Amtrak – Page 45 – Railfanning.org

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

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,”