Amtrak

Report Requested by Sen. Lautenberg Highlights Need for Improved National Rail Policy

April 1, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report requested by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and released today describes how delays to Amtrak trains that operate over freight railroad lines cost the company almost $137 million in fiscal year 2006, an amount equal to 30 percent of its federal operating subsidy.

Railroad crossing at 4th street and the Berkeley Amtrak station, Berkeley, California: Photo by Patrick Boury (CC)    » read more »

01/18/2008 -- BOSTON, MA – Senator John Kerry welcomed the compromise reached by Amtrak employees and the Amtrak Corporation today, where employees agreed in principle to a contract and averted a possible strike. Amtrak employees have been working without a contract since 2000. Without a contract in place, they would have been able to strike at the end of this month, shutting down the commuter rail used by thousands of Bay State residents every day.    » read more »

January 16, 2008 -- "I am continuing to monitor closely the negotiations between Amtrak and its workers. Amtrak is a vital transportation lifeline for New Yorkers. In the State of New York, Amtrak operates 140 routes, employs more than 1,900 people, and has two of the top ten busiest stations in their rail system.    » read more »

Baucus, Tester Say That Additional Funds Will Provide A Real Boost To Nation's Rail System

October 30, 2007 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today praised the U.S. Senate for passing multi-year legislation that will authorize increased funding for the nation’s rail system.    » read more »

As traffic on roads and tarmacs grows, bipartisan plan would improve Amtrak's infrastructure and expand rail into more towns and cities

October 30, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate passed an $11.4 billion bill introduced by Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Trent Lott (R-MS) to fully fund Amtrak and bring the passenger rail system into the 21st century. The Lautenberg-Lott bipartisan plan would authorize infrastructure improvements and the expansion of rail routes into new American towns and cities over the next six years.    » read more »

Plan will help bring Nation's trains into the 21st Century

10/30/2007 -- BOSTON - Senator Kerry today issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the Passenger Rail Improvement and Investment Act. The Act, which Kerry co-sponsored, provides Amtrak with funding to improve railroad tracks and stations across the Northeast Corridor, and requires reforms that will reduce costs as well as train delays.    » read more »

October 30, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, a bipartisan group of Senators approved legislation to reauthorize Amtrak funding for the next six years. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 – first introduced in January by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Trent Lott (R-MI), Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Ted Stevens (R-AL) and others – authorizes funding for Amtrak’s capital and operating needs to maintain current operations, upgrade equipment, and return the Northeast Corridor to a state of good repair.    » read more »