Amtrak
Streetsblog LA
Amtrak on Pace to Break Annual Ridership Record
Amtrak carried 13.6 million passengers over the past six months, putting it on pace for a record-breaking ridership year, according to a statement released today by officials at the national inter-city rail system. Amtrak’s Acela line saw carried 13.5 percent more riders last month than in March 2009. (Photo: America 2050) Every one of Amtrak’s … Continued
April 8, 2010
US PIRG: How About High Speed Rail for Every Major City
Now that the Obama administration has
awarded $8 billion in high-speed rail grants to more than two dozen
states, with $2.5 billion more coming soon, why not keep thinking big
when it comes to bullet-train expansion?
February 9, 2010
Biden’s Homage to AMTRAK
The nation's Amtrak rider-in-chief, Vice President Joseph Biden, has penned an op-ed for the rail network's monthly magazine entitled "Why America Needs Trains."
January 6, 2010
House Jobs Bill Could Make General Electric’s Amtrak Wish Come True
The House is poised to take up a jobs bill later today that provides $37.3 billion in new transportation spending, including $27.5 billion for roads, $8.4 billion for transit … and a holiday gift for General Electric? Could this cleaner GE locomotive be coming soon to Amtrak? (Photo: Inhabitat) GE’s transportation division recently joined its … Continued
December 16, 2009
Lawmakers Investigating the Resignation of Amtrak’s In-House Watchdog
The House oversight committee has launched an official inquiry
into the resignation of Amtrak's veteran inspector general (IG) earlier
this month -- on the same day that an outside law firm reported on
alleged interference with his work by management at the rail
corporation.
June 30, 2009
Amtrak: Enjoy the Journey
Amtrak is back on the air with a new commercial that uses children's toys to make the point that taking a long distance trip via train is far less stressful and more enjoyable than either driving or flying. While I personally never lined all my matchboxes up in three parallel lines to create a traffic jam in the living room, I guess it's a sign of the times.
March 20, 2009
Amtrak Bill Clears the Way for Bike-Friendly Trains
The five-year Amtrak authorization that Congress passed last week includes a nice inter-modal touch. It states in no uncertain terms that funding can be spent on making trains accessible for bikes: NONMOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION ACCESS AND STORAGE. — Grants under this chapter may be used to provide access to rolling stock for nonmotorized transportation, including bicycles, … Continued
October 7, 2008
Rail Advocate: Biden Ascension Wouldn’t Necessarily Help Amtrak
The Washington Post today has a piece summing up Joe Biden's ties to Amtrak. There's not a lot of new material in the story (Biden takes the train between Delaware and DC, he has a pro-rail record in the Senate, his son serves on the Amtrak board, etc.), but what caught our attention was a quote from David Johnson of the National Association of Railroad Passengers.
September 2, 2008
How Do We Make Clean Transportation Part of the National Discussion?
Like Joe Biden, Barack Obama also mentioned Amtrak in his acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention, but only in reference to his running mate's preferred mode of transportation.
August 29, 2008