WASHINGTON – The long-distance trains that serve as the backbone of America ’s national intercity passenger rail network are attracting more passengers as Amtrak continues to implement its comprehensive and multi-year Route Performance Improvement (RPI) program.

“Amtrak long-distance trains are running strong,” said President and CEO Joseph Boardman.  “We are making changes, improving our service and passengers are responding favorably,” he said.

Boardman noted total ridership on Amtrak’s 15 long-distance trains reached nearly 4.2 million in fiscal year 2009, an increase of 13 percent from fiscal year 2006.  During the same period, the on-time performance of long-distance trains improved from 30 percent to 75 percent contributing to higher customer satisfaction scores, increasing from 65 percent to 80 percent.

This turnaround in long-distance trains is the result, in part, of the RPI process initiated by Amtrak in 2007 that focused on several routes addressing all elements of train service that impact the passenger experience.  Employee-passenger interactions, staffing levels, food service and amenities, equipment cleanliness and reliability, stations, and schedules are part of the in-depth RPI analysis.  Changes were made based on the findings.

For example, on the Coast Starlight (Los Angeles – Seattle), Amtrak upgraded sleeping cars, enhanced room service, re-trained employees to focus on high-level customer service delivery and just recently re-introduced full china service in the dining car.  In addition, on the Lake Shore Limited (Chicago – New York / Boston), Amtrak added sleeping car service to Boston, overhauled the dining cars, introduced a menu with higher quality items, and changed the schedule to depart Chicago earlier in order to arrive earlier in New York.

Boardman said Amtrak is now working on a plan to dramatically improve the performance of the Sunset Limited ( Los Angeles – New Orleans ) and increase it from tri-weekly to daily service.  The idea is to extend the daily Texas Eagle ( Chicago – San Antonio ) to Los Angeles and establish connecting service between New Orleans and San Antonio to provide an attractive daily schedule to additional communities.  The change would cut seven hours from the schedule to the west coast, provide daylight service to major cities along the route, increase ridership by more than 100,000 passengers, and improve financial performance.  Amtrak has been working with affected communities and is presently in discussions with the host freight railroad seeking its cooperation and support.  A final decision is expected later this year.

In 2010 Amtrak is expanding the RPI process into Performance Improvement Plans to include evaluation of additional financial and operational issues as well as continuing to measure customer satisfaction.  The focus is on the five poorest performing long-distance routes to identify and implement changes where possible.  In addition to the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle, the Cardinal ( Chicago – Cincinnati – New York ), Capitol Limited (Chicago – Washington , D.C. ), and California Zephyr (Chicago – Emeryville , Calif. ) are being analyzed.

About Amtrak

As the nation’s intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways.  Last fiscal year (FY 2009), the railroad carried 27.2 million passengers, making it the second-best year in the company’s history.  With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day—at speeds up to 150 mph—to more than 500 destinations.   Amtrak also is the partner of choice for state-supported corridor services in 15 states and for several commuter rail agencies. Visit Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information.

Amtrak Ridership Long-Distance Trains

FY 2006 to FY 2009

Amtrak On-Time Performance Long-Distance Trains

FY 2006 to FY 2009

Amtrak Customer Satisfaction Long-Distance Trains

FY 2006 to FY 2009

Source: >>> Foster Folly News

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Book your tickets now for travel during the school break

TORONTO, March 10 /CNW Telbec/ - March Break is almost here and seats are going fast! VIA Rail Canada wishes to encourage those planning on travelling this weekend to purchase their tickets as soon as possible to ensure availability and to take advantage of the best fares available. Discount fares are still available on certain departures just ahead of March Break. To help travelers make the most of their trip, kids, youth, students and travellers 60 years of age and over can also benefit from special discounts and savings.

Advance bookings indicate that this will be a heavy travel weekend with many VIA services from Toronto to Montreal/ Ottawa filling up quickly. VIA expects some popular train departures to sell out and advises customers to make their travel plans as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

For more information on VIA’s train schedules, fares and discounts, or to book a trip anywhere in the VIA system, customers can visit www.viarail.ca or call 1 888 VIA RAIL (842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).

Coming or going, on your own or with the family, VIA Rail can accommodate you quickly and easily. This March Break why not take a trip on the train.

For further information: Ashley Doyle, (416) 956-7613, Ashley_doyle@viarail.ca; Elizabeth Huart, (514) 871-6119, Elizabeth_huart@viarail.ca

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EMC News - It’s all aboard for a new VIA Rail train station for Smiths Falls.

While it was stated last fall that the town was among the communities, including Montreal, Windsor and Oshawa, where a new station was planned, that announcement was made official on Monday afternoon with the unveiling of plans for the Smiths Falls project inside the current station building.

The construction of the new station is a “key element” of VIA’s vision to make the passenger train “an even more convenient, comfortable and environmentally-wise method of travel than it already is,” Magdy Fahmy, VIA Rail Canada’s senior director of real estate, told those in attendance at the media briefing.

While numerous sites were considered for the project, Fahmy said the location selected on the edge of town on Union Street, about 1.5 kilometres down the rail line from the existing station, was determined by VIA, in consultation with its Canadian Pacific colleagues, to offer multiple benefits.

“It provides the space and access we require to provide the highest level of service to the Smiths Falls area,” he noted, adding that the site was within “easy reach” of the downtown, and had road access. “And it has room for growth.”

Although the number of parking spaces at the new location has been reduced from the 26 originally proposed to 18, Fahmy said at yesterday’s event he feels that number is “more than ample.” Likewise, he said the Union Street location was “ideal” from an operational point-of-view.

“The current location has long been a bottleneck for VIA and CP,” he stated. “It is in the middle of the very busy junction of five railway subdivisions, including our own Smiths Falls Subdivision to Ottawa. All too often, passenger and freight trains compete for track time at the current location.”

While the construction start date for the new station is as yet an unknown, the project is expected to be tendered as soon as construction drawings are completed. What is known is that the building will be finished by the end of the year.

As to the look of the new 400 sq. ft. station, it will be “fully-accessible,” according to Fahmy, with standard features such as benches and washrooms.

“We believe it will be an efficient environmentally-sound and attractive addition to your lovely town,” he remarked. “We’ve worked hard to ensure that it will be in harmony with its surroundings and your community’s rich railway heritage. We hope you’ll agree when it opens to serve you.”

Continue reading >>> Smiths Falls EMC

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Some are calling the Rocky Mountaineer Alberta Train to Whistler during the Olympics a ‘marketing opportunity of a lifetime.’

Sandy Best with the The Lake Louise Ski Area says the our provincial government turned down an offer to run a train like this because of the costs. “At the end of the day, all of the world’s media and decision makers for travel are getting on an Albertan train to ride to a B.C. venue. And after they have enjoyed Whistler don’t get me wrong, its a killer mountain - awesome - can’t take away what they are doing, but the first thing they see in the morning and the last thing they see at night is Alberta.”

He also has been promoting tourism every step of the way. “The president of Mexicana Airlines is onboard. I would have to cut my right leg off, sell my children, do something insane, just to get 15 minutes with him. Here he is on the train, he is enjoying the scenery, Alberta food, Alberta hospitality; I get a chance to get to know him.”

Despite this, Best says the government of Alberta was criticized for spending the money to run this $7 million luxury train. For more information, take a look here.

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Railway Map Guide:British Columbia & Canadian Rockies

Alberta spent $14 million promoting itself at the Vancouver Olympics, but officials say the money was well spent and predict it will attract enough business to the province to recoup the full amount several times over.

Cindy Ady, minister of tourism, parks and recreation, said Tuesday that the money the province spent on the three-year promotional campaign will be more than recouped through new business and tourism deals for Alberta.

Ady estimated the Olympic campaign would bring in about $70 million in business and tourism deals over the next two to three years.

Her department spent $6 million, including the cost of renting the Rocky Mountaineer train to run between Vancouver and Whistler adorned with logos advertising Alberta.

Around 2,800 people rode the train, including influential tour operators and travel writers, said Ady.

“The rights to the train cost us $4 million, and because we sold into private industry on several of the cars and were able to generate even more business for the province of Alberta, we netted back 50 per cent of the cost of the train,” Ady said. “So, the train cost the Alberta taxpayers $2 million.”

The Mountaineer will remain painted with Alberta logos for the rest of this year’s tourist season.

The Department of Culture and Community Spirit spent another $8 million to help Alberta artists take part in the Cultural Olympiad and perform at Alberta House, the provincial pavilion built to showcase the province at the Games.

“Alberta’s vibrant culture was showcased through the Cultural Olympiad and other arts programming connected to the Games,” said Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett.

The province said Alberta House and Alberta Plaza each attracted thousands of visitors, who came to see free concerts and other performances.

Read more: CBC News

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Railway Map Guide:British Columbia & Canadian Rockies

SMITHS FALLS, ON, March 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Media are invited to attend a short media briefing at the Smiths Falls VIA Rail train station. Mayor Dennis W. Staples, Mr. Michael Murphy, Vice-president, Public Affairs, Canadian Pacific Railway and Mr. Magdy Fahmy, VIA Rail Canada’s Senior Director, Purchasing and Real Estate, will be announcing an important investment in the Smiths Falls VIA Rail station and the rail infrastructure.

When: Monday, March 8, 2010, 02:00 PM
Where: Smiths Falls Station, 63 Victoria, Smiths Falls, ON

For further information: Elizabeth Huart, VIA Rail Canada, (514) 887-6119, Elizabeth_huart@viarail.ca

Canada By Train: The Complete VIA Rail Travel Guide

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The federal government is investing $6.3 million in a new Via Rail station in Windsor, Ont.

The station is to be built by the fall of 2011 near the existing site at the foot of Walker Road, a news release says.

The Walkerville station was built by Canadian National in the early 1960s and expanded by Via in 1982. The majority of the funding for the station replacing it will come from the federal economic action plan.

The project is linked to other work now under way or soon to start along the Quebec-Windsor corridor, the release said.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2010/03/01/windsor-via-station.html#ixzz0hYoA49sy

Canada By Train: The Complete VIA Rail Travel Guide

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Rocky Mountaineer is changing its schedule starting in April, bringing a steadier flow of tourists through Kamloops.

James Terry, the rail tour company’s executive vice-president and chief operations officer, will discuss the change this evening in a presentation to the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association’s AGM. The meeting takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Plaza Heritage Hotel, 405 Victoria St.

Instead of simultaneous departures from Calgary and Vancouver arriving in Kamloops at the same time, the company will stagger departures. This means Rocky Mountaineer trains will be pulling into Kamloops six consecutive days a week, excluding Saturdays, instead of three times a week.

“Obviously we’re marketing and selling like crazy to get back to where we were prior to last year’s challenges,” Terry said. “We see better opportunities for growth.”

Although visitor numbers won’t necessarily change overall, the experience should be enhanced with only half the passengers arriving at the same time, he noted.

Source: Kamloops Daily News

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Railway Map Guide:British Columbia & Canadian Rockies

Firefighters are at the scene of a blaze at the Halifax train station. Crews were called to the Via Rail station on Hollis Street at 3:23 p.m. after workers inside reported a strong smell of smoke, fire spokesman Dave Meldrum said. They building’s fire alarm system hadn’t yet sounded, but was ringing when firefighters arrived, he said. The train station and offices were evacuated and firefighters got to work.

It was believed the fire was in the basement, but firefighters found that flames had spread inside the walls on the second and third floors, Meldrum said. Crews on the scene believed they had the fire contained shortly after 4 p.m., Divisional Chief Meldrum said.

It’s not yet known when people will be allowed back inside the building.

By PATRICIA BROOKS ARENBURG, Chronicle.ca

(pbrooks@herald.ca)

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Amtrak, the U.S. long-distance passenger railroad, said it needs $11 billion in new rail equipment during the next 14 years and is examining ways to fund the purchases.

A report released today by the Washington-based carrier outlined the plan and possible sources of capital, including money set aside by Congress, U.S. loans and commercial financing. The equipment includes 25 high-speed “trainsets” like those used in the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston, 334 locomotives and 1,200 rail cars, Amtrak said.

“We have been concurrently looking at funding options” while writing the fleet plan, Steve Kulm, an Amtrak spokesman, said in an interview. “And now we can focus all our efforts on funding options.”

Source: Bloomberg Business Week >>> continue reading

USA West By Train: The Complete Amtrak Travel Guide

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