Amtrak

Amtrak to Celebrate National Train Day

March 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – To raise awareness of the vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system, Amtrak announced that it will celebrate its first annual National Train Day during six weeks of celebrations culminating on May 10. “With ridership growing to record levels, we continue to see a strong demand for rail travel as a link between growing communities,” said Alex Kummant, President and CEO of Amtrak. “Passenger and freight service is on the rise, and there’s never been a better time to celebrate the railroad industry and passenger rail service in the U.S.” Amtrak’s celebration of National Train Day

Jury Returns $2.5 M Verdict Against Amtrak

March 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – A Cook County, Ill., jury returned a $2.5 million verdict against Amtrak for not maintaining a safe work environment in an engine at Chicago’s Union Station, a Chicago law firm said. A 59-year-old engineer’s back injury required two operations and a claimed inability to return to work. Amtrak argued that the engineer had planned to retire within 8 months of the accident, which was disputed by the engineer, and showed excerpts from 5 years of secret surveillance videos of the plaintiff to the jury claiming the engineer was exaggerating, faking, and/or hiding the unrelated real cause for his

Amtrak Celebrates Black History Month with Special Ceremony Honoring Pullman Porters

February 27, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak, in partnership with the A. Philip Randolph Museum, hosted a ceremony Feb. 25 at Washington Union Station to honor the contributions of the legendary Pullman Porters to the nation’s railroads. Amtrak employees gathered to give heartfelt thanks in person to three Pullman Porters who proudly served as far back as the mid-1940s.& Honored were E. Donald Hughes, retired sleeping car porter, from Columbia, Md., William H. Costen, retired chair car porter, from Hartford, Conn., and Thomas E. Dunn, retired dining car cook, from Washington, D.C. “Today’s celebration is an opportunity for Amtrak’s current employees to express their

30th Street Station Celebrates Black History Month

February 25, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak 30th Street Station in Philadelphia will celebrate Black History Month on February 29, in the North Arcade reception area at the station. The celebration will take place from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. 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 in the celebration. In

Amtrak Extends Coast Starlight Service

February 20, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Amtrak is adding Thruway motorcoach service on a portion of the disrupted Los Angeles-Seattle Coast Starlight route, beginning Feb. 29. The Thruway motorcoach service will connect the Coast Starlight route segment between Sacramento and Portland, Ore., making connections with the Coast Starlight train at Sacramento and other Amtrak train service at Portland. The Thruway motorcoach will connect with the Chicago-Portland Empire Builder at Portland. Train service on the Coast Starlight route was suspended between Los Angeles and Seattle on Jan. 19, due to massive mudslides over the railroad north of Chemult, Ore. Union Pacific Railroad, the owner of

Amtrak Launches New Security Procedures

February 19, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Amtrak today announced the deployment of its new specialized Amtrak Mobile Security Team to patrol stations and trains and randomly inspect passenger baggage. The Mobile Security Team supplements ongoing patrols already in place by Amtrak to enhance the safety and security of passenger rail travel. The deployment of the Mobile Security Team and the launch of random baggage inspection are further steps in Amtrak’s ongoing efforts to strengthen rail security as a means to minimize the risk of terrorist threats. The Mobile Security Teams will ultimately be deployed nationwide. “Keeping our customers and employees safe remains our priority,”

Amtrak Empire Corridor Train Service Disrupted in New York Due Possible Broken Water Pipe

February 10, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Because of a possible broken water pipe causing water over the tracks north of Penn Station, Empire Service will be disrupted Saturday, Feb. 9 between Albany and New York City. As a result, two southbound and two northbound trains between Albany and New York ( Nos. 239, 259, 252 and 254) have been canceled. Passengers scheduled on those trains will be re-accommodated on other trains that will originate and terminate at Croton Harmon where passengers will be provided alternate transportation to/from Penn Station. The Lake Shore Limited (New York to Chicago) and the Adirondack and Maple Leaf

Amtrak Looking at $800M Budget for 2009

February 9, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — President Bush’s proposed $3.1 trillion budget for Fiscal Year 2009 provides $800 million for Amtrak, roughly 40 percent less than the passenger railroad’s $1.3 billion budget this year. But that’s not enough, says Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure “In the last budget of his term in office, the President could have used the opportunity to make a bold statement about the state of the Nation and his hope, his vision, for its future,” Oberstar said in a news release. “Instead, the President stayed well inside his ideological comfort zone.

Amtrak Locomotive, MARC Train Collide

February 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — An Amtrak locomotive collided with a MARC commuter train Feb. 7 at Union Station, leaving seven people injured. The rear wheels of the MARC train derailed after the Amtrak locomotive crashed into it from behind. Seven people received minor injuries, officials said. Passenger were disembarking the MARC train, which arrived at Union Station from Baltimore, at the time of the collision. The Associated Press quoted Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero as saying the Amtrak locomotive was going to transport the MARC train to a maintenance center. However, the Amtrak locomotive was traveling too fast at the time of the

California Zephyr Route Restored by Union Pacific Railroad

February 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

Union Pacific Railroad has reopened the route through the Sierra Mountains used by the daily California Zephyr (Trains 5 & 6) between the San Francisco Bay and Chicago. The tracks were blocked on Feb. 1 in a mishap involving UP snow-removal equipment. Westbound Train 5, originating from Chicago on Jan. 30 Amtrak managers responded to the Placer County location where the westbound California Zephyr was stopped. Later, a decision was made to reverse the train to Reno, Nevada, where about 160 passengers were housed and fed at Amtrak expense in area hotels, awaiting alternate transportation that was provided today. At