Amtrak

Amtrak

$1.2 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Signed by President Biden

Details
Created: 09 November 2021 09 November 2021
Hits: 1614 1614

Amtrak trains sport 50th anniversary paint jobs | WTOP News"This bill will allow Amtrak to advance significant infrastructure and major station projects on the NEC, purchase new passenger rail equipment and develop new rail corridors, bringing passenger rail to more people across the nation." Amtrak

"For far too long, Washington policymakers have celebrated “infrastructure week” without ever agreeing to build infrastructure." The White House

"The bipartisan bill includes $66 billion in new funding for rail to address Amtrak’s maintenance backlog, along with upgrading the high-traffic Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston." NYTimes

"Railroads praised the House of Representatives' passage late last week of a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which includes full five-year surface transportation reauthorization." Progressive Railroading

Happy 50th Birthday Amtrak!

Details
Created: 01 May 2021 01 May 2021
Hits: 1874 1874

Amtrak50thBidenOn this date in 1971, the first Amtrak passenger train left New York City for Philadelphia. A national network eventually grew out of that beginning. The state-sponsored Amtrak services emerged, which included the Maine Downeaster in December of 2001. The Downeaster was the result of TrainRiders/Northeast's grass-routes advocacy.

Amtrak funding has been on a rollercoaster ride since its beginning - strong funding and then cutbacks. Today, under the administration of President Joe Biden, the proposals for new funding and new routes raise hopes of a new 'golden age' of passenger rail service in the US.

President Biden regularly commuted from his home in Wilmington, DE. to Capitol Hill for 30 years. His $2 Trillion 'American Jobs Plan,' now headed to Congress, allocates $80 Billion for passenger and freight rail. Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn stated that if the proposed funding is approved, "Amtrak would be able to bring the NEC to a state of good repair and improve trip times" as well as avoid "devastating consequences for our transportation network." 

The president's remarks can be seen here (starting at 1:00:17) along with selected remarks from Chairman Wayne Davis. (go to 1:18:03 ). 

Watch Chairman Davis's full remarks for the Amtrak 50th!

Here's to another 50 years!

Trains Magazine Article Reported That Amtrak Would Halt Service on All Non-PTC Routes - That Included the Downeaster! Amtrak Issued a “Clarification”

Details
Created: 28 August 2018 28 August 2018
Hits: 6616 6616
An article in Trains Magazine set off a firestorm of conflicting statements and nationwide pushback after it stated that the Amtrak Board had decided not to run service on trackage that is not Positive Train Control equipped after December 31st of this year!

This would have eliminated Amtrak service on the Downeaster route and seven other essential Amtrak services.

TrainRiders/NE along with other grassroots passenger rail organizations joined with the Rail Passengers Association to demand clarification from Amtrak as the story contradicts Amtrak's previous position that risk assessments would be conducted to determine what adjustments might be needed on non-PTC trackage.

Trains Magazine has now received "clarification" from Amtrak top management:
 
"Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari tells Trains News Wire, "where PTC is not implemented and operational, it is expected that nearly all carriers will qualify for an alternative PTC implementation schedule under law.

"For those carriers and routes operating under an extension or under an FRA-approved exemption, Amtrak is performing risk analyses and developing strategies for enhancing safety on a route-by-route basis to ensure that there is a single level of safety across the Amtrak network.

"For those very limited routes where a host may not achieve an alternative schedule by year’s end, Amtrak will suspend service and may seek alternative modes of service until such routes come into compliance."

NNEPRA and Amtrak have been conducting a risk assessment of the Downeaster route and, according to a knowledgeable source, preliminary results do not indicate any factors which would jeopardize the Downeaster Service.
 
Phew!

NNEPRA Joins Other States to Keep the Dome Car Rolling

Details
Created: 06 September 2018 06 September 2018
Hits: 6622 6622

The bi-monthly Downeaster Operations Meeting was held on the Great Dome Car yesterday. It was an appropriate location after Amtrak announced plans to eliminate the very popular car from their fleet as of December 31st, 2018. The proposed "sunset" of the car was clearly on the minds of those who were interviewed. 

 NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn announced that a group of states, including Maine, have inquired of Amtrak as what it would cost to refurbish and keep the Dome car in service, rather than have it permanently taken out of service at the end of this year.

Come along for the ride and hear from those on board. 

Dome Car Play

 

Busy NNEPRA Board Meeting Hears 3rd Qtr Results While Addressing Track Safety Conditions

Details
Created: 05 May 2014 05 May 2014
Hits: 21912 21912

fy14-3Performance Report:

Ms. Patricia Quinn, NNEPRA Executive Director, presented Downeaster performance statistics for the third quarter of FY2014 - they were all on the plus side (graphic to come). Ridership was up as compared to FY2013 as was revenue. Six percent growth is to be celebrated in this current sluggish economy.

On Time Performance rose to 81.3%, which is an improvement of previous reporting periods.

Read more: Busy NNEPRA Board Meeting Hears 3rd Qtr Results While Addressing Track Safety Conditions

Subcategories

Funding 1