While Amtrak has started upgrading its maintenance facilities to support major fleet acquisitions, including NextGen Acela, Airo, and planned Long Distance trains, developing and implementing a strategic plan would help the company
Amtrak celebrates the state-sponsored Borealis trains reaching a quarter-million riders. Also, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) identifies opportunities where the company can improve its service to passengers with disabilities; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) releases its crime report for the first half of 2025; and Caltrans awards the Fresno Council of Governments $700,000 for the “Fresno Metropolitan Light Rail Feasibility Study.”
Amtrak’s internal yet independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a report on Phase 1 (of four) of the railroad’s Long Distance Fleet Replacement (LDFR) program, defining the $7 billion initiative
Metra schedules 47 safety blitzes in 2024. Also, Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) Transit Police will implement 24/7 patrols beginning May 5; and the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) identifies opportunities for Amtrak to better use its customer service data to improve the customer experience.
Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) on April 17 released a report providing insights for Amtrak on ways organizations can collect and analyze contract and procurement data to monitor for and detect fraud risks.
More delays are anticipated for Amtrak’s new Acela trainsets, already three years behind schedule, due in part to defects and designs not yet meeting Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements, the latest Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report has found. Alstom has taken exception to certain elements of the report. OIG stands by it.
Amtrak makes progress in bringing stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Also, Honolulu’s Skyline sees an increase in ridership; Caltrain completes three major milestones toward Electrification Program; and NJ Transit’s Walter Rand Transportation Center (WRTC) Improvement Project continues to advance.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approves $425 million in additional federal fiscal year funding for New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit projects. Also, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports that America’s Railroad “is positioning itself to comply with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA] operations, policy and funding requirements.”
“Amtrak is strengthening its project cost management, but can better organize costs and improve guidance,” according to the latest Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report. Also, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Cincinnati Connector Streetcar will receive funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Areas of Persistent Poverty Program; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will increase subway fares and implement recommendations of the Blue-Ribbon Panel Report on Fare and Toll Evasion.
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.
