Amtrak: finally on the right track

Amtrak’s latest strategy to stay on track is best symbolized by the purchase of 130 new single-level rail cars to support its long-distance service. The planned path: become more user-friendly.
 

It’s part of a US$298 million five-year blueprint for the company to not only survive but to expand its appeal to passengers.
 

“This major equipment purchase demonstrates our strong belief in the future of intercity passenger rail in America and Amtrak’s leading role in meeting this critical national transportation need,” said President and CEO Joseph Boardman.
 

Said Thomas Carper, chairman of the Amtrak board of directors:
“We are replacing and renewing our fleet to improve reliability of our operations, to meet passenger expectations for quality service and to be in a better position to handle the growing demand for more passenger rail service. Addressing Amtrak’s equipment need is long overdue.”
 

Amtrak has long been known for favoring hauling products over passengers. Short-term legislators have also put up roadblocks by failing to fund the national rail system’s ongoing needs.
 

Boardman said the 130 single-level passenger rail cars are similar to the popular Viewliner model and includes 25 sleeping cars, 25 diners, 55 baggage cars and 25 baggage/dormitory cars for use primarily on long-distance trains.
 

They will replace and supplement the existing fleet, improve financial and on-time performance, and foster a more modern, positive image of Amtrak, company officials told Reuters.
 

In addition, Amtrak can begin to retire some of its oldest cars still in service that date back to the 1940s and 1950s.
 

Passengers will experience many improvements with the new equipment including modern interiors with better layouts; better lighting and more efficient air conditioning and heating systems; additional outlets to power personal electronic devices; bicycle racks in the baggage cars; as well as improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
 

As it celebrates its 40th birthday — The National Railroad Passenger Corp. or Amtrak was passed by Congress in 1971 — the national rail system is rolling along faster than ever.
 

“Buoyed by continued high fuel costs, a slowly improving economy and route-specific improvements on long-distance services, ridership on Amtrak trains for the first half of a fiscal year reached nearly four million passengers, the best first half in company history,” said Amtrak Ink, the rail line’s internal pubication.
 

Ridership is projectedto reach more than 28 million passengers this year, predicted Vice President Emmett Fremaux.
 

He said the growing economy has also been a factor in Amtrak’s growth.
 

“We’re leveraging these market conditions with modest pricing actions that can sustain our ticket revenue growth without a negative reaction among our passengers,” he said.
 

The most popular trains include The City of New Orleans and the Los-Angeles-Seattle Coast Starlight. Amtrak upgraded sleeping cars, enhanced room service, and retrained employees to imrpove customer serivce. The train line even added full china service in the dinng car.
 

“The china is a big hit because it makes it feel like amore refined dining experience, even ifthey’re just eating a burger,” said Michael Provost, a rail service attendant.
 

Amtrak has traditionally been funded on a year-to-year basis without any long range planning. Amtrak officials say what they needed now — and their top priority — is a dedicated multi-year source of funds for rail infrastructure.
 

Amtrak has always been a captive of the national government, which has been reluctant to fund it.
 

Over the years, detractors of Amtrak said the US could not emulate Europe’s much-admired rail system because cities are so spread out. That was only one of many arguments against funding the rail service.
 

The Obama administration has been supportive of imporved train service in the US, long a neglected sector of transportation. They have opened discussions about the prospect of a surface transportation fund that would be available for both highway and rail projects
 

Although the railroad still has its detractors, Amtrak’s vice president for government affairs, Joe McHugh, said he believes the atmosphere today is "different."
 

"We’ve spent a lot of time talking to the new members of Congress, trying to get them to think a little bit differently about Amtrak in terms of an organization that’s doing pretty well," he said.
 

By David Wilkening