Amtrak – Page 39 – Railfanning.org

Amtrak: New Surface Transporation Bill Needs to be ‘Revolutionary’

April 21, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Stressing that the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill should be “revolutionary, not evolutionary” when it comes to federal investment in intercity passenger rail, Amtrak testified before a Congressional field hearing in Chicago that “[t]he need for reliable, multiyear funding is our biggest policy challenge.”

Amtrak Heartland Flyer Tests Cleaner, Renewable Fuel for Passenger Trains

April 21, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH – Amtrak and the Oklahoma and Texas state transportation departments today announced the nation’s first-ever test of a cleaner and renewable biodiesel fuel blend to power a daily interstate passenger train between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the use of foreign oil. Amtrak received a $274,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to carry out the research project in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (Okla. DOT) on the daily Heartland Flyer train operated by Amtrak with state support from both Oklahoma and Texas. The biodiesel blend includes

Amtrak Missouri River Runner Schedule Changes Due to Union Pacific Track Work

April 20, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

JEFFERSON CITY – Leaving a little earlier in the morning or a little later in the afternoon will help ensure a punctual, uninterrupted ride for Amtrak Missouri River Runner passengers through the middle of June. Maintenance work on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks near Sedalia is causing Amtrak to temporarily adjust its schedules from April 25 to June 16.

Amtrak: Positive Train Control on the Fast Track

April 6, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is moving to expand and build out its existing and proven train collision prevention safety technology—commonly known as Positive Train Control (PTC) — to cover all of the tracks it owns along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and on its Michigan Line by the end of 2012, three years ahead of a federal deadline.

Taye Diggs Joins Amtrak to Celebrate National Train Day

April 1, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Actor and avid train fan Taye Diggs will join Amtrak to kick-off the third annual National Train Day.

Amtrak Reorganizing to Advance High-Speed Rail in America

March 24, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak announced it is reorganizing and establishing a new department to pursue opportunities to develop new intercity high-speed rail service in select corridors around the country and to plan for major improvements on the Northeast Corridor, including determining the feasibility of increasing top speeds up to 220 mph.

Amtrak Requests Funds to Replace Aging Fleet and Support Domestic Rail Manufacturing

March 24, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee , Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman asked Congress to address the railroad’s “most urgent unfunded need”: the replacement, expansion and modernization of an aging fleet of locomotives and passenger rail cars.

Amtrak Names Patrick Merrill Assistant Vice President, Policy and Development – West

March 24, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Amtrak announced the appointment of Patrick Merrill to the position of Assistant Vice President, Policy and Development – West.

Alternatives for New Passenger Rail Service in Kansas Outlined

March 12, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Four alternatives for state-sponsored passenger rail service between Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Fort Worth are detailed in a study released by Amtrak and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

Boardman: ‘Amtrak Long-distance Trains are Running Strong’

March 9, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak’s long-distance trains are attracting more passengers as Amtrak continues to implement its comprehensive and multi-year Route Performance Improvement (RPI) program, officials said. “Amtrak long-distance trains are running strong,” President and CEO Joseph Boardman said. “We are making changes, improving our service and passengers are responding favorably.” Boardman noted total ridership on Amtrak’s 15 long-distance trains reached nearly 4.2 million in fiscal year 2009, an increase of 13 percent from fiscal year 2006. During the same period, the on-time performance of long-distance trains improved from 30 percent to 75 percent contributing to higher customer satisfaction scores, increasing from