Amtrak – Page 55 – Railfanning.org

Amtrak Board Elects Donna McLean Chairman

November 15, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Donna McLean was elected Chairman of Amtrak’s Board of Directors at the Nov. 8. McLean, who was appointed to the board by President Bush and approved by the Senate in July 2006, had served as Vice Chairman of the Board. She replaces former Chairman David M. Laney, who remains a board member until his term expires in late November 2007. As Chairman of the Board, McLean will lead the board of Amtrak, the nation’s intercity passenger railroad, which operates in 46 states on a 21,000-mile system serving more than 500 stations. A former official at the U.S. Department of Transportation,

Amtrak Acela Express Wrapped for The History Channel Promotion for Special ‘1968 with Tom Brokaw’

November 7, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK – Amtrak and The History Channel are teaming up to promote the upcoming special “1968 with Tom Brokaw” with the first-ever train wrap of an Acela Express train. Beginning Nov. 12 and continuing through Dec. 9, one Acela Express will travel along the Northeast Corridor bearing historical images from the year 1968.The promotion includes an exterior wrap of the train as well as interior signage promoting the special on The History Channel. The exterior wrap, made of vinyl, will appear on both sides of the two locomotives and six cars of the train. The wrap, while clearly visible

Senate Approves $11 Billion for Amtrak

November 5, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate last week passed the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007with a 70-22 vote. This Amtrak reauthorization legislation provides $11.4 billion over six years to preserve America’s national passenger rail service. The legislation institutes additional Amtrak reforms aimed at reducing its reliance on federal subsidies by at least 40 percent during the bill’s life. “Preserving national passenger rail service shouldn’t be based on partisan ideology or Amtrak’s profit margins,” Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said. “Preserving Amtrak is about ensuring that America has a complete transportation system – one that includes planes, trains, lanes and

Strike Clock Ticking for Amtrak Machinists

November 2, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) says its 500 Amtrak members can strike on Dec. 1 unless President Bush intervenes and appoints a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). A 30-day countdown began when the National Mediation Board formally released the IAM and Amtrak from mediated negotiations on Oct. 31. “We expect and are prepared for a Presidential Emergency Board,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Our attorneys and economists are primed to defend the fair and reasonable positions our negotiators have taken at the bargaining table.” Once empanelled, a PEB has 30 days to

Select Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Trains Stop at Two New Locations in Orange County

October 31, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Select Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains are stopping at two new locations in the cities of Orange and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo. These new stops are at Metrolink stations between the Anaheim and Santa Ana Amtrak stations and between Irvine and San Juan Capistrano. The Metrolink station in Orange is located at 194 North Atchison Street, Orange, California. The Metrolink station in Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo is located at 28200 Frobes Road, Laguna Niguel, California. The new stops began on Monday, Oct. 29. Pacific Surfliner trains operate 12 daily roundtrips between San Diego and Los Angeles, with five extending to Santa

Amtrak Illinois Ridership Up Strongly

October 31, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Huge ridership gains are tied to increased Amtrak train frequencies in Illinois, with the three routes between Chicago and downstate communities showing large increases and helping Amtrak to set a new national record for passengers. In all, nearly 3.6 million passengers used Amtrak stations in Illinois, including all trains at Amtrak Chicago Union Station. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has more than doubled the size of its contract with Amtrak, providing three of the five round-trips on the Chicago-St. Louis corridor and two round-trips each on the Carbondale and Quincy routes, starting late last October. On the

Amtrak Hiawatha Service Ridership Up Strongly

October 31, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

MILWAUKEE – Amtrak ridership in Fiscal Year 2007 on Hiawatha Service trains between Chicago and Milwaukee increased by 2.6 percent and is approaching 600,000 annual riders. In all, more than 631,000 passengers used the three Wisconsin Hiawatha Service stations, including Amtrak Empire Builder passengers at Milwaukee’s downtown station. More than 2.8 million passengers used the two Illinois Hiawatha Service stations, including other trains at Amtrak Chicago Union Station. Amtrak operates seven daily round-trips on the route Mondays through Fridays, with six round-trips on Sundays. The ridership gain on the Hiawathas is slightly more than the national Amtrak ridership increase of

Amtrak Michigan Ridership Up Strongly

October 31, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

LANSING, Mich. – Amtrak ridership in Fiscal Year 2007 on trains in Michigan increased by more than 17,000 passengers, totaling nearly 682,000 riders on the three routes in the Great Lakes State. In all, Amtrak sold more than 750,000 tickets to and from locations in Michigan. Amtrak operates three daily roundtrips on the Pontiac-Detroit-Ann Arbor-Chicago route known as the Wolverine Service. The 2.4 percent ridership gain on the Wolverines matches the national Amtrak ridership increase and is the result of more than 449,000 passengers choosing rails instead of roads. The state-supported single-frequency daily routes in Michigan — Grand Rapids-St. Joseph-Chicago

Amtrak Honors California Department of Transportation, William Bronte with Prestigious President’s Service and Safety Award

October 31, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak has honored William Bronte, Chief, Division of Rail for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), for special recognition among state and local leaders across the nation for his support of Amtrak and his commitment to passenger rail service. During ceremonies here, Amtrak President, CEO Alex Kummant presented Bronte with Amtrak’s most prestigious award, the President’s Service and Safety Award for State Partner. He is one of three people who received the award nationally. “Your efforts exemplify initiative, commitment and dedication to Amtrak, and our entire organization extends to you our highest appreciation,” said Kummant. Recipients in the

Amtrak’s Keystone Service Sees Increases in Ridership and Revenue

October 30, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is reporting double-digit growth in ridership and revenue during fiscal year 2007 on routes through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, most notably the Keystone Service. Operating between Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York, the Keystones saw ridership grow to 988,454, an increase of 20 percent for FY07. Ticket revenue for the same period increased nearly 30 percent to $20,582,838. The Keystone Service ranks fifth in growth in ridership and revenue among all Amtrak services. “People traveling from Harrisburg and Lancaster to Philadelphia and back now have an even better option to beat traffic congestion,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen D.