Amtrak – Page 43 – Railfanning.org

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

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