Amtrak
Man Killed After Amtrak Train Crashes Into Truck
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A man was killed after an Amtrak train crashed into his pickup truck, authorities said.
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Amtrak to Perform High-Speed Rail Improvement Study in Michigan
CHICAGO – Amtrak will perform a high-speed rail improvement study that will focus on determining what infrastructure upgrades are needed to provide 110 mph train service on the Norfolk Southern-owned rail corridor between Kalamazoo, Mich., and Detroit. “Amtrak believes 110 mph train service across Michigan is critical for the future and we’re committed to understanding what it will take to get there,” said President and CEO Joseph Boardman, noting that Amtrak’s Wolverine service provides three daily roundtrips between Chicago and Pontiac via Detroit over the corridor. Boardman said Amtrak trains currently operate at 79 mph over the Norfolk Southern line between
Amtrak
Burke Centre Now an Amtrak Stop
RICHMOND, Va. — Beginning Jan. 18, Amtrak Virginia passengers have one more option when traveling on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional service from Lynchburg as the Burke Centre station becomes an Amtrak stop. Previously the station only provided connecting service for Virginia Railway Express passengers. With this new designation, passengers may now book travel to and from Burke Centre on Amtrak.com. “By adding Burke Centre to the Amtrak system, the rail travel possibilities from central Virginia are significantly enhanced,” said Jay McArthur of Amtrak’s Policy and Development Department, noting that passengers may now book travel to and from Burke Centre to any
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Amtrak Set to Replace Niantic River Bridge
WASHINGTON— Amtrak announced today it has awarded a $104.7 million contract to Cianbro/Middlesex VII of Littleton, Mass., for the replacement of the 102-year old movable bridge over the Niantic River in East Lyme, Conn. The three year project is set to begin in April, 2010. It is being funded by $47.1 million from Amtrak’s annual capital program and $57.6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It is anticipated that this project will result in good paying jobs locally and in the region. The project involves construction of a new two-track bridge south of its present alignment. Additional work
Amtrak
Boardman: State of America’s Passenger Railroad is Strong
WASHINGTON — Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman said the state of America’s passenger railroad is strong and announced it had set a first quarter ridership record carrying nearly 7.2 million passengers during the first three months of fiscal year 2010. In his State of the Railroad remarks (attached), he also said there is reason to be optimistic about the future declaring “the days of wondering if Amtrak is going to survive another year are behind us. This year, and the years ahead are, and will be, focused on growth.” He said his optimism is driven, in part, by the
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Amtrak: Ready with Big Plans for 2010
WASHINGTON— Amtrak is ready for an exciting 2010 with major projects and new initiatives that will benefit passengers, increase service, rebuild infrastructure, and put America’s railroad at the center of intercity and high-speed passenger rail development and expansion. “Amtrak enters 2010 with a strong sense of optimism, enthusiasm and purpose,” said President and CEO Joseph Boardman. “We have an aggressive game plan to modernize, renew, and grow America’s passenger railroad,” he said, noting increasing ridership from 21.6 million in FY 2002 to 27.2 million in FY 2009, with an all-time record of 28.7 million in FY 2008. He explained that
Amtrak
Amtrak and Partners Announce Plans to Upgrade Seattle Maintenance Facility
SEATTLE – Amtrak and its partners – the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Sound Transit, Talgo and BNSF Railway announced plans to upgrade the Seattle King Street Coach Yard Maintenance Facility that supports Amtrak operations and maintenance agreements in the Pacific Northwest, including for the Empire Builder, Amtrak Cascades, Coast Starlight and Sounder commuter trains. Amtrak anticipates the contract award and start of the six-year project will be in spring 2010. In addition, it is estimated 150 construction jobs will be generated annually during the life of the project. “This investment by Amtrak demonstrates a
Amtrak
Amtrak Restores Dining Car Service on Lake Shore Limited Trains
CHICAGO — To meet passenger demand for a higher level of food service, Amtrak said it is restoring dining car service to its long-distance Lake Shore Limited route that operates from New York and Boston to Chicago. The dining car service began Dec. 14 with Train 49, originating from New York. It provides an improved culinary experience for passengers with enhanced ambience and comfort, including trained chefs who will prepare freshly made meals. In addition, the 1950s era dining cars have been refurbished to meet current safety and operating standards and feature booth style seating, large picture windows and modern
Amtrak
Provision Would Let Amtrak Passengers Carry Guns in Checked Baggage
Passengers could soon bring firearms in their packed luggage on Amtrak trains under a provision included in the Senate’s massive year-end spending bill. “This is an important victory for sportsmen and gun owners across the country, and it affirms congressional support of the Second Amendment,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a news release. “Airline passengers in our country are allowed to transport firearms in secure, checked baggage when declared during the check-in process. Law-abiding gun owners who choose to travel on America’s taxpayer-subsidized rail line should be given the same right.” The rule is the same as one
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UP: New Track Adds Capacity and Reduces Delays for Amtrak Missouri River Runner Trains
OMAHA, Neb. — Representatives of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the City of California, Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak officially opened a new $8.1 million, 9,000-foot railroad side track that adds capacity and will reduce delays on the route used by Amtrak Missouri River Runner trains between Kansas City and St. Louis. The new siding, located just west of California, Mo., helps unclog a major “bottleneck” that was caused by a 25-mile stretch of single-track and enables slower freight trains to move off the main line. This allows faster Amtrak trains to pass and is estimated to annually reduce