(Amtrak train on the Keystone Corridor, Jim Blaze Photograph)

OIG Identifies Fraud Risks as Amtrak Begins Large Acquisitions, Infrastructure Programs

Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General has released a report outlining fraud risks “America’s Railroad” could face as it leverages significant federal investments for major acquisitions and capital projects.

Amtrak Airo™ trainset with Coach/Cab Car. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

OIG Releases Audit Report on Amtrak Intercity Trainset Program

Amtrak experienced early challenges with stakeholder communications in its intercity trainset acquisition and maintenance facility modification work, leading to scope changes, cost increases and schedule delays, according to a new report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Amtrak OIG Identifies Opportunities to Reduce Locomotive Idling

According to a report released on Oct. 18 by the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG), Amtrak “has opportunities to use its own data to reduce excess locomotive idling and to train employees about its sustainability goals,” which will help the railroad achieve its goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing the purchase of carbon free and renewable electricity.

(Photo Courtesy of Amtrak OIG, Via Twitter)

OIG to Amtrak: Update (and Verify) Unified Operations Center Business Case

Amtrak’s plans to save costs and consolidate personnel/functions in a Delaware building it purchased for $41.1 million in May 2020 “have not materialized because it didn’t effectively verify the feasibility of its plan before it made the purchase,” according to a new report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG).

For Amtrak, 4 Challenges to Implementing IIJA Funds: OIG

Amtrak will face four main challenges as it modernizes and expands service with a minimum of $22 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding, according to the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Amtrak is partnering with the states of New York and New Jersey to upgrade and replace “essential rail infrastructure” between Newark, N.J., and New York’s Penn Station on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) by 2035, at an estimated cost of more than $30 billion.

For ‘Gateway’ Success, Amtrak Needs Better Program Management

Amtrak needs a comprehensive program management framework to govern how it will complete work across Gateway projects, a new Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report has found.

The Amtrak OIG on Feb. 2 released a new report: “GOVERNANCE: Amtrak Has Begun to Address State Partners’ Concerns About Shared Costs But Has More Work to Do to Improve Relationships.”

Amtrak’s Homework: Address State-Partner Cost-Sharing Concerns

Amtrak has more work to do to improve relationships and trust among its state partners regarding cost-sharing, a new Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report has found.

New Report Assesses Amtrak’s ADA Compliance Efforts

Better planning and coordination could help Amtrak complete an “aggressive” $1.2 billion plan to bring its remaining stations into Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance by FY 2027, according to a report from the railroad’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Amtrak OIG: Ensure PTC Reliability

The Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) has recommended in a new report that Amtrak should “better measure” PTC (Positive Train Control) system reliability. It also noted that Amtrak faces two risks that may diminish the safety benefits of PTC.

Amtrak OIG Opioid Opinion

Some Amtrak employees are at risk of protracted prescription painkiller popping, Amtrak’s internal OIG (Office of Inspector General) says in a 40-page report, “SAFETY AND SECURITY: Expanded Random Drug Testing Could Help Further Detect and Deter Prescription Opioid Misuse.” The report notes that Amtrak “could strengthen its ability to detect and deter prescription opioid misuse among employees conducting safety-related work by expanding its random drug testing program.”

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