Amtrak – Page 46 – Railfanning.org

Amtrak Guest Rewards and Broadway’s Official Loyalty Program Join Forces

February 18, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak Guest Rewards and Audience Rewards, the Official Loyalty Program of Broadway, announced an exciting new marketing partnership designed to promote and make theatre more accessible to Amtrak Guest Rewards members. Members of Amtrak’s program can transfer their points into Audience Rewards ShowPoints and Audience Rewards members can convert their ShowPoints to Amtrak Guest Rewards points. “Amtrak is a critical marketing partner for Broadway given the access and reach it provides to potential theatre goers from major markets such at Boston, Providence, New Haven, Philadelphia, and the Washington D.C. area. We believe this partnership will create exciting marketing

Two-Day Black History Month Celebration at Philadelphia 30th Street Station

February 18, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak 30th Street Station in Philadelphia will celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 26 and 27, in the North Arcade reception area at the station. The celebration will take place from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. The day will feature an array of talented African American entertainers showcasing poetry, spoken word, dramatic presentations, instrumental performances, individual singers, chorale lyricists and interpretive dancers. There will also be motivational and inspirational speakers throughout the day. A diverse group of individuals will be represented with participants ranging from ages 6-60. Local politicians have been invited to speak or participate

Amtrak Celebrates Black History Month with Special Ceremony Honoring Pullman Porters

February 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND, Calif. – Amtrak, in celebration of Black History Month, partnered with the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum to host a ceremony celebrating the contributions of the legendary Pullman Porters and African-American railroad workers at the Oakland Amtrak Station Feb. 10. Amtrak officials and local dignitaries will gather to honor five porters and dining car waiters who proudly served as far back as the mid-1940s. Honored are Lee Gibson, 98, of Los Angeles, James Smith, 83, of Simi Valley, Samuel Coleman, 80, of Las Vegas, and Troy Walker, 90, and Thomas Gray, 71, of Seattle. “The celebration is an

STB Announces Speakers Lineup

February 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board provided a schedule of speakers’ appearances and their time allocations for the Board’s Feb. 11 public hearing on the Board’s new responsibilities under the recently passed Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The Act enhances the Board’s role with regard to Amtrak and its relationships with commuter rail operators, host railroads, states and the public.

Feds Greenlight ARC Project

February 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J — The Mass Transit Tunnel, centerpiece of the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) project, reached a major milestone that clears the way for federal funding and will allow construction to begin this year. The release of a “Record of Decision” by the Federal Transit Administration officially completes the project’s exhaustive environmental review process. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez worked extensively to secure this approval from the FTA. The local financing share of $5.7 billion is already committed, including $3 billion from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. New Jersey is now looking

Amtrak Board Names Thomas Carper of Illinois as Chairman

February 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – At its regularly scheduled meeting Jan. 29, Amtrak’s Board of Directors unanimously agreed to name Thomas Carper of Illinois as Chairman of the Board. Carper, who has served in various Illinois state and local government positions, including Mayor of the City of Macomb, has been a director on the Amtrak board since March 2008. At the same meeting former Chairman Donna McLean was named Vice Chairman, replacing Hunter Biden, who remains as a board member. “Everything we have done as a board, we’ve done as a unified body, and this change in our hierarchy is no exception,” Carper

Looking for a bailout: Amtrak stands to receive $1 billion

January 31, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — As part of Congress’ bailout bill, Amtrak could receive $1 billion. The bill is still in the discussion phase. Opponents point to the fact that Amtrak hasn’t made a profit since its inception 35 years ago.

Union Pacific Railroad Invests More Than $6 Million for Track Improvements from Kansas City to Jefferson City

January 30, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Motorists will spend less time at crossings waiting for trains to pass as a result of more than $6 million in track improvements made by Union Pacific Railroad to its Kansas City to Jefferson City line. The track improvements will allow trains to operate more efficiently on the route. When the project is complete, crews will have removed and installed more than 10 miles of rail in various curves between Kansas City and Jefferson City. Work will begin on these projects Feb. 1 and is scheduled to be completed by April 8. The Kansas City to St.

And the Winner is… Missouri River Runner

January 29, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The public has spoken: Missouri River Runner is the new name for the state-supported Amtrak trains between St. Louis and Kansas City. The name evokes the river that parallels much of the route, plus the Mississippi River at the eastern terminus and the Kansas River at the western end, Amtrak said. It was submitted by Keith Kohler of Glendale, Mo., and it received 2,036 votes, or 37 percent of the votes cast. More than 8,300 name submissions were entered late last year. After contest judges narrowed those submissions to just five finalist names, 5,455 votes came

Amtrak to Host ‘Civic Conversation’ in Savannah on Rail Depot Redevelopment & Restoration

January 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — As a part of its Great American Stations Project, Amtrak is hosting its fourth Civic Conversation in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 3 and Feb. 4, to discuss the redevelopment and restoration of passenger rail stations along the routes of the Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Piedmont, Silver Meteor and Silver Star. The Atlantic Coast trains serve passengers between New York and Florida and New Orleans. During the meeting on Feb. 4, case studies from both large and small communities will be highlighted. Representatives of those communities will explain how they shepherded their projects to successes that sparked additional redevelopment in their