Amtrak – Page 55 – Railfanning.org

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

Amtrak Restoring Partial Coast Starlight Service

February 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Amtrak is restoring service on a portion of the route of the Coast Starlight, beginning Feb. 6. Following discussions with the Union Pacific Railroad, service on the route was suspended between Los Angeles and Seattle on Jan. 19, due to massive mudslides over the railroad north of Chemult, Ore. All railroad traffic through that area has been suspended and is not expected to resume for many weeks. The first northbound departure of this version of the Coast Starlight, Train 14, will leave Los Angeles on Feb. 6 at 10:15 a.m., making all regularly-scheduled stops and arriving in Sacramento

Coast Starlight Suspended Due to Massive Mudslides

January 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHEMULT, Ore. — Following mudslides over railroad tracks north of Chemult, Ore., on Jan. 19, Amtrak Coast Starlight service will be disrupted Jan. 24 through Jan. 31. No alternate transportation is provided. Union Pacific Railroad has suspended all railroad traffic through the area. The northbound Coast Starlight (Train 14) is canceled from Los Angeles to Seattle from Jan. 24 through Jan. 31. The southbound Coast Starlight (Train 11) is canceled from Seattle to Los Angeles from Jan. 25 through Feb. 1. These dates may be extended. Although the Coast Starlight is canceled in its entirety between Los Angeles and Seattle

Amtrak and Labor Organizations Sign Tentative Agreement, Averting a Strike

January 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak and representatives of nine labor organizations today signed an agreement, avoiding a strike that would have brought to a halt the nation’s passenger railroad and dozens of other railroads that use Amtrak’s rail network. The nine unions were legally free to strike starting Jan. 30, 2008. The National Mediation Board had released the parties from mediation on Nov. 1, and a Presidential Emergency Board handed down recommended settlement terms Dec. 30. Details of the tentative pact were not immediately released to the public. The agreement will be sent to the affected union members for their ratification vote

Bush Urges Amtrak, Unions ‘To Work in Good Faith’

January 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — President Bush has received the report and recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board and is urging both Amtrak and several unions “to work in good faith to resolve their dispute, taking into account the Emergency Board’s recommendations.” In November, Bush established a Presidential Emergency Board, hoping to keep the employees of nine Amtrak unions from striking. The unions represent more than 6,000 of Amtrak’s non-operating employees who have been working on contracts that expired in 1999. “The President urges the parties to continue to work in good faith to resolve their dispute, taking into account the Emergency Board’s

Amtrak Releases Feasibility Study of State-Supported Rail Service to Illinois Quad Cities

January 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Amtrak has completed a report requested by the Illinois Department of Transportation (Ill. DOT) that evaluates possible passenger train routes between Illinois Quad Cities (Moline-Rock Island) and Chicago. This “Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service, Quad Cities-Chicago” is also in response to a January 2007 town meeting in Rock Island, hosted by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who was joined by Amtrak and Ill. DOT representatives, labor officials and leaders from Illinois and Iowa. In the report, the approximate cost of upgrading the railroad infrastructure to accommodate passenger train speeds is $14-to-23 million, over the shortest, fastest and