Amtrak – Page 43 – Railfanning.org

Amtrak Pere Marquette 25th Anniversary

August 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

HOLLAND, Mich. – Michigan communities along the Grand Rapids – Chicago route of the state-supported Amtrak Pere Marquette train will celebrate the 25th anniversary of passenger rail service on Aug. 5 and Amtrak is offering a special anniversary fare promotion this week to recognize the Silver Anniversary of the service. To commemorate the milestone, Amtrak is promoting the event with the special use of Superliner train equipment, including a double-decker lounge car and coaches. Every westbound passenger on Aug. 5 will receive a gift bag containing West Michigan products. In addition, ceremonies organized with the Michigan Department of Transportation and

Amtrak and First Class Motorcycle Tours Team Up for Two Auto Train Vacation Packages

July 31, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak and First Class Motorcycle Tours have teamed up to offer two new vacation packages which include first-class accommodations on Amtrak’s Auto Train that allows motorcycle riders to travel with their bikes on board the train between Lorton, Va., south of Washington, DC and Sanford, Fla., just outside of Orlando. The motorcycles are secured in specially-designed carriers and travel in the train’s auto carriers while tour participants travel on the train in private roomette sleeping accommodations. All meals on board the train are included in the price of the tour. Both the northbound and southbound Auto Trains depart

Amtrak to Report Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Independent Review to Assess Carbon Footprint

July 31, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Furthering its commitment to be a transportation leader on environmental issues, Amtrak is joining efforts to voluntarily and publicly report its greenhouse gas emissions and undergo an independent assessment of its programs to reduce its carbon footprint. “Putting our emissions data out in the open for all to see and getting an outside review of our environmental programs will help make Amtrak a greener railroad,” said Amtrak president and CEO Joseph Boardman. Boardman announced that Amtrak is a new member of The Climate Registry, a non-profit organization founded to set consistent and transparent standards for businesses and governments

Amtrak Unveils First ARRA Funded Rail Car to be Restored and Returned to Service

July 16, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak unveiled the first of 81 passenger rail cars to be removed from storage, restored to good condition, and returned to service as part of a program to add seating capacity to trains across its national system using funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman. The ARRA is better known as the “bailout” by most Americans. “The real story today is about people — the Amtrak passengers who will ride in these rehabilitated cars and the workers who are doing a great job bringing them back to life,”

Three Killed After Amtrak Train Strikes Car

July 15, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OTTAWA, Ill. — Three people were killed when an Amtrak train slammed into their car at a grade crossing. About 3 p.m. Monday (July 13), the California Zephyr struck the car, which authorities say did not stop at the rural grade crossing. A total of five people were in the car at the time of the crash; at least one of the other two people was transported to a nearby hospital. The crash comes less than a week after five people were killed in Michigan when they drove around the gates of a grade crossing and their car was struck

Five Killed at Mich. Grade Crossing

July 9, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Five people were killed today when they drove around the gates of a grade crossing and their car was struck by an approaching Amtrak train, police said. “It looks like they probably did go around the arm,” The Associated Press quoted Sgt. Mark Gajeski as saying. “They went around the gate.” All five victims are believed to be teenagers. According to published reports, the crossing’s gate and flashing lights appeared to be working at the time of the wreck. “There is every indication the train crew was doing exactly what it should have been doing and

Lancaster Train Station Renovation Begins

July 8, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

LANCASTER, Penn. — Keystone Corridor passengers who use the Lancaster train station will find it much improved and more accessible and comfortable as a result of a major $12 million renovation project now underway. Representatives from the City of Lancaster, Lancaster County, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Amtrak celebrated the start of the 18-month state and county-led project which has been in development for the past 10 years. The Lancaster station is served by Amtrak’s state-supported Keystone and Pennsylvanian routes. The project includes a complete rehabilitation of the station’s interior and exterior; a new heating, ventilation and air

Amtrak Adjusts Acela Express and Northeast Regional Schedules to Accommodate Track Work

July 8, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — As Amtrak continues a number of track work projects to improve service in the Northeast, Acela Express and Northeast Regional (Washington to New York to Boston) passengers will see additional, temporary schedule changes beginning July 13. In addition, Amtrak is adding two new Acela Express departures to its regular Sunday schedule between New York and Boston, starting July 19. The track work projects will improve the reliability of train service in the Northeast and will provide passengers with a more comfortable ride. To perform the necessary work, the number of available tracks will be reduced and trains will

Amtrak Heartland Flyer 10th Anniversary

June 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH – Communities along the Oklahoma City-Fort Worth route of the state-supported Amtrak Heartland Flyer will celebrate the 10th anniversary of daily passenger rail service on June 12 and 13 and Amtrak is offering a special anniversary fare promotion. “The Heartland Flyer achieves its high marks in ridership due to the public’s love for the train and the continued support from Governor Brad Henry, the Oklahoma legislature and our partners in Texas and at Amtrak,” said Gary Ridley, Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation. “TxDOT considers it a privilege to be connected to such an important element of the country’s rail

Amtrak Encourages Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises to Seek Contracts for Stimulus Funded Projects

June 11, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Small and disadvantaged business enterprises (SB/DBE) are encouraged to seek direct contracting or subcontracting opportunities for the hundreds of construction projects Amtrak intends to put out for bid this summer as part of $1.3 billion in stimulus-related funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). “Amtrak has a tremendous amount of work to do and will need the help of small businesses across the country to get it done right, on time, and on budget,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, noting that the passenger railroad is moving fast to put contracts in place