Amtrak

Amtrak to International Property Developers: You can’t turn those fans off

International Property Developers North America Inc., the Delaware-based subsidiary of U.K.-based commercial property developer and real estate investor William Davies, is seeking to reduce the operational hours of the ventilation fans in the Old Historic Chicago Post Office Building, which it acquired in 2009 for the purposes of redeveloping. Those fans now run 24/7.

Illinois eyes Amtrak Black Hawk restoration

Amid a flurry of announced rail funding programs, Illinois has identified $60 million for re-establishing Amtrak service linking Chicago and Rockford, Ill., as early as late next year. Amtrak’s Black Hawk last connected the two cities in 1981.

Amtrak awards Empire Corridor contract work

Amtrak has awarded engineering company Michael Baker Jr., Inc. a $4.2 million contract for construction management and inspection services involving several projects on its Empire Corridor in New York State.

Jobs to Move America offers assistance on Amtrak trainset RFP

Amtrak’s RFP (Request for Proposals) for 43 new Northeast Corridor and California high speed trainsets requires bidding manufacturers to provide information about their plans to create U.S. jobs, locate manufacturing facilities in the U.S., recruit disadvantaged workers, and invest in workforce development. The Jobs to Move America coalition has been established to assist potential contractors.

Vermont House OKs Ethan Allen rail extension

The Vermont House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday, April 8, 2014, supporting a “Western Corridor” extension of passenger rail service from Rutland, Vt., to Burlington, the state’s largest city.

CDOT readies RFP for New Haven-Springfield line

Connecticut’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) will solicit proposals for an operator for Amtrak’s New Haven-Hartford-Springfield route beginning in 2016, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy. The RFP will be issued within the next year.

Amtrak recruiting focusing on veterans

Thousands of military veterans are returning to civilian life, and Amtrak is actively recruiting them “to bring their leadership, strong work ethic, and high-tech skills to America’s Railroad®,” said President and CEO and Vietnam veteran Joe Boardman following a tour of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

Amtrak stretches Empire Builder schedule in response to BNSF congestion

In recent months, the ontime performance of Amtrak’s Empire Builder has been severely impacted by heavy freight train congestion on host railroad BNSF Railway’s Northern Corridor. A near-exponential spike in crude oil traffic, with loaded trains originating in North Dakota’s Bakken region, is causing a significant portion of the congestion.
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