Commentary

What’s with Congressman Mica, the Foodie?

Will somebody pass John Mica some Pepto Bismol? Surely the 11-term House Republican from Florida suffers recurrent gastrointestinal distress resulting from digging into, examining, criticizing, and lambasting Amtrak’s troubled food and beverage income statement more often than the FBI excavates searching for Jimmy Hoffa.

Secaucus Loop idea revived, tied to Gateway Tunnel

Eight New York State legislators are urging the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to pursue an elusive “one-seat ride” to New York-Penn Station for Rockland and Orange county residents, tying it to Amtrak’s Gateway Tunnel plan to increase Northeast Corridor capacity under the Hudson River.

Commentary

Amtrak’s vision must navigate the money trap

A mark, a yen, a buck, a pound, money makes the world go round. (Yes, lyrics from the musical, Cabaret.) But money is a scarce commodity, especially for Amtrak, which competes with other publicly funded projects—not the least being mass transit, aging water and sewer systems, highways, commercial aviation, and ports.

Amtrak sprints toward a higher speed future

The Northeast Corridor’s “New Jersey Raceway” is receiving some of the most significant improvements since the original NECIP and NHRIP projects.

Union pickets Amtrak Board chairman’s law office

Amtrak Board Chairman Anthony Coscia’s New Brunswick, N.J., law office was targeted Tuesday morning, June 4, 2013, by the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (PRLBC), representing Amtrak employees who PRLBC says continue to work without a contract.

Obituary: Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, 89

U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), an ardent passenger rail champion who first was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1982, died Monday, June 3, 2013, at the age of 89.

Schumer, Lautenberg, LaHood announce major Gateway Program funding step

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced May 30 that that the USDOT “has begun the process of fulfilling Amtrak’s request for $185 million in Hurricane Sandy Relief funding.”

Amtrak to adjust Cascades service

In response to the collapse last week of the Interstate 5 bridge near Mount Vernon, Wash., Amtrak says it plans to add daily round trip between Seattle and Bellingham, Wash., at least for a few weeks, to bolster existing Cascades service north of Seattle.

Amtrak board to Boardman: Two more years, at least

Amtrak’s board of directors has extended the contract of President and CEO Joe Boardman “for his achievements in improving operational and financial performance, and to provide continuity of leadership critical to the ongoing implementation of the company’s strategic plan.”

SYSTRA improves RAILSIM® capabilities for ASCES modeling

SYSTRA has implemented enhancements to its RAILSIM® modeling program for the Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) Positive Train Control (PTC) system. ACSES is the overlay PTC technology utilized on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
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