Amtrak unveils first rail car funded by stimulus

[JeffreyS]

Amtrak unveils first rail car funded by stimulus

By RANDALL CHASE - Associated Press Writer 
http://www.bradenton.com/971/story/1593113.html



Amtrak has wasted little time using its $1.3 billion slice of the federal stimulus package, unveiling the first of 81 passenger cars to be restored with the help of economic recovery funds.

Passenger car no. 25103, damaged a few years ago in a yard collision but now completely refurbished â€" complete with that “new car” interior smell â€" was shown off recently at Amtrak’s maintenance facility in Delaware. More than 100 hard-hatted workers joined Amtrak president and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman in celebrating completion of its restoration.

The car, refitted at a cost of about $687,000, will be used on long-distance routes stretching from Toronto to Miami. With ridership increasing by about 25 percent over the past three years, Amtrak is welcoming the additional seating capacity that will be provided by cars brought out of storage for repairs.



Members of Delaware’s congressional delegation said that while past presidents seemed cool to the needs of mass transit, the Obama administration seems to truly believe in passenger rail.

“Our day has come,” said Democratic Sen. Tom Carper.

Republican Rep. Michael Castle acknowledged that he was no fan of the $787 billion stimulus package, but said he wants to ensure that Amtrak remains a viable mode of transportation.

“I think we have an administration that cares, and I think the vice president has a lot to do with that,” said Castle, referring to Vice President Joseph Biden, who rode the rails regularly during his long career in the Senate.

The funds allocated to Amtrak are part of the $9.3 billion set aside in the stimulus package for rail transportation. State governments, as well as Amtrak, are competing for a share of the other $8 billion available.

Some of the other proposals being discussed include a Chicago - St. Louis high-speed line that could cut travel times to two hours from the current five, an 800-mile-long high-speed line stretching along the California coast, and a proposal by governors of New England states to improve and expand train service throughout that region.

Amtrak expects to spend about $90 million in stimulus money it’s already been awarded to upgrade 81 passenger cars and 15 diesel locomotives â€" part of the $845 million in stimulus funds allocated for railroad and station capital improvements. The agency will spend another $450 million in stimulus money for security upgrades at stations, bridges, tunnels and other locations.

Amtrak has added a third shift and hired 55 workers at its heavy maintenance facility in Delaware, which is responsible for the overhaul and wreck repair of passenger railcars, to help restore a total of 60 cars by February 2011 at a cost of $58 million. Amtrak’s chief mechanical officer, Vince Nesci, described the undertaking as a “pretty ambitious and aggressive project.”

Similar work is slated for Amtrak shops in Beech Grove, Ind., where 21 out-of-service passenger cars will be rebuilt.

[FayeforCure]

Amtrak unveils first rail car funded by stimulus

By RANDALL CHASE - Associated Press Writer 
http://www.bradenton.com/971/story/1593113.html



Amtrak has wasted little time using its $1.3 billion slice of the federal stimulus package, unveiling the first of 81 passenger cars to be restored with the help of economic recovery funds.

Passenger car no. 25103, damaged a few years ago in a yard collision but now completely refurbished â€" complete with that “new car” interior smell â€" was shown off recently at Amtrak’s maintenance facility in Delaware. More than 100 hard-hatted workers joined Amtrak president and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman in celebrating completion of its restoration.

The car, refitted at a cost of about $687,000, will be used on long-distance routes stretching from Toronto to Miami. With ridership increasing by about 25 percent over the past three years, Amtrak is welcoming the additional seating capacity that will be provided by cars brought out of storage for repairs.



Members of Delaware’s congressional delegation said that while past presidents seemed cool to the needs of mass transit, the Obama administration seems to truly believe in passenger rail.

The funds allocated to Amtrak are part of the $9.3 billion set aside in the stimulus package for rail transportation. State governments, as well as Amtrak, are competing for a share of the other $8 billion available.

Amtrak has added a third shift and hired 55 workers at its heavy maintenance facility in Delaware, which is responsible for the overhaul and wreck repair of passenger railcars, to help restore a total of 60 cars by February 2011 at a cost of $58 million. Amtrak’s chief mechanical officer, Vince Nesci, described the undertaking as a “pretty ambitious and aggressive project.”

Similar work is slated for Amtrak shops in Beech Grove, Ind., where 21 out-of-service passenger cars will be rebuilt.

Ah, the creation of jobs!!

Let's remember that Cliff Stearns, Ander Crenshaw and John Mica, our local congressmen, ALL voted AGAINST these jobs.

They voted against the stimulus money for Florida and all the jobs that would be created!

[Ocklawaha]

GE P-40 Locomotive

Nice find Faye, it's a bit dated as far as the industry goes, but it's just now hitting the news. Amtrak jumped on this and snapped up those dollars faster then a steel trap, good for them. So much of the fleet is sitting behind the shops in Indiana, Miami, Sanford, and Delaware, that the resemble great railroad graveyards. With almost no funding (compaired to highways, airlines, pipelines, and waterways) it got so bad that Amtrak was nearly having to park cars when light bulbs burned out. Several trains were planned and improvements on several others and every plan put on a back burner because there were NO CARS available. This program will include 60 Amfleet cars (low level cars without sideframes on the trucks, they date from the Penn Central and early Amtrak era), 21 Superliners (two level cars used on the Sunset and Autotrain), and 15 P-40 Locomotives.


Amfleet car

The UPSIDE of this is, IF WE HAD CITY LEADERSHIP, we have one of the most skilled industrial and railroad work forces in the nation. The newest Amtrak equipment is 10 years old. When these 81+ cars are repaired, Amtrak plans to order a whole new class of equipment. The first order will be for more Viewliner cars (single level East Coast equipment) designed back in the 1980's. Expect an RFP on this shortly. It will include new sleepers, dining car, crew / sleeper and/or crew/baggage combine. The minimum order will be for 25 diners, 15 sleepers, and 75 baggage cars, 115 total to start. Then a whole new RFP for a as yet unfinished design that only myself and Stephendare heard about at the FRA circus in Orlando. Guess what Jacksonville? Yeah, YOU Jacksonville, with your massive station misused and a Amshack for a depot... You the city with 40+ railroad HQ's, plus complete shops for Florida East Coast, TTX and Watco Railroads. With SHIPBUILDERS along our waterfront, heavy steel, pipefitters, welders and a world famous Transportation Program at UNF? Couldn't we join this effort somehow?


Single level VIEWLINER sleeper with bunk bed windows

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE AMERICAN BUILDER OF RAILROAD PASSENGER CARS!

But don't sweat the jobs. Our City Council will never vote, even a nonbinding resolution of support for Amtrak, because our Republican Party "daddy's" have labeled: freeways as free, airlines essential, and waterways vital to the future of the nation, but all railroad passenger deals are BAD! Subsidized monsters that will consume our city budget. Time to pull your heads out Jacksonville!

OCKLAWAHA