FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ATK-11-067
May 4, 2011 Contact: Media Relations
202 906.3860
AMTRAK SPRING-SUMMER TIMETABLE EFFECTIVE MAY 9
Celebrates 40th anniversary of America’s Railroadsm
WASHINGTON – The Amtrak 2011 Spring-Summer System Timetable takes effect on
May 9 and celebrates the 40th anniversary of America’s Railroadsm. The magazine-style booklet
is now available in stations and can be ordered online at [Link].
Most changes in the new timetable are minor or seasonal, but the publication reflects
schedules issued since the Fall-Winter 2010 timetable, including changes to the Keystone Service
and Empire Service. Another schedule change of note is a 30-minute earlier origination at
Chicago for the eastbound Capitol
Limited (Train 30) to Washington.
“The new timetable is a
great planning tool travelers can use
to find the right Amtrak train to get
them where they are going with
comfort and ease so they can enjoy
the journey,” said President and
CEO Joseph Boardman.
The 40th anniversary
celebration is occurring during a period of long-term growth that has seen Amtrak set annual
ridership records in seven of the last eight fiscal years, including more than 28.7 million
passengers in FY 2010 – and Amtrak is on track to set a new record this year.
Boardman noted Amtrak has added capacity to some trains by returning to service newly
restored and refurbished passenger rail cars using funds from the American Reinvestment and
Recovery Act. Still, given increased demand due in part to higher fuel prices for personal cars
and trucks, Boardman said passenger demand for Amtrak service is increasingly resulting in
sold-out conditions on some trains and Amtrak must increase the size of its railcar fleet.
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Amtrak 40th Anniversary Background
The federal government created the National Railroad Passenger Corporation during a time when the private
railroads were getting out the of the passenger rail business. In the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, national
leaders decided that maintaining a “modern, efficient, intercity rail passenger service is a necessary part of a
balanced transportation system.” Later adopting Amtrak as our name, the railroad’s national mission was most
recently reaffirmed by Congress and the President in the Passenger Rail Improvement and Investment Act of 2008.
While the 40th anniversary provides an opportunity to look back at each of the great transitions in the history of the
railroad — the formation of the company in 1970-1971, the transfer of the Northeast Corridor to Amtrak in 1976,
and the introduction of 150 mph (241 kph) high-speed Acela Express service in 2000 — Amtrak is committed to
providing our country with the transportation choices it will need in the future.
Amtrak is actively planning for next-generation 220-mph high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor, and
is beginning to implement a fleet renewal program to provide new, modern and more reliable equipment for
passengers and to meet anticipated future service expansion.
Amtrak is offering several ways the public can join in on the celebration, including a special fare promotion and an
anniversary website at [Link] full of historical photographs and other materials, along with a book and a
documentary DVD.
In addition, the Amtrak Exhibit Train will be touring the country for a one year period after making its debut at the
National Train Day event in Washington, D.C., on May 7. The free exhibit showcases Amtrak history over the
decades, displaying memorabilia such as vintage advertising, past menus and dinnerware, and period uniforms.
About Amtrak®:
Celebrating 40 years of dedicated service as America’s Railroadsm, Amtrak is the nation’s intercity passenger rail
provider and its only high-speed rail operator. A record 28.7 million passengers traveled on Amtrak in FY 2010 on
more than 300 daily trains – at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph) – that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia
and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak operates trains in partnership with 15 states and four commuter rail
agencies. Amtrak also is a strong financial performer achieving an 85 percent cost-recovery ratio in FY 2010.
Enjoy the journeysm at [Link] or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information. Join us on
[Link]/Amtrak and follow us at [Link]/Amtrak.
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