Amtrak – Page 42 – Railfanning.org

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

Amtrak replacing pre-WW II electrical equipment to keep trains on the move

October 16, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is using $25 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to replace transformers and other electrical equipment—some of which date to before World War II— at 40 substations that deliver the power needed to propel passenger trains on the electrified tracks between New York and Washington, D.C. “Amtrak is re-energizing the Northeast Corridor tracks to make certain there is a reliable and uninterrupted flow of electricity to keep trains and passengers on the move,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, noting that this week a transformer in operation since 1934 is being

Amtrak’s ‘Great Dome’ Car Returning to Adirondack Service During Fall Foliage Season

September 18, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Passengers riding Amtrak’s Adirondack train will once again have the unique opportunity to experience the spectacular view of New York State’s fall foliage season when the historic “Great Dome” rail car makes a special six-week return appearance from October 1 through November 10. With its partners the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the National Park Service Trails & Rails program, Amtrak worked cooperatively to bring its only dome car back to upstate New York. The car features an upper level with windows on all sides as well as overhead to provide passengers with panoramic

Amtrak, TSA and Local Law Enforcement Deploy Across Northeast Corridor Rail Stations

September 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak Police, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel and law enforcement officers from more than 100 federal, state, local, rail and transit police agencies were deployed at approximately 150 passenger rail stations throughout the Northeast Corridor region in an exercise of expanded counterterrorism and incident response capabilities. The deployment happened Sept. 9. The multi-force security surge across 13 states and Washington, DC, is NOT in response to any particular threat or incident. Rather, today’s deployment is part of Operation ALERTS (Allied Law Enforcement for Rail and Transit Security), a coordinated effort involving activities such as heightened station patrols, increased

Amtrak and Capitol Corridor Support California Rail Safety Month

September 4, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND, Calif. — Amtrak and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) are joining efforts during September to raise public awareness about highway-rail grade crossing safety and trespass prevention as part of California’s first ever “Rail Safety Month.” Working with California Operation Lifesaver, freight and passenger railroads and other rail safety partners, Amtrak will participate in “Officer on the Train” events in cities throughout the state during the month of September. The key element of this program is to have local law enforcement officers ride in the locomotive to witness what train engineers observe daily — motorists driving illegally through

Amtrak and Student Conservation Association Partner to Preserve Yosemite National Park

August 26, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND, Calif. — Amtrak’s partnership this summer with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) is enabling high school and college age students from around the country to gain real, hands-on experience preserving Yosemite National Park, one of Amtrak’s most popular destinations. “Amtrak is a great way to travel to help preserve the environment and it is important to us to support efforts like SCA to help keep Yosemite National Park in top condition,” said Carol Shannon, Amtrak Director of West Marketing, adding each year thousands of visitors take the Amtrak San Joaquin trains to Yosemite via connecting motor coach service from

Amtrak Extends Fare Promotion on Northeast Regional Service

August 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak continues to make travel in the Northeast affordable by extending through December 16 its fare promotion which offers up to 25 percent off the lowest published coach fare on Northeast Regional service between Washington, New York and Boston. Sample one-way fares include $49 between either Washington and New York or New York and Boston. “Customer response to these new, low fares has been strong,” says Emmett Fremaux, Amtrak’s Vice President of Marketing and Product Management. “Amtrak is pleased to be able to extend this exceptional offer to continue to make travel in the northeast more affordable.” In

Second Amtrak Cascades Train between Seattle and Vancouver to Begin Service Aug. 19

August 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Province of British Columbia, and Amtrak announced that the long awaited second daily Amtrak Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. will begin service on Wednesday, August 19, 2009. The second train is an extension of the existing service between Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C. “Amtrak typically needs 90 days to start up service, so getting the second roundtrip train to BC going so quickly is a major accomplishment for everyone involved,” said Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary. “The August launch of the new service

Amtrak Returns to Service the First Superliner Passenger Car Restored With Recovery Funds

August 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

BEECH GROVE, Ind. — Amtrak unveiled the first of 21 passenger railcars to be removed from storage, restored to good condition, and returned to service as part of a $19.3 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded program at the Amtrak Beech Grove (Ind.) maintenance facility that will add seating capacity primarily to its trains operating on routes in the Midwest and West. “Restoring and returning passenger railcars to service is another concrete example of how Amtrak is rebuilding and renewing the nation’s railroad,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, noting that many other infrastructure improvement projects including

Amtrak Celebrates 35th Anniversary of Adirondack Service

August 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Amtrak along with its partners, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the National Park Service Trails and Rails program, is commemorating the 35th anniversary of the operation of the historic Adirondack service with a special event at the Rensselaer station in Albany, N.Y., on Aug. 5. “The Adirondack represents rail travel’s connection to the past as well as its importance as a vital transportation alternative now and for the future,” said Tom Connolly Amtrak’s District Superintendent, noting that the Adirondack remains a popular route carrying over 112,000 passengers during FY08, representing an 11 percent