING OUT NEWSPAPERS
WITH THE PILOT IN THE FIRST DAY OF SERVICE.
>> I'VE BEEN DOING BROCHURES EVERYWHERE I'VE BEEN.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU NORMALLY HAVE A BOX OF
BROCHURES. >> YES, LEAVING THEM ON
COUNTERS. >> YOU'RE NOT STAMPING TICKETS,
ARE YOU, WHEN YOU GET ON THE TRAIN?
>> NO, NOT DOING ANY OF THAT. AMTRAK SELLS THE TICKETS, THEY
SET THE PRICING, ALL OF THAT, BUT WE WERE REALLY GRATEFUL TO
THEM THAT IN THE MIDST OF THIS, THEY HEARD WHAT WE SAID AND THAT
PEOPLE WERE SAYING, CAN'T WE HAVE A SPECIAL DEAL, THIS IS NEW
SERVICE. AND THEY DID THAT FOR US.
NOW, THAT EXPIRED MONDAY. YOU HAD TO HAVE BOUGHT YOUR --
BOOKED YOUR TICKET BY MONDAY AND TRAVELED DURING THE MONTH OF
DECEMBER, BUT WATCH FOR TICKET SALES.
THAT HAPPENS TOO. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THIS IS
NOT A GOVERNMENT-RUN OPERATION. I MEAN, THIS IS
BUSINESS-ORIENTED, SO THE REVENUE IS BASED ON DEMAND,
RIGHT? AND SO THERE WILL BE
FLUCTUATIONS. >> SHARE BOX IS WHAT -- WHAT WE
REALLY LOOK AT IS HOW MUCH ARE WE GENERATING FROM THAT TRAIN
AND THE OTHER VIRGINIA SERVICE, CALLED AMTRAK VIRGINIA, SO IF
YOU EVER MEANS THAT, IT MEANS THIS IS THE TRAIN RUN BY
VIRGINIA, VIRGINIA PAYS THE OPERATING COSTS AND THE CAPITAL
TO BRING IT UP. THE LYNCHBURG SERVICE WHICH
STARTED IN OCTOBER OF '09 HAS ALWAYS PAID FOR ITSELF.
WE DO NOT SUBSIDIZE PASSENGER RAIL IN VIRGINIA, AND THE
PROJECTIONS WERE NORFOLK WOULD RUN AS WELL, WHICH RIGHT OUT OF
THE BOX, IT APPEARS TO BE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS RUNS
VERY, VERY WELL AND THAT IT PAYS FOR ITSELF.
NOW, THE THING -- ALL THE RULES CHANGE IN OCTOBER OF '13 BECAUSE
THERE ARE FEDERAL CHANGES COMING AND THAT'S WHY YOU WILL HEAR US
TALK ABOUT NEEDING MONEY TO SUBSIDIZE PASSENGER RAIL.
I KEEP ASKING CONGRESS TO GIVE ME A COUPLE MORE YEARS TO PUT A
LITTLE MORE MONEY IN THE BANK. WE ACTUALLY HAVE MONEY IN THE
BANK. WE HAVE NOT ONLY PAID, BUT WE'VE
ACTUALLY GOT A POT OF MONEY IN THE BANK.
>> I'M GOING TO NEED WITH THE VIEWERS TO GO TO AMTRAK
VIRGINIA. -- >> IT'S WWW.AMTRAK.COM AND VERY
USER FRIENDLY, JUST LIKE AN AIRLINE.
YOU CAN PUT IN WHERE YOU WANT TO LEAVE FROM, WHERE YOU WANT TO GO
TO, AND IT WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, OR IF YOU WOULD
RATHER CALL, IT'S 1-800-USA RAIL.
>> I'M GOING TO NEED WITH THE VIEWER TO GO THERE SO YOU CAN
RELAX. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'M NOT GOING TO RELAX UNTIL IT REALLY SHOWS -- THE SAME THING
WITH LYNCHBURG. WE THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE THAT
IT RAN SO WELL, AND I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE ASSEMBLY AND GOT
PERMISSION TO USE SOME FUNDING BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GOING TO
NEED IT. I'VE NEVER HAD TO TOUCH IT.
>> COOL. >> ISN'T THAT COOL?
AND I WANT TO SEE THAT FROM NORFOLK.
>> IT JUST MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. >> THAT HELPS US BRING UP TRAINS
TWO AND THREE TOO THAT WE CAN SHOW THE DEMAND AND THE VALUE OF
THE INVESTMENT. >> WHO MENTIONED THAT FIRST, YOU
OR THE MAYOR? >> WE PROBABLY BOTH MENTIONED
IT. >> I WANT TO CHANGE COURSE A
LITTLE BIT HERE. LET ME GO BACK TO 19 -- I DON'T
KNOW, 1985, 1990 MAYBE, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THELMA DRAKE'S LIFE?
>> I WAS JUST A VERY ACTIVE REALTOR.
>> IN OCEAN VIEW, RIGHT? >> IN OCEAN VIEW, BUT CERTAINLY
WORKED THE WHOLE SOUTHSIDE MARK BECAUSE WHEN SOMEONE CAME NEW TO
THE AREA, I WANTED THEM TO HAVE THE BEST OPTIONS TO MAKE THE
BEST CHOICE FOR THEIR FAMILY, BUT THEY CERTAINLY GOT TO SEE
NORFOLK AS WELL AS EVERYWHERE ELSE.
>> OKAY. SO MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE
SATISFIED BEING A SUCCESSFUL REALTOR, MOM, RIGHT?
>> YES, I HAVE TWO GROWN CHILDREN.
>> AND YOU DIDN'T THINK ABOUT TRAINS BACK THEN.
>> NO. >> YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT WHAT?
>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE HAVE THE AMERICAN DREAM
OF OWNING THEIR OWN HOME AND I WILL TELL YOU, SOME PEOPLE WERE
GEARED FOR IT, SOME PEOPLE WEREN'T.
SOME PEOPLE HAD TO WORK FOR A COUPLE YEARS BEFORE THEY COULD
DO IT, AND THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST REWARDING WHEN THEY WOULD
CALL UP AND SAY I DID EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND I'M READY TO BUY A
HOUSE. >> WHEN DID YOU SIT DOWN AND
SAY, I THINK I'LL BE A STATE DELEGATE?
>> I NEVER SAID THAT. IN FACT, WHAT HAPPENED, AND THIS
IS PROBABLY MY MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION, HOW DID THAT
HAPPEN. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NORFOLK
REPUBLICAN PARTY CALLED ME IN 1993 AND ASKED ME TO RUN FOR THE
HOUSE OF DELEGATES AND MY ANSWER WAS NO, I DON'T DO THAT.
>> SO WHAT HAPPENED? >> I HELP OTHER PEOPLE DO THAT.
I'D ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALWAYS BEEN
INVOLVED POLITICALLY. I JUST FELT WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY AS CITIZENS TO DO THOSE THINGS.
SO IT TOOK ME A MONTH, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND THERE WERE
A COUPLE THINGS THAT JUST REALLY STOOD OUT.
ONE, EVERYDAY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT.
AND SECOND, THAT IF I DIDN'T DO IT, I'D ALWAYS FEEL THERE WAS
SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT I DIDN'T DO.
SO I DID IT. WE JUMPED IN, VERY LATE IN THE
RACE BECAUSE I TOOK THAT WHOLE 30 DAYS TO COME TO THAT
CONCLUSION. WE WERE JUST A GROUP OF
VOLUNTEERS, WE RAISED $30,000, AND CAME VERY CLOSE BUT DID NOT
WIN. AND THEN CONSCIOUSLY MADE THE
DECISION TO RUN IN 1995 AND THAT IS THE YEAR THAT I WON AND
SERVED IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES UNTIL I GOT ANOTHER PHONE CALL.
>> OKAY, BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE SITTING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE AND
SAID I THINK I'LL RUN FOR CONGRESS?
>> WELL, I GOT ANOTHER PHONE CALL, BUT THIS TIME THEY SAID
WILL YOU COME AND TALK TO US? THEY DIDN'T GO OVER IT OVER THE
PHONE. I SAID, SURE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FOLKS THAT CALLED ME, LEO WARDRUFF
BEING ONE OF THEM, SO I WENT OUT AND TALKED TO THEM, AND HE TOLD
ME THE CURRENT CONGRESSMAN WAS NOT GOING TO SEEK RE-ELECTION
AND WOULD I CONSIDER RUNNING, AND I SAID, WELL, YOU HAVE TO
LET ME TALK TO TED. SO I DID CALL BACK THAT EVENING.
WE FIGURED -- >> TED BEING?
TED BEING? >> MY HUSBAND TED, ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHAT A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS AND
IT TURNS OUT, I WAS THE 203rd WOMAN TO SERVE IN THE U.S.
CONGRESS. >> AND STUCK ON 95 AND 64 A LOT.
>> YES, AND I'LL TELL YOU, MY BEST TIME WAS 3 1/2 HOURS, MY
WORTH WAS 11, AND MY AVERAGE WAS 5 TO 7, SO YOUR FOLKS THAT THINK
4 1/2 IS TOO MUCH TIME ON A TRAIN, IT COULD BE 5 TO 7.
>> SO THIS WHOLE TRAIN THING IS PERSONAL TO YOU.
>> IT IS, AND TED USED TO ALWAYS ENCOURAGE ME TO GO TO NEWPORT
NEWS AND TAKE THAT TRAIN, BUT I THOUGHT BY THE TIME I DRIVE TO
NEWPORT NEWS AND BY THE TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE BACK, I'LL JUST
KEEP DRIVING. AIRING CANTOR USED TO TELL ME --
ERIC CANTOR USED TO TELL MY I SHOULD GO TO RICHMOND-STAPLES
MILL AND I THOUGHT, WHAT'S THE POINT, I'M HALFWAY THERE.
SO HAD THE TRAIN BEEN IN PLACE WHEN I SERVED IN CONGRESS,
ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD HAVE USED IT.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL CLOSE WITH SOMETHING.
TRAIN'S IN PLACE NOW. >> TRAIN'S IN PLACE, SO WE'RE
HOPING LOTS OF PEOPLE TAKE IT. >> THANKS A LOT FOR EVERYTHING
THAT YOU'VE DONE. >> THANKS, BOB.
>> NOT JUST WITH THE TRAIN AND SELLING TICKETS, BUT ALSO WITH
YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR REGION AND OUR COUNTRY.
>> WELL, BOB, IT'S WITH THE HELP OF A LOT OF GREAT PARTNERS.
YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT NORFOLK SOUTHERN AND CSX.
THE CITY OF NORFOLK, I WOULD CALL THEM UP AND SAY THIS IS
WHAT I NEED AND THEY WOULD DO IT IMMEDIATELY, SO IT JUST KEPT
MOVING FORWARD AND CERTAINLY AMTRAK AND THEN THE GREAT STAFF
AT THE RPT. >> YOU KNOW NORFOLK IS PICKING
UP MORE VISIONARY IDEAS ON TRANSPORTATION.
>> WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK TO THEM. WE LIKE VISIONARY IDEAS.
>> WE'LL TALK WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU, BOB.
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