Amtrak: Five years to no food service losses

Amtrak announced on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, that it “is moving forward with a plan to eliminate its food and beverage losses over five years.” The plan “builds on successful initiatives implemented since FY 2006 that have increased the cost recovery rate from 49% percent to 65%.

Where’s my Amtrak train? Just Google it!

Amtrak has introduced a new way to see where trains are and when they are expected to arrive, including information on stations nationwide, all through a new interactive train locator map built on the easy-to-use, familiar Google Maps interface.

UP flood damage prompts Amtrak detour

Union Pacific’s Moffat Tunnel route has been closed for repairs west of Denver for an undetermined period following flood damage afflicting wide portions of Colorado, resulting in a detour for Amtrak’s California Zephyr.

Commentary

Imagine a multimodal Northeast Corridor

Creative vision in Washington, D.C., is not quite an oxymoron, but seemingly only extraordinary external events cause it to materialize.

Amtrak ACS-64 begins NEC testing

One of three Amtrak ACS-64 (Amtrak Cities Sprinter) electric locomotives from Siemens Mobility, no. 602, has begun testing on the Boston-New York-Washington Northeast Corridor and Philadelphia-Harrisburg Keystone Corridor in preparation for revenue-service fleet deployment this fall.

TIGER grant to aid Vermont freight, Amtrak

An $8.9 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economy Recovery (TIGER) grant awarded to the Vermont Agency of Transportation will expedite the Green Mountain State’s $18.5 million effort to rehabilitate 20 miles of rail right-of-way along the state’s western edge.

MARC Penn Line to add weekend service

Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) MARC rail operations will add weekend service on its Penn Line, part of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, beginning Dec. 7, 2013, MTA said Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Oklahoma City panel chooses streetcar route

A recommended route for a 4.6-mile downtown streetcar route has been selected by an Oklahoma City advisory panel, with the proposal advancing to a full citizens advisory board and the City Council for review. Approval from both bodies is expected.

Carper reappointed to Amtrak board

Tom Carper, who served as an Amtrak board member from March 2008 to March 2013 and was elected Chairman in January 2009, serving in that capacity until his term expired, has been reappointed. He was nominated for reappointment by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve another five-year term.

More upgrades to 30th Street Station under way

Amtrak will continue work this summer and fall on several upgrades at its historic Philadelphia 30th Street Station on the Northeast Corridor “to improve the passenger experience, tend to the long-term infrastructure needs of the 80-year-old building, and improve pedestrian mobility in and around the facility.” The projects represent about a $35 million investment.
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