Amtrak

WASHINGTON – Amtrak and representatives of nine labor organizations today signed an agreement, avoiding a strike that would have brought to a halt the nation’s passenger railroad and dozens of other railroads that use Amtrak’s rail network. The nine unions were legally free to strike starting Jan. 30, 2008. The National Mediation Board had released the parties from mediation on Nov. 1, and a Presidential Emergency Board handed down recommended settlement terms Dec. 30. Details of the tentative pact were not immediately released to the public. The agreement will be sent to the affected union members for their ratification vote

WASHINGTON — President Bush has received the report and recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board and is urging both Amtrak and several unions “to work in good faith to resolve their dispute, taking into account the Emergency Board’s recommendations.” In November, Bush established a Presidential Emergency Board, hoping to keep the employees of nine Amtrak unions from striking. The unions represent more than 6,000 of Amtrak’s non-operating employees who have been working on contracts that expired in 1999. “The President urges the parties to continue to work in good faith to resolve their dispute, taking into account the Emergency Board’s

CHICAGO – Amtrak has completed a report requested by the Illinois Department of Transportation (Ill. DOT) that evaluates possible passenger train routes between Illinois Quad Cities (Moline-Rock Island) and Chicago. This “Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service, Quad Cities-Chicago” is also in response to a January 2007 town meeting in Rock Island, hosted by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who was joined by Amtrak and Ill. DOT representatives, labor officials and leaders from Illinois and Iowa. In the report, the approximate cost of upgrading the railroad infrastructure to accommodate passenger train speeds is $14-to-23 million, over the shortest, fastest and

WASHINGTON – Nearly all of the national network of Amtrak overnight trains offer a new and improved menu in the Dining Cars, effective this month. This includes the return of such items as prepared-to-order steaks, wine by the glass and premium ice cream, as well as improved variety and quality of menu options at each meal. The new menu was developed by Amtrak Executive Chefs with input from passengers, employees and others. Amtrak rotates its menu options with three different cycles that vary depending on direction of travel and particular route. “We are confident that these new menus will make the dining

WASHINGTON – Amtrak passengers can now travel even greener. Through a new partnership between the railroad and Carbonfund.org, passengers can offset the carbon emissions footprint generated by their individual rail travel by making a contribution to Carbonfund.org. Selections start at only $3.00, a contribution which offsets 2,500 miles of Amtrak travel, or almost three round trips between Washington and Boston. All contributions are tax deductible and may be made online. “By choosing to travel by rail, Amtrak passengers are already a step ahead because the carbon footprint generated by their trip is smaller than that of most other modes of transportation,”

NEW YORK — Amtrak and the state of New York have agreed to settle a federal lawsuit over their plan to run high-speed trains between New York City and Albany, the state’s capitol. Under the terms of the settlement, Amtrak will pay New York state $20 million. In addition, New York and Amtrak will jointly invest $10 million in infrastructure improvement projects on the so-called Albany to New York City Empire Corridor, which was approved by the New York State Senate High-Speed Rail Task Force. “This settlement now allows both Amtrak and the State of New York to concentrate on