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ESPA Empire State Passenger Association

About
News
Get Involved
Resources/FAQs
Events
Travel Information
Join ESPA
- Membership Renewals
Membership Account
Contact

March 7, 2020

William Flynn Named New Amtrak President

New Amtrak CEO/President William (Bill) Flynn to take over from Richard Anderson on April 15.

Need to replace Livingston Ave Bridge (LAB) gets call out from the Albany Times Union
The Albany Times Union ran a business article and opinion editorial on the need to replace the Livingston Ave Bridge (LAB) that carries Amtrak trains over the Hudson River between Rensselaer and Albany.
Governor Cuomo Announces Grand Opening of Moynihan Train Hall in New York City
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the grand opening of Moynihan Train Hall, a 255,000-square-foot train hall designed for the 21st century in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, expanding Penn Station west into the James A. Farley Post Office Building.
Metro-North & LIRR Mark Completion of PTC Implementation
Positive Train Control milestone was reached eight days ahead of a federally mandated deadline to have the safety overlay system functioning on all required lines and locomotives.
Readers sound off on bridge and tunnel plans: Let’s rethink our infrastructure
George Haikalis -- President of the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility and ESPA Manhattan Coordinator -- had a letter-to-the-editor printed in the New York Daily News on the nominated U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and building new rail tunnels in New York City.
MTA vote could open way for new trains upstate
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board is expected to approve a contract for at least 19 new locomotives from Siemens, opening the way for the New York State Department of Transportation to exercise their options to purchase new locomotives to replace Amtrak dual-modes operating beyond its expected life span.
MTA selects Siemens to build new Dual Mode locomotives
This week, Metro-North is seeking MTA Board approval to award a $335 million contract to Siemens Mobility for the design and manufacture of 27 new dual mode locomotives, the first in a new line of engines on a contract that includes options for up to 144 additional locomotives.
Amtrak: Clock is ticking for 110-year-old Hudson River rail tunnels
Work can't wait for planned Gateway Project replacement, according to not-yet-finished document reviewed by Associated Press
"Hey, what about Albany?" By the Times Union Editorial Board
A passenger rail expansion plan in Massachusetts stops short of the state line. Bringing it to the Capital Region could benefit both the Bay and Empire states.
New Buffalo Exchange Street Station Opens in Downtown Buffalo
Build on the historic site of the previous Exchange Street stations, the new station was constructed on time and on budget, being twice the size of the city's previous rail station.
Adirondack Rail-Trail Construction Begins
NYSDOT finally broke ground on the Adirondack Rail Trail at the start of November. Both the rail-trail and planned railroad upgrades are part of the 2020 Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan, which aims to bolster tourism and outdoor recreation along the 119-mile travel corridor.
Alan S. Boyd, former Amtrak president and the first USDOT secretary, dies at the age of 98
Mr. Boyd was a champion of passenger rail service, a focus that brought him to Amtrak in 1978. In the 1980s he was also part of an effort to bring the Japanese Shinkansen to California for the LA-San Diego 'Surf Line' corridor.
With COVID-19 pandemic cutbacks, some Amtrak trains now sold out
The Albany Times Union reports that Amtrak's move this month to cut train frequencies, and costs, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has left accommodations on some long-distance trains sold out.
Content Studio Publishes 2020/2021 Edition of Amtrak’s New York By Rail Magazine
The 2020/2021 100-page magazine edition of New York By Rail, an official Amtrak publication for 17 years running, was published in late September by Content Studio @ Martinelli Custom Publishing.
Rail Supporter NYS Senator Joe Bruno Dead at 91, 1929 – 2020
Retired NY State Senator Joseph L. Bruno (R - Rensselaer) is dead at the age of 91. The Senator was a good friend of passenger rail – including securing funding for the Albany-Rensselaer Rail Station.
APTA Study Finds No Correlation Between Transit Use & Spread of COVID-19 Virus
A study commissioned by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) says no correlation has been found between use of public transport and the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Amtrak Announces Positive Train Control Completion
“Completing PTC installation and implementation is a key component of Amtrak’s overarching commitment to the safety performance of intercity passenger rail for our customers, employees and the communities we serve,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President Chief Safety Officer Steve Predmore. “As leaders in PTC installation, Amtrak is pleased to achieve this milestone, and we will continue to work together with all of our partners to improve safety across the rail network.”
Where the Railroad Meets the Farmer
A train trip through Upstate New York aboard Amtrak takes you past many farms; fields of corn, apple orchards, and dairy cows flashing by outside the window. Yet there is one place along the Empire Corridor where the state’s cornucopia of agricultural abundance comes in direct contact with our intercity passenger rail system – the farmers market at the Utica train station.
COVID-19 is Not the End of Passenger Rail
As rail advocates, we have been seeing over the past months versions of this anti-rail argument printed recently in a opinion piece from the Washington Times stating that the plans proposed by former-VP Joe Biden to build up America’s public transit and passenger rail infrastructure and services is now unworkable because of the plunge in ridership during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that still ravages America. Of course what is ignored by these arguments is the equally collapsed demand for airlines and rideshare companies.
Amtrak Inspector General to Examine Cost-Sharing on State-Supported Routes
Amtrak's Office of Inspector General is initiating an audit of Amtrak’s processes for managing cost-sharing on state-supported routes. They're objective will be to evaluate the company’s actions to address longstanding concerns with the PRIIA 209 cost-sharing methodology and the company’s billing process with its State partners.
Stimulating the NY-NJ-CT Region’s Economy by Advancing Cost-Effective Transport Strategies
Long before the Covid-19 pandemic devastated the health and economic well-being of the 23 million persons living in the NY-NJ-CT urban region, NYC-based nonprofit IRUM called for advancing, affordable, cost effective transportation infrastructure projects and sensible operating strategies that would greatly improve the region’s mobility and stimulate its economy.
Scenic Hudson, U.S. Reps Urge Amtrak To Preserve Access To The Hudson River
WMAC reports that: "Amtrak is back at the drawing board with plans for a fencing project along the Hudson River. Railroad officials say the project is to improve safety and will include preserving public access to the river. Elected officials and environmentalists are concerned about just how much access will be included, and what it will look like"
To Utica for a Haircut, via Amtrak
A train enthusiast and ESPA member Kent Patterson takes Amtrak to Utica for a haircut at the Union Station Barber Shop and stays at the historic Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Utica amid the coronavirus outbreak. Blog Post from New York By Rail Magazine.
Traveling on Amtrak Amid COVID-19
Recent University of Buffalo graduate travels on Amtrak during the COVID-19 era to get home for her supposed college graduation weekend. Here's what she wants to share. Blog Post from New York By Rail Magazine.
Senator Markey Introduces “BRAIN TRAIN” Act to Significantly Expand Intercity Passenger Rail
This legislation if passed by the US Congress would authorizes $5 billion annually, for a total of $25 billion over five years, to invest in “high-performance” intercity passenger rail service that will connect communities within a state, across states, and around the country.
MassDOT holds East-West Study Advisory Committee Meeting on Zoom
Today on June 10th, 2020 meeting of the East-West Study Advisory Committee was held online on Zoom. The meeting was recorded and posted online, with the presentation posted on the East-West Rail website.
FRA Announces the Availability of $291 Million for Intercity Passenger Rail Infrastructure
ESPA hopes that Governor Andrew Cuomo and the State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will not allow a great opportunity to fund continued investment in the infrastructure that is the foundation of our Upstate NY intercity rail passenger rail service
Serviced Detoured from Buffalo Exchange Street Station for Station Construction
Track and signaling construction work as part of the Buffalo-Exchange Street Station project will require temporary detour of service from downtown.
Amtrak Celebrates 49th Anniversery
In honor of its 49th anniversery on May 1, 2020, Amtrak's new President/CEO William Flynn released a YouTube video message!
Amtrak Requires Masks
Effective today, Amtrak will require all customer-facing employees wear a facial covering of some kind — a mask if available— and strongly encourages all other employees and passengers to wear coverings.
Amtrak Nationwide Service Changes
Amtrak Goes To Pre-Packaged Meals On Western Trains; Makes Other Temporary Changes To Long-Distance Service
William Flynn Named New Amtrak President
New Amtrak CEO/President William (Bill) Flynn to take over from Richard Anderson on April 15.

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