Amtrak

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Amtrak

Amtrak Illinois Ridership Up 20 Percent Since 2007

November 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
CHICAGO – Amtrak trains operated under a contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation drew more than 1.8 million passengers to state-supported routes in Fiscal Year 2009. Overall ridership is up slightly from 2008 and rose by 20 percent from 2007. Ridership on the Chicago-Bloomington/Normal-Springfield-St. Louis Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle increased six percent from FY 2009 and 21 percent from FY 2007. “In a difficult year for the economy – particularly in the travel industry – Amtrak Illinois ridership has remained strong,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph H. Boardman. The Illinois DOT plans to take the 284-mile Chicago-St.
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Amtrak to Begin Major Bridge Project in New York

November 19, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEW YORK – Amtrak is making major investments in the New York area to bring its bridges, tracks and other infrastructure up to a state of good repair, increase track speeds and improve operations, including a soon to start $10 million project to rehabilitate the Pelham Bay Bridge located along the Northeast Corridor. “Amtrak is committed to maintaining and improving our infrastructure in New York to ensure the safety of passengers and support efficient train operations,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, noting a specific focus on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor between New York and Boston and on
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Amtrak Cascades Adding New Stop

November 17, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
SEATTLE – For the first time in 38 years, passenger rail service is returning to the community of Stanwood/Camano Island with daily Amtrak Cascades train service making two morning and two evening stops at a new rail station beginning the morning of Nov. 21. “Amtrak is delighted to stop in Stanwood and provide residents with direct access to train travel and connections to our national network,” said Kurt Laird, Amtrak District Superintendent. “The opening of this new station could not come at a better time with the 2010 Olympics right around the corner,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “Not
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Amtrak Gears Up for Thanksgiving Travel

November 17, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – Anticipating its busiest travel week of the year, Amtrak is planning ahead for the Thanksgiving holiday and encouraging passengers to do the same. During the week, Amtrak will operate every available car and is scheduling extra trains to accommodate the extra passengers. On what is anticipated to be the heaviest single travel day of the year for Amtrak — the Wednesday before Thanksgiving — the railroad expects ridership to reach as many as 125,000 passengers system-wide – a 70 percent increase over the 74,000 passengers Amtrak carried on an average Wednesday last year. In preparation for the holiday
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Amtrak

Amtrak Appoints New Inspector General

November 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has appointed a new Inspector General, following a three month comprehensive national search. Theodore “Ted” Alves recently retired from 35 years of federal service, including serving as the Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from 2006 to 2009 where he was responsible for supervising audits and investigations of federal transportation agencies. His start date is still being determined. “Ted Alves is highly respected in the inspector general community and will provide the leadership, integrity, independence and objectivity required for the position,” Amtrak Chairman Thomas Carper said. From 2001 to 2006, Alves held three
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Study: Nearly all of Amtrak’s Nationwide Routes Lost Money

October 28, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTA — Nearly all of Amtrak’s 44 nationwide routes lost money last fiscal year, a new study suggests. A study from Pew Charitable Trusts’s Subsidyscope project shows that 41 of the 44 nationwide routes were not profitable, averaging a roughly $32 loss per passenger. During the fiscal year, Amtrak received $1.3 billion from taxpayers, according to Pew. The New Orleans-to-Los Angeles Sunset Limited carried 72,000 passengers during the year and cost $462 per passenger to operate. “The nation’s railways are an important mode of transport for many Americans, whether it’s for commuting to work or seeing the country,” Marcus Peacock,
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Amtrak Reaches Understanding With Metrolink to Operate Los Angeles Area Commuter Trains

October 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON – Amtrak and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) are moving forward today with a Memorandum of Understanding for Amtrak to provide the train and engine crews needed to operate Metrolink commuter trains on all seven of its lines in the Los Angeles area beginning July 1, 2010. “Amtrak and its employees appreciate the confidence and trust Metrolink has placed in us to provide their passengers the highest standards of safety, efficiency and reliability,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph H. Boardman, adding the commuter rail system on average operates 149 trains and carries 43,000 riders every weekday.
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More people riding the rails

October 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTA – Amtrak in 2009 saw its second-highest ridership since its inception 38 years ago, the railroad announced. During Fiscal Year 2009, which ended Sept. 30, nearly 27.2 million people rode Amtrak. Fiscal Year 2008 still remains a record for the railroad, with 28.7 million riding the rails, however, 2009’s numbers represented a ridership increase of 5.1 percent over 2007. “In a difficult year for the economy – particularly in the travel industry – Amtrak ridership has remained strong albeit with some regional variation,” Amtrak President and CEO Joseph H. Boardman said in a news release. “In particular, reduced business