Amtrak – Page 30 – Railfanning.org

Amtrak: Top Five Priorities of Amtrak for Next Surface Transportation Bill

April 14, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON –“The development of intercity passenger rail and Amtrak’s national system should be afforded a significant role in the nation’s federal surface transportation programs,” said Joe McHugh, Amtrak vice president for government affairs and corporate communications in written testimony recently provided to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads.

Amtrak to Continue Normal Operations in the Event of a Federal Government Shutdown

April 9, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak said it will continue normal operation of its national intercity and high-speed passenger rail network in the event of a short-term federal government shutdown.

Amtrak on Track to Set Annual Ridership Record

April 9, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – March marked 17 consecutive months of year-over-year ridership growth for Amtrak, was the best March ever with more than 2.6 million passengers and puts the railroad on track to set another annual ridership record.

Amtrak Issues Updated Fleet Strategy Plan

April 2, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – With its intercity passenger rail equipment nearing an average age of 26 years, Amtrak issued an updated fleet strategy plan that analyzes the company’s need to replace its existing conventional and high-speed fleet and manage capacity to meet the forecasted growth in ridership across its national network.

Illinois High-Speed Rail Trackwork Resumes

April 1, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Ninety-six miles of tracks and a quarter-million railroad ties for future high-speed Amtrak trains will be installed in Central Illinois starting this weekend, leading to the substitution of chartered motorcoaches for some Lincoln Service trains for several weeks and the detour of the Texas Eagle between Chicago and St. Louis.

Amtrak and MTA Work Together to Make Improvements for Passengers

March 15, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) have partnered with other Washington Union Station stakeholders to install a new LED train information board in the Main Hall of Washington Union Station.

Amtrak Marks 16 Straight Months of Ridership Growth

March 15, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – February marked 16 consecutive months of Amtrak ridership growth and was the best February on record with 2,099,010 passengers.

Amtrak Says Private Involvement in Passenger Rail is not a Silver Bullet that Ensures Success

March 12, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Efforts to encourage increased private sector involvement and investment in intercity passenger rail service is a welcome development, but “private sector involvement is not the silver bullet that ensures success,” Amtrak Vice President for Policy and Development Stephen Gardner said in written testimony submitted to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.

Amtrak California Announces San Diego to Los Angeles Express Train Service

February 26, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

SAN DIEGO – Caltrans and Amtrak California launched a new northbound Pacific Surfliner express train service between San Diego and Los Angeles that will cut the travel time for the trip by 15-20 minutes.

Amtrak to Add 40 Coach Cars to Acela Express

February 25, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak plans to begin procurement in fiscal year 2012 of 40 additional Acela Express coach cars to increase seating capacity on all existing high-speed train sets to meet growing ridership demand. The plan to purchase new high-speed equipment is part of the national passenger railroad’s $2.22 billion funding request submitted to Congress. “Investing in Amtrak is investing in America’s transportation future and is an important component of any serious plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said President and CEO Joe Boardman. “It is necessary to balance the real concern over federal spending with the ongoing need to invest in the nation’s intercity