Amtrak

Amtrak is the trademark name of the intercity passenger train system created on May 1, 1971 in the United States. Formally known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, the trademark name Amtrak is a portmanteau of the words America, travel and track.

Trains and tracks

Tracks owned by the company

Along the NEC and in several other areas, Amtrak owns 730 route-miles of track (1175 km), including 17 tunnels consisting of 29.7 miles of track (47.8 km), and 1,186 bridges (including the famous Hell Gate Bridge) consisting of 42.5 miles (68.4 km) of track. Amtrak owns and operates the following lines. http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44882

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Northeast Corridor (electrified railway)

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The Northeast Corridor, or NEC, between Washington, D.C. and Boston via Philadelphia and New York, is largely composed of Amtrak's own tracks. These are combined with those of several state and regional commuter agencies in what amounts to a cooperative arrangement. Amtrak's portion of the NEC was acquired in 1976 as a result of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act.

Related Topics:
Washington, D.C. - Boston - Philadelphia - New York - 1976 - Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act

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• Boston to the Massachusetts/Rhode Island state line (operated and maintained by Amtrak but owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
• 118.3 miles (190.4 km), Massachusetts/Rhode Island state line to New Haven, Connecticut
• 240 miles (386 km), New Rochelle, New York to Washington, D.C.

Keystone Corridor (electrified railway)

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This line runs from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and is in the midst of a rehabilitation project that will eventually see 110 mph (about 175 km/h) service.

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• 104 miles (167 km), Philadelphia to Harrisburg (Pennsylvanian and Keystone)

Empire Corridor

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• 11 miles (18 km), New York Penn Station to Spuyten Duyvil, New York
• 35.9 miles (57.8 km), Stuyvesant to Schenectady, New York (operated and maintained by Amtrak, but owned by CSX)
• 8.5 miles (13.8 km), Schenectady to Hoffmans, New York

;New Haven-Springfield Corridor

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• 55 miles (89 km), New Haven to Springfield (Regional and Vermonter)

;Chicago-Detroit Corridor

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• 98 miles (158 km), Porter, Indiana to Kalamazoo, Michigan (Wolverine)
• 4 miles (6 km) in Detroit, Michigan, CP Townline to CP West Detroit (Wolverine)

;Other tracks

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• 12.42 miles (20 km), Post Road Junction to Rensselaer, New York (Lake Shore Limited)

Amtrak also owns station and yard tracks in: Chicago, Hialeah (near Miami, Florida) (leased from the State of Florida), Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Oakland (Kirkham Street Yard), Orlando, Portland, Oregon, Saint Paul, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, DC

Related Topics:
Chicago - Hialeah - Miami, Florida - Los Angeles - New Orleans - New York City - Oakland - Orlando - Portland, Oregon - Saint Paul, Minnesota - Seattle - Washington, DC

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Amtrak wholly owns the Chicago Union Station Company (Chicago Union Station) and Penn Station Leasing (New York Penn Station). It has a 99.7% interest in the Washington Terminal Company (Washington Union Station) and 99% of 30th Street Limited (Philadelphia 30th Street Station). Also owned by Amtrak is Passenger Railroad Insurance. http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/02financial.pdf

Related Topics:
Chicago Union Station Company - Chicago Union Station - Penn Station Leasing - New York Penn Station - Washington Terminal Company - Washington Union Station - 30th Street Limited - 30th Street Station - Passenger Railroad Insurance

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Motive power and rolling stock

Amtrak operates 425 locomotives (351 diesel and 74 electric), 2,141 railroad cars including several types of passenger cars (including 168 sleeper cars, 760 coach cars, 126 first class/business class cars, 66 dormitory/crew cars, 225 lounge/café/dinette cars, and 92 dining cars). Many are Superliner I and II models, Amfleet I and II, Horizon Fleet. The newest sleeping car in service is the Viewliner. Baggage cars, autoracks for Auto Train service, and maintenance of way rolling stock make up the remainder of the fleet. The original cars that Amtrak inherited from the railroads in 1971 are known as the Heritage Fleet and are almost all retired.

Related Topics:
Locomotive - Railroad car - Passenger cars - Sleeper car - Dining car - Superliner - Amfleet - Horizon Fleet - Viewliner - Autorack - Auto Train - Maintenance of way - Heritage Fleet

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Twenty Acela Express trainsets have been used to provide popular high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor between South Station in Boston and Union Station in Washington D.C. This service has been so popular, in fact, that the Acela trains even cover their "above the rail" costs (operating expenses, but not capital to maintain infrastructure).

Related Topics:
Acela Express - High-speed rail - Northeast Corridor - South Station - Union Station

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However, the innovative service has not been without problems. In April 2005, all 20 trainsets were removed from service indefinitely to repair cracked rotors in their disc brakes. As of September, 2005, most had been returned to service.

Related Topics:
April 2005 - Disc brake

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