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Amtrak celebrates 50 years, focuses on expansion plans and new or improved rail corridors across U.S.

May 4th, 2021

Flanked by a few Amtrak locomotives, President Joe Biden and Amtrak executives paid homage to the past and shared Amtrak’s bold vision for the future on the 50th anniversary of the passenger railroad. Streamed live from Gray 30th Street Station in Philadelphia on April 30, the ceremony highlighted the remarkable contributions of Amtrak employees past and present as well as ambitious plans to expand and improve rail service for the future.

“Today we have a once in a generation opportunity to position Amtrak, and rail, and intercity rail, as well in general to play a central role in our transformation of transportation and economic future,” President Biden said.

One of Amtrak’s two 50th Anniversary Train’s on hand at the ceremony is headed by P42 No. 46, which is already in service. – Amtrak

CEO Bill Flynn, who has lobbied strongly for government funding since taking over leadership of the Amtrak in April 2020, said the railroad’s survival the next half-century depends on a long-term commitment.

“America needs a rail network that offers frequent, reliable, sustainable and equitable train service,” he said. “Amtrak has the vision and expertise to deliver it, now we need Congress to provide the funding for the next 50 years.”

Amtrak has big plans to enhance service and improve infrastructure. Over the next 15 years, Amtrak’s vision for expansion will connect up to 160 communities throughout the U.S. by building new or improved rail corridors in over 25 states. Amtrak will introduce new stations across half of the country, increase rail service to 47 of the top 50 metropolitan areas and create over half a million new jobs.

“Whether by safely and conveniently connecting more people, towns and cities to each other or as part of a low-carbon transportation system helping combat climate change, America needs more Amtrak service,” Amtrak President Stephen Gardner said. “We are ready to deliver on our vision of providing safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable transportation services to more people in more places across the nation.”

Major infrastructure investments are apparent up and down the Northeast Corridor, including the Gateway Program and the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel Replacement Program. Planned improvements will increase track capacity, enhance ride quality and offer greater reliability.

Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia said projects like Gateway will allow Amtrak to play a key role in proving the nation’s ability to undertake generational projects, “and we expect our next chapter to include setting the stage for true high-speed rail in the United States.”

Next year, Amtrak will debut the first new Acela high-speed trains as part of a fleet overhaul. Even sooner, customers will begin riding new state-owned railcars in the Midwest and California and diesel-electric locomotives will go into service this summer. Overnight trains with refreshed interiors on Superliner bi-level coaches, sleeping cars, lounges and dining cars are also coming in the next several months.

Also, Amtrak expects to purchase of a new fleet of 83 Intercity Train Sets this summer. The sets will provide modern rail amenities to better serve Amtrak customers on the Northeast Corridor and various state-supported routes.

Amtrak station modernization projects are also underway in major cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia to enhance the travel experience and make it more accessible. In January, in partnership with the State of New York, Amtrak opened Moynihan Train Hall, its new home in New York City.

  • Light Rail / Commuter
  • Current Issue: May/June 2023

     

     

    INSIDE THIS ISSUE

  • Rock Solid

    In the past four years, Mike Armstrong’s HO Rock Island Lines has received much attention in the model railroad press and is one of 30 or more layouts that will be on tour at the NMRA National Convention, Aug. 20-26 in Grapevine, TX. Growing up in Nevada, IA, in the 1960s, Armstrong learned to appreciate the six major roads that ran through the state and others that juked around the Central U.S. While the Rock Island Lines covers the Mid-Continent Route from Inver Grove Yard in St. Paul, MN, to Armourdale Yard in Kansas City. several Midwestern railroads make frequent cameo appearances. Like it was when he grew up in the 1960s, Armstrong is in the middle of all the action.

     

  • Patience. Tenacity. Skill

    When a bright 14-year-old wowed model railroaders decades his senior with custom O-gauge switches in his Illinois basement in the 1970s, it heralded the second coming of three-rail. Since then, Ross Custom Switches has cemented itself into model train history with the country’s largest offering of O-gauge items. The company makes track and switches for both the discerning modeler who strives for a prototypical look and the guy who just likes toy trains

     

     

  • Cowboy and Cactus Country

    Southern Pacific’s NEW Golden Gate touted Arizona’s “cowboy and cactus country” for a ride from El Paso, TX, to Los Angeles in the golden era of passenger trains.

     

  • PLUS…

    GVT Rail has big plans for its new ALCO PA “Nickel Plate Road No. 190.” The railroad company recently purchased the restored locomotive from a top rail preservationist. …

     

    April’s Rocky Mountain Train Show accomplished its mission in April of increasing attendance and adding more exhibitors. …

     

    Project Layout: The N-scale Whitehurst & Pine Ridge Railroad solves a switching puzzle for a cement distributor in Pine Ridge with help from its Class I parent. …

     

     

    THESE STORIES AND MORE, PLUS A FULL CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND THE BUSINESS PULSE OF THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY!

     

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  • Back Issues

    Miss the January/February 2023 issue or other Cowcatcher editions? Be sure to check out our Back Issues page for any issues you may have missed. We have expanded descriptions for issues published beginning in 2007. Click here to order.

     

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  • Product News & Review

    InterMountain HO ADM Corn Syrup Car

     

    The Cowcatcher reviews InterMountain Railway Co.’s newly released HO-scale Trinity Industries 19,600-gallon corn syrup car. The tank car is one of several in the company’s second release.

     

    More product reviews!

     

    See product news!

     

  • Railroad in Focus

    Cowcatcher Magazine routinely features short lines and regional railroads that roam the Midwest and Southwest. Features include color photographs and maps, but an overview of operations and latest business trends.

     



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    UPDATED! Visit the new N-scale Whitehurst & Pine Ridge Railroad, the official model railroad of the Cowcatcher Magazine, and track progress. All aboard!
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