Amtrak – Page 31 – Railfanning.org

Amtrak Awarded $450 Million to Upgrade New York-Washington High-Speed Rail Service

May 10, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Amtrak $450 million in funding to upgrade its rail infrastructure to support more frequent and faster high-speed rail service, and to improve reliability of current service between New York and Washington.

Amtrak Celebrates 40 Years of Serving America

May 4, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Forty years ago, on May 1, 1971, Amtrak operated its first intercity passenger train.

Amtrak Installing New Heavy Steel Fence Along High-Speed Tracks in Middle River, Md.

April 26, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WILMINGTON, Del. – Amtrak is installing a heavy steel, 8-foot high, high security fence along a portion of its high-speed tracks in Middle River, Maryland to deter access to the railroad.

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.