[il-talk] a potential positive amtrak article

[Robert A. Hansen (Other)]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2013
AT
K
-13-022
Contact: Media Relations
202 906.3860
AMTRAK COVERS 88% OF OPERA
TING COSTS
Federal capital investment
supports future growth
WASHINGTON -- Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman told a Congressional
committee today that America's Railroad
®
is leveraging record ride
rship to reduce dependence
on federal operating subsidies. He announced that in FY 2012 the federal 
government paid just
12 percent of Amtrak's operating costs while Amtr
ak covered 88 percent with ticket sales and
other revenue.
Boardman explained that while the railroad
has taken actions to chip away at operating
costs and increase revenue, a vi
tal component of its success has
been the federal government's
willingness to invest in the Amtrak national netw
ork. Federal capital investment helps to reduce
operating costs, supports the existing system, fund
s solutions to reduce future costs and provides
the infrastructure and equipment to
sustain ridership and revenue growth.
"Previous federal capital investment levels
have sufficed to keep the system going, but
they are not going to be adequate in the future,"
Boardman stressed. "If
we are to realize rail's
potential, we will need much higher
levels of federal capital funding."
He added that the Amtrak long distance trains are an important part of a 
larger national
network connecting rural communities to larger
cities and major urban areas. They serve
passengers with disabilities, the
elderly and rural populations that
are losing scheduled intercity
air and bus service. In fact, long distance trains
bring one million riders a year to the Northeast
Corridor.
A copy of his presentation is attached and can be found
here
.
About Amtrak®
Amtrak is America's Railroad
®
, the nation's intercity passenger rail service and its high-speed rail 
operator. A
record 31.2 million passengers traveled on Amtrak in FY 2012 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. Amtr
ak operates
intercity trains in partnership with 15 states and contract
s with 13 commuter rail agenci
es to provide a variety of
services. Enjoy the journey® at Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for 
schedules, fares and more information.
Join us on facebook.com/Amtrak and follow us at twitter.com/Amtrak.
# # #
Freight and Passenger
Rail in America's
Transportation System
Testimony before the Railroads, Pipelines
and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of
the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee
Joseph H. Boardman
President & CEO

-- 
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