Amtrak successfully advanced its COVID-19 recovery efforts throughout its 50th Anniversary fiscal year, through continued safety measures for customers and employees, increased train service levels in line with growing demand and continued building a strong foundation for modernization and growth. With announcements of our largest order for new trains in decades, the opening of new stations, the addition of new customer services and amenities, and our proposals for new corridor service in up to 160 communities, Amtrak put in motion key initiatives to support an enhanced national rail network capable of serving more people in more places with better service.
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As a champion for transportation, and in particular for Amtrak and passenger rail, we’d like to thank Chair DeFazio for his unwavering support throughout his many years of service. With a passion for sustainably expanding our nation’s transportation infrastructure, his work will benefit rail passengers for decades to come.
We applaud the House’s passage of high-speed rail funding in the Build Back Better Act as part of a comprehensive strategy for reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector. Amtrak’s high-speed Acela service demonstrates the benefits that fast and frequent trains bring to a region, including enhanced mobility, economic growth, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. We stand ready to aggressively pursue this funding to substantially expand the sections of the Northeast Corridor where our successful Acela service can perform at sustained high-speed and to partner with states and the private sector to launch new high-speed rail services in appropriate markets across the country.
NEW YORK – Amtrak announced today that it is partnering with NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, to promote train travel to New York City via the Moynihan Train Hall. NYC & Company and Amtrak will use programmatic advertising, social media, out of home, radio, influencers, and other digital assets to promote the ease, comfort and convenience of traveling by Amtrak to New York City from the other major cities in the Northeast Corridor. The campaign reinforces Amtrak’s national brand message that its Acela and Northeast Regional service is the easiest way to get to New York – Just an Amtrak Away.
Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia:
“For 50 years, the nation has been waiting for the Federal government to provide Amtrak with the resources we need to fully deliver on our mission to serve the American people. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal fulfills this promise and we are ready to start rebuilding and expanding passenger rail to meet the service demands and sustainable transportation goals of the future. With the signing of this bill today by President Biden, the second great passenger rail revolution is here – and Amtrak and its state and federal partners are ready to lead the way.”
SEATTLE – After intensive system testing, crew qualifications, and safety certification in partnership with Sound Transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation, Amtrak Cascades service will resume on the Point Defiance Bypass on November 18. The inland bypass parallels I-5 between the Tacoma Dome Station, Lakewood, JBLM, DuPont and Nisqually.
Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia:
“The passage of this bipartisan infrastructure bill provides historic levels of investment for intercity passenger rail in this country and the start of a whole new era for improved and expanded Amtrak service. We are grateful to President Biden and Congress for their belief in Amtrak and the power of passenger rail to help tackle the climate crisis, create economic opportunity and good-paying jobs, and expand mobility for our nation. We look forward to working with Secretary Buttigieg, our state, commuter and host railroad partners, and communities across America to rebuild and improve the Northeast Corridor and launch the next generation of Amtrak service in cities and towns across America.”
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn:
“Passenger rail offers the transportation solutions this country needs, and Amtrak is ready to make it happen. 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. As demonstrated by their commitment to rail in this bill, President Biden and Congress believe in the future of rail and Amtrak and we will move quickly to advance these projects.”
Amtrak and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the labor organization representing more than 3 million skilled craft professionals, announced today a landmark national agreement to promote a strong workforce pipeline of U.S. union construction workers to build and expand America’s passenger rail.
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn, Amtrak President Stephen Gardner and the company’s chief safety and operations executives are in Montana at the accident site to support National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration investigators and officials to ensure any assistance necessary is made available to them.
We are in mourning today for the people who lost their lives due to the derailment of the Empire Builder train Saturday, near Joplin, Montana, on the BNSF Railway, as well as the many others who were injured. We have no words that can adequately express our sorrow for those who lost a loved one or who were hurt in this horrible event. They are in our thoughts and prayers.
