ink
A Monthly Publication for and by Amtrak Employees
Volume 16 • Issue 4 • April 2011
Full Power
Ahead:
‘Green’ Efforts
Gain Public
Praise
Locomotive 500 on the Heartland Flyer
route — which runs on 20 percent
biodiesel fuel — plays a lead role in
the company’s search for alternative
sources of energy.
Photo: M. S. “Mick” Nussbaum
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
put
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Amtrak Employee and Customer Communications
ink
Vol. 16, Issue 4, April 2011
Joe McHugh, Vice President
Govt. Affairs & Corp. Comm.
Margaret Sherry, Sr. Director
Employee & Customer Comms.
Jennifer Moore, Manager
Amtrak Ink
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Manager
Julia Quinn, Coordinator
Digital and Social Media
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Photographer
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Principal Graphic Designer
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(Chicago Office)
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Amtrak Ink
April 2011
|
Train of Thought
E
very year in April, millions of people from every corner
of the globe mark Earth Day. Begun in 1970, its roots are
firmly planted in activism, energized by people who care
deeply about the environment.
Earth Day’s success, like a lot of grassroots-driven causes, is
a compliment to the power of raising awareness to drive
change. We at Amtrak have been witness over the last 40
years to many changes — and at times inconsistencies — but I
think it’s fair to say that we have consistently and increasingly
emphasized our role as a greener transportation mode and as
good stewards of our natural resources.
To that end, we’ve made energy and environment one of
our five corporate goals for this fiscal year. Specifically, the
“Energy and Environment” goal reads: “Contribute to the
nation’s environmental health by attracting automobile and air
travelers to trains, while improving Amtrak’s efficiency and
reducing transportation-related carbon emissions and fossil
fuel consumption.”
I cannot overstate the importance of this goal. Being more
environmentally conscious is not only the responsible thing to
do, but it’s also directly linked to our competitiveness as a
mode of transportation. While we work to better connect to
buses and airports, we also draw riders from airlines. Our share
of the air/rail travel market in the Northeast Corridor has risen
to 69 percent in the Washington, D.C.–New York market and
53 percent in the New York–Boston market. Not surprisingly,
improving mobility and connectivity is another one of our
key goals.
In addition, passenger rail is
part of the solution to reduce
our nation’s dependence on
foreign oil. You may have
noticed that the price of crude
oil is prominently displayed on
our intranet home page. When
we started posting it, it was at
$84 a barrel. As I write this in
late March, it’s $106 a barrel,
and prices are likely to keep
rising with the growing unrest
in the Middle East.
Joseph H. Boardman
So as you read through the
highlights of what Amtrak is
doing on the energy and environment front in this issue of Ink,
I hope you’ll remember that just like the global environmental
movement, we at Amtrak need to raise awareness and take
action — individually and collectively. Several employees are
quoted in this issue, sharing what they’ve done individually to
help Amtrak be greener. It’s that kind of engagement and initiative that helps raise consciousness and spurs others to follow
suit.
Thank you for what you do every day, and for helping
Amtrak be a greener company. ■
Nominations are still being accepted for the 2011 President’s Service and Safety Awards
(PSSA) program. The program provides the highest recognition for employees and external
business partners who have made outstanding contributions to the company. A committee of
employees representing various departments and locations review the nominations and select
award recipients. Later this year, award recipients will be announced and formally recognized
at a luncheon to be held in Washington, D.C.
Nomination forms for the 2011 program are currently posted on the Intranet under
“Employees” → “Awards and Achievements” → “2011 PSSA Nomination Forms.” Forms are
also posted on the Intranet under “Library” → “Forms” → “New and Revised EForms.”
The nomination period runs until Friday, May 13.
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Company Wins Praise for ‘Green’ Performance Efforts
A
fter years of behind-the-scenes
efforts, Amtrak has started to
receive public recognition as a
leader on the environmental front.
Last year, the nonprofit group
Climate Counts ranked the company
alongside Ben & Jerry’s, Clif energy bars,
Shaklee nutrition products, and outfitters
REI and Timberland as one of six top
“Industry Innovators.”
The honor reflects a shift in mindset
for the company. While Amtrak’s
Environmental Health and Safety
department was created to ensure it
complied with federal regulatory
requirements, the company has in recent
years adopted an aggressive strategy for
finding new solutions to conserve energy
and better protect the environment.
“The biggest shift for us has been the
move over the years from a compliancebased program to developing a
sustainability program,” says Roy
Deitchman, vice president,
Environmental Health and Safety. “Now
we also have the resources to be innovative and creative.”
In fact, environmental and energy
efforts are one of the company’s five
overarching goals for 2011. Amtrak has
made a commitment to “contribute to
the nation’s environmental health by
attracting automobile and air travelers to
trains, while improving Amtrak’s efficiency and reducing
transportation-related carbon emissions
and fossil fuel consumption.”
In fiscal year 2010, Amtrak’s share of
the air/rail market in the Northeast
Corridor rose to 69 percent in the
he says. “But given that we’re a more
Washington, D.C. – New York market
energy-efficient way to travel than cars
and 53 percent in the New York – Boston
or planes, such an
market.
increase would be
The company
2011: Environment and Energy Goal
a good sign
plans to draw
Contribute to the nation’s environmental health
because the
even more riders
by attracting automobile and air travelers to
nation would be
from other
trains, while improving Amtrak’s efficiency and
reducing transportation-related carbon
saving energy.”
modes through
emissions and fossil fuel consumption.
Data from the
competitive
U.S. Department
pricing, investFor each of the next five years:
of Energy indiments in
• Reduce total diesel consumption per seat-mile
cates that travel
high-speed rail
by 1 percent for each of the next
by train is roughly
and infrastrucfive years.
30 percent more
ture upgrades,
• Reduce total electric traction consumption
energy-efficient
and by encouragper seat-mile by 0.25 percent.
than travel by car,
ing more
• Reduce total electricity consumption at
and roughly 20
intermodal
facilities and stations by 1 percent.
percent more effitransportation
cient than airline
hubs in major
travel.
cities that would
And a growing number of Americans
link train stations with subways, buses,
have been making the switch to trains,
and other forms of public transportation.
motivated by high gas prices and other
As part of its 2011 goal, Amtrak has
factors. The company has seen increases
for the first time set specific, companyin ridership in each of the past 17
wide reduction targets for each of the
months, through March.
next five years to:
• Reduce total diesel consumption
‘50 Best Innovations’
per seat-mile by 1 percent.
The company is also continuing to
• Cut total electric traction
look
for new approaches to fuel efficonsumption on trains per
ciency.
seat-mile by 0.25 percent.
Last fall, Amtrak earned praise from
• Reduce total electricity used at
Time
magazine for its “beef-powered
facilities and stations by 1 percent.
train,”
on the Heartland Flyer route
Deitchman says the goals are ambibetween Oklahoma City and Fort Worth,
tious, but within reach given recent
Tex. The train’s locomotive is fueled with
achievements. He says thinking beyond
a mixture that includes 20 percent
simple reductions to the overall impact
biodiesel fuel through a partnership with
on travel is a key consideration.
the Oklahoma and Texas Departments of
“If we get more ridership and new
Transportation. Time called the pilot
routes, our total energy use could go up,”
continued on the following page
Amtrak Ink
project one of the “50 best innovations of
2010.”
Now, after a year of service, the
biodiesel engine will be temporarily taken
out of service in May for additional testing
for air emissions and to see if the alternative fuel source created any additional wear
and tear. The hope is that biodiesel fuel will
provide a viable alternative fuel source for
the company for locomotives on other
routes in the future.
Another recent environmental high
point has been the company’s involvement
in being a finalist for an Environmental
Protection Agency grant. The $1.4 million
award would be used to re-power Switch
Engine 799 at Ivy City, in Washington, D.C.,
to reduce the locomotive’s ozone emissions.
The grant opportunity came about
through a partnership with the D.C. arm of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and Trainmen. “This initiative will con-
tribute to the improved air quality for our
members, the traveling public and the surrounding residential communities,” says
Herbert Harris Jr., union chairman.
In June, the company plans to complete
its first comprehensive Greenhouse Gas
Inventory. While it has participated in
similar studies in the past, this review will
move beyond diesel fuel and include even
hard-to-measure outputs such as refrigerants used on trains.
Recycling continues to be a priority, on
board with the addition of new receptacles
in food service and lounge cars, as well as in
the mechanical shops and other facilities.
Among the materials the company currently recycles are steel, scrap metal, cables
and wire, other metals, batteries, mattress
foam, windows and used oil.
Amtrak also has seen a big increase in
its collection of recycled paper and other
“non-industrial” materials, says Joanne
April 2011
|
5
Maxwell, director, Environmental
Management Programs. “This is in part due
to continuing efforts to expand recycling at
stations and other facilities, as well as the
implementation of better tracking mechanisms,” she says.
Looking ahead, Deitchman says the
company is exploring ways to select cleaning products with less environmental
impact that meet standards of being effective both in cleaning ability and cost.
Helping to identify such products is just
one of many ways employees can assist in
the company’s environmental efforts, he
says.
“We have a cadre of well-trained people
in the field, and we have a lot of employees
who want to participate,” says Deitchman.
“Now it’s a matter of finding better
avenues for employee involvement.” ■
The California Zephyr travels along the Colorado River.
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
Utility Upgrades Help Conserve Energy
and Improve the Workplace
A
mtrak’s energy-management system now provides a
sophisticated way to track usage and alert managers in all
divisions to sudden changes that suggest a problem. Armed
with such data, the company has been making improvements in
recent years that translate into major cost and energy savings.
“This system has helped us consistently cut our water usage and
reduce all of our other energy sources, from electricity to natural gas
to steam,” says Bob Jones, senior director, Utilities Management
group, which was created five years ago. “And we’re saving millions
of dollars annually.”
Between 2009 and 2010 alone, the company has reduced its use
of:
• Natural gas by 1.7 million therms
• Electricity by 4 million kilowatt hours
• Steam by 79,000 m-pounds
And since the system has been in place, the company has
reduced its annual water usage by more than 200 million gallons.
The system tracks how much water and energy each area of the
company uses, and notifies managers any time there’s a spike of 15
percent or more so that the anomaly can be investigated and remedied. It also provides comparisons to five years of historical data.
The system recently flagged a major underground water leak at
the Hamden, Conn., facility that accounted for roughly 30 million
gallons of water.
“That underground leak might otherwise have gone undetected
for months,” says David Rezendes, assistant division engineer,
Structures, who oversaw the repair work at the facility.
By taking quick action, the company was able to stop the leak
and also qualify for a $36,000 credit in its water bill.
Upgraded Lighting
One of the company’s biggest areas for improved energy efficiency has been upgrades to the lighting at the mechanical shops
and other facilities. In 2010, the company spent $1.1 million in
capital funding for new lighting. It has allotted almost twice that
amount — $2.1 million in capital funds — for 2011.
“We’re projecting the overall savings from these efforts once
they are completed at the end of the year will be $1.2 million annually,” says Jones. “Not only are we reducing energy and saving
money, but in most cases we’ve also improved the lighting.”
“The fluorescent lights provide a whiter, brighter light than the
yellow lighting they replaced,” says Edward Kelley, an electrician at
the mechanical facility in Bear, Del. “They also turn on and off
instantly. The old lighting could take as long as 10 minutes to come
on. And they’re quiet. No more annoying hum like we had with the
high-pressure sodium lights.”
Adds Mario Bergeron, chief mechanical officer: “In addition to
the savings this project generates, it really has been about improving
the working environment for employees, reducing the risk of
injuries and promoting highquality work.”
Technology Team
Another major project
Scales Back
has been shutting down
Energy Consumption
inefficient boilers at a steam
plant in Chicago. The
ongoing work, when completed later this year, will
lead to major energy savings
and reduced costs of more
than $1 million annually.
Already, the company
has seen savings of $400,000
for a five-month period, and
a reduction of more than 1
million therms of natural
gas.
“These are gifts that
keep on giving,” says Jones.
“These efforts will save the
In fiscal year 2010, the Information Technology
company money and condepartment reduced the company’s total
serve energy year after year
computing energy use by 10 percent over the
previous year — the equivalent of removing
after year.” ■
-10%
2010
322 cars from the road. The company saved
2.1 million kilowatt hours in power usage and
reduced its carbon dioxide output by an
estimated 1,825 tons at offices and facilities
across the system.
Amtrak Ink
April 2011
Quick Quotes on Being ‘Green’
What are some ways you’ve personally helped Amtrak’s
environmental efforts?
“The first thing I do is to make sure all the papers and magazines are off the train and
recycled before I start to clean. It’s important to me, and to the environment.”
Fiori Hailemariam
Coach Cleaner, Southampton Street Yard
Boston
“I noticed that we needed an additional recycling bin in our
lunchroom. I requested one — and it is working. Our guys
are recycling.”
Michael Barnes
Trackman, Engineering Division
Los Angeles
“When our building opened two years ago, I made sure
there were sensors on the light switches, recycle bins in the
building, and a recycling dumpster out back. I just do what I
do at home. It’s become second-nature.”
Donna Nesci
Administrator, Operations Support and Facility Management
Wilmington, Del.
Did You Know?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, train
travel is 30% more energy-efficient than travel by
car and 20% more energy-efficient than travel by
plane, as measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs)
per passenger-mile.
2,398
2,995
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
Since joining the board in July, the three newest members — Anthony R. Coscia, Bert DiClemente and Jeffrey R. Moreland — have spent time refining their
knowledge of the company and guiding its future. Here, they talk about what skills they’ve applied to their roles, their top priorities for the company, and
what they hope Amtrak will achieve in the years ahead.
ANTHONY R. COSCIA
Q: What prompted your interest in joining
the board?
A: I spent the past eight years chairing the
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
And I saw firsthand how critical transportation is to the economy.
Q: What do you see as the primary strengths
you bring?
A: I understand other forms of transportation
and how rail complements
and is part of a larger transportation system. There’s a
place for aviation, and there’s
certainly a place for automobiles and over-the-road trucks
and freight, etc… And I think
I’ve got a pretty broad understanding for how these
transportation networks work
together.
I’ve also done a lot of
work in connection with
financial transactions, and all
transportation today is looking for financial
models that are effective.
Q: What’s something you’ve learned since
joining the board?
A: I’m impressed with the depth of knowledge the staff has. It’s clear to me that for the
past several decades Amtrak has been the
depository of our smartest thinking on passenger rail.
Q: What do you see as top priorities?
A: For decades, Amtrak has been the only
voice for passenger rail in the United States.
And now that others have joined that conversation, it’s important for Amtrak to develop
its voice in a way that’s best for all involved.
That will be a great opportunity, and a challenge, as other entities in the public and
private sector become more engaged in passenger rail. The challenge for Amtrak is
determining where it serves the public’s interests best and the company’s needs and then
developing those areas.
What makes it particularly exciting right
now is that there seems to be a heightened
interest in developing the role of high-speed
rail. President Obama’s initiative is in many
ways a real effort to focus attention in the
transportation sector on passenger rail. That’s
a very, very good thing for the company —
and a very good thing for the country.
Q: What specific challenges do you see?
A: It’s interesting that at same time there’s
clearly this compelling need to
develop better forms of transport,
there are also incredible constraints
on resources. Every governmental
entity, from the federal government
on down to small towns, is struggling from a financial standpoint to
pay its bills and to meet its capital
needs.
So it’s within that environment
that we’ve got to come up with a
way of making a case for why passenger rail, and in particular
Coscia
Amtrak, should be a big part of
where those resources are invested.
The challenge is to make the case that
Amtrak as a company — and passenger rail
as an industry — is deserving of resources.
We do that by being a strong company and
very efficient, and not wasting the resources
that we have, using our talents to the
strongest degree possible.
Q: What about Amtrak’s environmental practices and priorities?
A: The very form of transportation that
Amtrak represents is an enormous element to
protecting the environment. Efficient passenger rail service represents a way of moving
people, particularly throughout congested
corridors, in a way that is so much more environmentally friendly than the use of
automobiles in a traditional sense.
I chaired an agency that owns the Lincoln
Tunnel and the George Washington Bridge
and the Holland Tunnel, and I know a lot
about the environmental impact of having
congestion points. Expanded passenger rail
would provide an enormous benefit in terms
of alleviating some of that congestion.
Q: Ten years from now, what would you most
like to be able to say about the company?
A: That Amtrak kept an important form of
transportation alive for 40 years before
becoming the primary mechanism for which
we connect cities and move people around in
this country.
BERT DICLEMENTE
Q: What prompted your interest in joining
the board?
A: Since my dad spent his whole career on
the railroad — first with the Pennsylvania
Railroad, which became the Penn Central,
and then with Amtrak — I grew up with railroads, and it’s always been a topic of interest
and conversation within our household. My
dad was a blacksmith and a welder in the
Wilmington shop. He worked about 37 years
before he retired. And then, of course, I
worked for an extended period with then-Sen.
Joe Biden, and we would often times go down
to the Wilmington shops, which is a big part of
the employment base in Delaware. So rail has
always been a part of my life.
Q: What do you see as the primary strengths
you bring?
A: My background is equal parts business and
politics. I served as vice president for CB
Richard Ellis, which is the largest commercial
real-estate company in the world. And I had
the opportunity while working there to work
with a number of Fortune 500 companies. So
we solved problems and we created visions to
move forward.
On the political side; I worked for 20 years
with then-Sen. Biden as his state director in
Delaware. And this afforded me the opportunity to meet and work with the leadership of
the state, as well as major corporations
throughout the state, which included the
Amtrak facilities at both Wilmington and
Bear.
continued on next page
Amtrak Ink
April 2011
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9
continued from previous page
Q: What’s something you’ve
learned since joining the
board?
A: One of the surprising
things to me has been realizing how little actual track
Amtrak owns. I was really
surprised to learn we have
less than 5 percent of the
total rail mileage of track and
that the other 95 percent we
rent from various rail companies. I don’t think most people across the
country recognize that.
Q: What do you see as the top priorities?
A: We really need to set a course and make a
commitment to high-speed rail in America.
And we need to do that as a nation, make
that decision and gather the political will to
make it happen. Instead of becoming a tugof-war, it really has to be part of our nation’s
conversation and national vision. We’re
falling behind other countries that have put
significant resources into high-speed rail, and
we need to be doing the same.
Amtrak management has a vision and
now a high-speed rail person in place [Vice
President for High Speed Rail Al Engel]
who’s totally first-rate. So we’re going to
make major commitments along those lines,
and hopefully we can get the funding and the
support to continue to make it happen.
Q: What specific challenges do you see?
A: I see two. One is the continuing funding
issue, which has been a problem since
Amtrak was first brought into being. Thanks
to PRIIA [the Passenger Rail Investment and
Improvement Act of 2008], for the first time
in Amtrak’s history there was a five-year
budget, which was a tremendous step forward
and allowed Amtrak to do some serious longterm planning and provided for some
replacements of our 30- and 40-year-old cars
and modernizations of our engines that
absolutely needed to take place.
The other big challenge, again, is highspeed rail and seeing if we can make that
come to fruition. Congressional consensus
would be a wonderful thing, but I just don’t
know how real that is at the moment. We’re
trending in that direction, but I don’t see it in
the immediate future.
Q: What about Amtrak’s environmental practices and priorities?
A: It’s an essential part of
Amtrak’s commitment: increased
efficiencies, reduced emissions and
better use of resources at hand.
Those are all part of Amtrak’s
core values and of the commitment Amtrak has made and will
continue to make.
Q: Ten years from now, what
would you most like to be able to
say about the company?
A: One is that there’s finally a dedicated
source of revenue for Amtrak — that’s desperately needed so that we’re not doing
hand-to-hand combat, year-in and year-out,
for funding. And second, that high-speed rail
has taken hold in other parts of the country
and we’ve turned the corner on it and everybody agrees that it’s the wave of the future.
DiClemente
JEFFREY R. MORELAND
Q: What prompted your interest in joining
Amtrak’s board?
A: I was asked to join the board by a government official, and because of my background
in the railroad, I thought it would be a good
fit and that I had something I could offer.
Q: What do you see as the primary strengths
you bring?
A: I worked in the railroad industry for 29
years [BNSF Railway and Santa Fe Railway].
I have a legal and a
financial background,
and I’ve dealt with
boards of directors for
a large part of my
career. I think the
strengths I bring
include a little different
focus from the corporate and business
sector to Amtrak.
In my previous
roles, being customerfocused has been
important, and it is at
Amtrak as well.
Q: What’s something you’ve learned since
joining the board?
A: Amtrak is a little bit different from other
boards I’ve worked on in that there’s a strong
government role in the company. And yet it’s
not that different. Amtrak has a strong corporate board. It has people who are very
interested in the company’s success.
Q: What do you see as the top priorities?
A: We have to make sure we’re providing our
customers with what they want, at a price that
they want to pay for it. So, there’s been a lot
of focus on that by the board. And the whole
organization needs to be attuned to the idea
that we have to provide a service to our customers.
It’s not just Marketing. It’s Operations
and making sure that we have good on-time
performance, it’s the Human Resources
department making sure we have people who
are properly trained and customer-oriented.
It’s the Finance department making sure that
we’re able to keep our costs to a level where
we can charge prices that are in line with
what our customers are looking for.
Q: What specific challenges do you see?
A: Finding ways to continue to adapt to what
our customers want. And there’s always the
issue of adequate funding because Amtrak
does not completely pay for itself from the
operating pay box. So it has to find a way of
convincing the general public and government that it’s worthy of the amounts of
money that the federal government contributes to its operations and capital in the
future.
Q: What about Amtrak’s environmental practices and priorities?
A: Any company that has
assets that have been around a
long time has to be very environmentally focused, rightfully
so. We’re going to have to continue to be focused on the
environment. It’s a very important part of what the
management team is focused
on.
Q: Ten years from now, what
would you most like to be able
to say about the company?
Moreland
A: That we’ve succeeded in
showing the country that highspeed rail works so that the government will
continue to put money into high-speed rail. I
think we need to show the country that the
government gets a bang for its buck for the
money it puts into it, that it’s shown to be of
true value to the country. ■
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
Amtrak Celebrates 40 Years of Service
®
This northbound
Metroliner displays
small Amtrak
logos that were
applied directly
over the markings
of the previous
owner, Penn
Central, as a
temporary fix until
the trainset could
be repainted. In
this 1972 photo,
the train is
crossing the Bush
River Bridge in
Maryland.
Come See Our 40th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT TRAIN
In celebration of Amtrak’s 40th anniversary, a special exhibit train will be touring the country after making
its debut at the National Train Day event in Washington, D.C. on May 7, 2011. The free exhibit showcases rail travel over the decades, displaying memorabilia like vintage advertising, past menus and
dinnerware, period uniforms and photographs.
MAY 2011
JUNE 2011
JULY 2011
7
14 - 15
21 - 22
28 - 29
4-5
11 - 12
18 - 19
25 - 26
9 - 10
16 - 17
23 - 24
30 - 31
Washington Union Station
Lorton Auto Train Terminal
Baltimore Penn Station
Philadelphia 30th St. Station
Perryville MARC Station
Harrisburg Amtrak Station
Strasburg Rail Road
Strasburg Rail Road
Springfield Amtrak Station
New Haven Union Station
New London Union Station
Providence Amtrak Station
Amtrak40th.com
Schedule subject to change without notice
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Mark your calendars! Volunteers will be needed at all anniversary exhibit train stops. Additional locations will be added
throughout the year. You’ll find more details and other updates on the celebrations — starting April 15 — on the 40th
Anniversary website at www.Amtrak40th.com.
Amtrak Ink
T
he fourth annual
National Train Day
celebration arrives
on Saturday, May 7, with
major events planned at
stations in Washington,
D.C., Philadelphia, Los
Angeles and Chicago,
as well as hundreds
more in communities
across the country.
The four signature
National Train Day
events will feature free
live entertainment, interactive and educational
exhibits, culinary presentations, model train displays, K-9
demonstrations and tours of
Amtrak, freight and commuter equipment, and notable private railroad cars.
“This year’s event takes place as we kick-off our
40th anniversary, so it’s a very special time in our company’s
history. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our company’s contributions to the history and future of passenger rail in this country,”
said Emmett Fremaux, vice president, Marketing and Product
Development. “The day promises to delight the kid in all of us.”
Grammy Award® winning vocalist Gladys Knight will serve
as National Train Day spokesperson and will host the festivities
at Union Station in Washington, D.C.
All of the major events will highlight the local contributions
made to the railroad throughout history:
• At Washington Union Station, Amtrak will launch the
nationwide tour of the 40th anniversary exhibit train.
Locomotives and renovated baggage cars will display
historic advertising, uniforms, photos and other
memorabilia. National Train Day attendees will have the
opportunity to tour the exhibit train and purchase 40th
Anniversary merchandise. Washington, D.C. will also
feature “B&O Railroad and the Civil War,” an
interactive exhibit about the railroad’s critical role
during the conflict.
• Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station will host “The Great
Migration” exhibit, exploring the early 20th century
migration of African-Americans from the South to the
Northeast, Midwest and West via passenger (and some
times freight) trains.
April 2011
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11
• At Union Station in Los Angeles,
the California Missions exhibit celebrates the connection between the
railroad and the 21 missions
along El Camino Real, stretching from San Francisco to San
Diego. East Meets West, an
archive of photos and stories,
showcases the 19th century
Chinese contributions to the
development of the railroad.
• Chicago’s Union Station
will feature “Hands On The Past:
Mexican Contributions To The
Railroad.” This exhibit honors the
thousands of Mexicans who came to
the U.S. during World War II under a
guest worker program called the
Braceros to build and maintain our
nation’s railroads.
Plus, the AmtraKids Depot will host a celebration
complete with fun games and arts and crafts at each event.
For more news and updates about this year’s celebrations,
visit nationaltrainday.com. ■
How You Can Get Involved...
Amtrak employees have played an integral role in
the success of National Train Day. Nearly 400 employees
across the country volunteered in 2010 to make
National Train Day a memorable experience for the
more than 34,000 attendees.
This year, employees are encouraged to register at
the employee-only National Train Day site,
www.TrainDay411.com, to volunteer at one of the four
major events and be a part of the festivities. Employees
who are interested in hosting their own National Train
Day event or helping get passengers, family, friends
and their communities excited about the celebrations,
should visit the “Build the Buzz” section of
TrainDay411.com for valuable tips and information.
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
Save the Date: May 2 is Employee Appreciation Day!
O
n May 2, employees will celebrate
the third annual Appreciation Day
with activities at more than 50 locations across the country aimed at honoring
the long-standing service of all employees.
“This year is even more significant as the
company marks its 40th anniversary — a
milestone that could not have been achieved
without the commitment and dedication of
our employees,” says Recognition Program
Manager Carolyn Stagger.
Employee Appreciation Day events
provide participants with tools to become
safer, greener and healthier — at work and
at home. At
several events,
employees will
have an opportunity to meet with
representatives
from Fidelity
Investment, the
Railroad
Retirement Board
and Amtrak’s
Environmental
Health and Safety
department. They
can also obtain
health and wellness
information from
Aetna, United
Healthcare and
other local organizations.
Employees may
also learn more
about company-wide
initiatives such as
Operation Lifesaver, Employee Assistance
Program and Safe-2-Safer. Local businesses
will also be present at several locations offering employee discounts on products and
services.
In certain locations, members of the
Executive Committee will be on hand to
meet and greet employees and answer questions.
Due to its popularity last year, copies of
the “Did You Know” employee reference
guide will be available, featuring company
facts and resources, employee benefits, discounts and other useful information. As a
special memento, all employees will receive
a commemorative 40-year anniversary lapel
pin.
Each event will feature a few offerings
that make it unique to its location and operation. The following are highlights of some of
the upcoming events:
Employees at Corporate Headquarters,
in Washington D.C., will kick off its event
with an opening ceremony and comments
from President and CEO Joe Boardman.
Throughout the day,
employees will enjoy
snacks, including
popcorn, fresh fruit and
granola bars. The Ivy City
Mechanical shops will
thank their employees
during a 24-hour
cookout covering three
shifts of employees.
Southern Division
employees at many stations and facilities will
be treated to hot dogs,
chips and activities,
while a Texas barbecue
will be held for Dallas
and Fort Worth
employees.
The Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
will celebrate on
Friday, May 6, with a
barbeque, and each
employee will receive a commemorative
photograph of the 40th anniversary equipment outfitted at the Beech Grove shops.
At the Bakersfield, Calif., station,
employees and the Thruway Motorcoach
staff, along with their families, are invited to
bring a dish to accompany the hot dogs and
hamburgers that will be served.
According to Lead Ticket Agent Teresa
Rodriguez, the bus drivers and managers
“are a part of our family and help us support
the services that operate through
Bakersfield.” Attendees may enjoy complimentary massages and blood-pressure
checks, entertainment provided by a local
employee musician and other festivities.
One of the larger events, with an annual
attendance of nearly 800 employees, will be
held in Philadelphia at the Penn Coach Yard.
Highlights include a demonstration by the
Amtrak Police K-9 team, energy tips from
local utility companies and participation
from local amusement parks.
Sunnyside Yard employees are celebrating early by combining Employee
Appreciation Day with the facility’s annual
safety fair on Wednesday, April 13.
Employees are being treated to a cookout
and can meet with vendors and attend a
special presentation by the Federal Railroad
Administration.
The theme for the Chicago Union Station
event will be Walk for Health, and the area
surrounding the vendor tables will be transformed to a track to promote the benefits of
walking and to encourage employees to
enjoy a more active lifestyle.
This year, the Chicago Yards will hold an
outdoor carnival-themed event where
employees can meet with vendors under a
big-top tent and enjoy a cookout.
Although many employees will be
hosting and attending local events, others
must continue the business of running the
railroad. That group includes those who will
be operating trains, serving meals to passengers, working in outlying stations and
ensuring that are tracks and signals are in
good working condition.
While these employees may not have an
opportunity to participate in the festivities,
they may receive meal cards from local
restaurants, opportunities to participate in
other activities planned by their departments, or other forms of thanks.
“In the Pacific Northwest, events will be
held in Seattle and Portland on May 2, but
many of our managers plan to head out to
their outlying locations a week early to meet
with as many employees as possible and let
them know they are appreciated,” stated
Kurt Laird, general superintendent. ■
Amtrak Ink
Front Line Focus
Dear Amtrak,
April 2011
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Editor’s Note:
The following letter appeared in the March
issue with an incorrect signature line due
to an editing error. We regret the mistake.
The corrected version is reprinted here.
I want to give big compliments to three Amtrak police officers who work at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station [Ted
Tsinaroglou, Michael Baker, and Gregory Miles].
This morning, while in the waiting room at the station, I left
my raincoat on the bench when I went to see the track number
for my train. I was gone only briefly, but when I returned — no
raincoat. It was a terrible day out, and I was not looking
forward to being without a coat. …
My train was due to leave in about 20 minutes. [Officer] Ted
went to look at the security camera, thought he recognized the
person on it, and the other two officers and he went to see if
they could find the person. … Ted took my cell number.
The train was just pulling out when he called my cell to say
that they had found the coat and he had run down to the train
and left it with the server in the café car. …As it turned out, a
worker had picked up the coat … and was going to bring it to
lost and found on her lunch break. …
[T]hanks to the wonderful help from your officers, I had a
dry and warm day. …
Sincerely,
30th Street Station Passenger
Photo: Paul Higgs
Dear Amtrak,
I am a captain in the U.S. Merchant Marine sailing for the
U.S. Navy, often away from the U.S. When I return to the West
Coast, I always return home by rail.
[On a recent trip], I called your ticket office and had the
pleasure to make my travel arrangements through Agent Leta
Hartley. So very helpful, pleasant, and patient, she took the
time to explain the options to me as a sleeping-car passenger,
which was very helpful when I boarded the train. Amtrak representatives such as Leta do so very much for your public
image. …
I always look forward to my rail travel after months at sea.
… It is three relaxing days to St. Louis, and [the trip] helps me
return to life off the ship.
Sincerely,
Texas Eagle Passenger
Dear Amtrak,
I recently approached the Amtrak station
window with two issues more complicated
than a simple ticket purchase, including figuring out how and if an unaccompanied
minor could travel.
I was delighted with the service I received
from Sid Ball. He helped me with what I
needed with kindness, humor, efficiency
and imagination. I saw him treat others
with the same level of courtesy and professionalism, even when they were lacking in
good manners.
I admired his attitude and appreciated his
help.
Sincerely,
Williamsburg, Va., Station Customer
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14
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
T
At the heart of Safe-2-Safer
he name adopted by the Safe-2is the Behavioral Accident
Safer Northeast Region Steering
Prevention Process (BAPP),
Committee — which covers Boston,
which involves training employNew York, and other nearby areas — is
ees to approach their peers to
Nor’easter.
ask if they can observe them on
While the acronym stands for Northeast
the job and compare their
Region Employees Advocating Safety to
actions against a checklist of
Eliminate Risk, “now we’re actually getting
safe and at-risk behaviors
blamed for the weather,” quipped Jim
Employees who volunteered to become Safe-2-Safer Observers attended a
Each review, which is kept
Twyman, a conductor in Albany, N.Y., at a
two-day training session last month at New York Penn Station.
strictly confidential, concludes
recent training class he was co-leading for
actually where the name Safe-2-Safer came
with the observer discussing the findings
employees who have volunteered to serve
from. The “2” stands for two people talking
with the employee and asking if he or she
as observers.
together about safety, and is how we will
would be willing to make any needed
The instructor’s comment set the tone
become a safer company,” said Hall.
changes that could reduce the risk of being
for the recent two-day session at New York
Most observations can be completed in
hurt on the job.
Penn Station, in which 13 employees from
a half hour or less, Safe-2-Safer leaders say.
After completing their training, voluna range of jobs and crafts gathered to learn
The findings from the observations are
teer observers are asked to conduct at least
how to conduct observations and talk to
entered into a database — without any
two observations a week. “The observation
their colleagues about safety. While the
information that would identify individual
process, one-ontopic was serious — the preemployees — and then used to help the
one, peer-to-peer, is
vention of work-related
Steering Committees ideninjuries and fatalities —
tify areas of risk that
there was plenty of
warrant extra attention in
joking and humor during
the future.
the interactive session.
So far, more than 60
During a recent Safe-2-Safer training
‘All About Approach’
employees have been
class at New York Penn Station, Ivan
Employees who particiOutlaw, a red cap in Newark, N.J.,
trained as observers, says
pated
in the New York
received
praise
for
the
practice
safety
Peter Hall, Safe-2-Safer’s
observation he conducted with fellow
observation
class said they
senior director. “Given
classmate Marcus McCumber, a ticket
appreciated
having the
the enthusiasm of the
and accounting clerk in Albany, N.Y.
chance to develop new
new observers recruited
As part of the class, the two
skills, spend time interactso far, it’s possible that as
participants crafted the following
ing with employees in
many as half of the
scenario in which McCumber meets
other areas of the
most,
but
not
all,
of
the
“Nor’easter”
hands-on employees at
Ticket and Accounting Clerk Marcus
company, and to be a part
division’s 26 criteria for safe behavior.
McCumber and Red Cap Ivan Outlaw plan
Amtrak will become
their mock-observation scenario.
of
something that could
Here, Outlaw discusses the findings of
observers at some point.”
make
a big difference.
his observation with McCumber:
Such employee volSean
Williams, a lead
Observer:
“Pretty
much
everything
you
did
just
now
was
ace
on.
I
really
appreciate
unteers form the
service attendant based out
that. Good work. There’s just one thing. When you were down at the loading dock, I
backbone of Safe-2noticed you jumped off the platform. Is that something you do all of the time?”
of New York Penn Station,
Safer, a collaborative
says
safety and risk-preEmployee: “Yeah. I jump off the dock and I go in the door.”
approach being led by
vention
have always been a
Observer:
“Is
that
just
because
it’s
easier?
Or
faster?”
union members and suppersonal priority.
ported by Amtrak
Employee: “Yeah. I mean, I don’t want to walk all the way down there. I just go over
the edge.”
management.
continued on following page
Role Playing
Observer: “You know, I find that in my own experience that shortcuts almost always
lead to disaster. And those few extra steps to walk down the stairs won’t slow you
down much. So if you walk down the stairs, get your three points of contact, you
won’t have that risk. What do you say? In the future, would you to commit to
walking down the stairs instead?”
Employee: “Yeah, sure. I mean, it’s better that than walking around on crutches,
right?”
Amtrak Ink
April 2011
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Playing It Safe
continued from previous page
Volunteering as an observer presented “a platform to talk to other employees about something I’m
passionate about,” he said.
Instructor Richard M. Adams, president of the
Transportation Workers Union of America — Local
1460, in Boston, told class participants that the key to
being a good safety observer was being positive, professional and having an open communication style.
“It’s all about approach,” he said. “This effort is
entirely voluntary. It’s confidential — no name, no
blame. The point is to spark conversations that lead
to positive changes in behavior.”
The Mid-Atlantic Division is preparing a training manual using
these and other photos to demonstrate at-risk versus safe behaviors.
Reinforce the Positive
The Nor’easter division currently uses a checklist
of 26 observable behaviors, such as whether employees keep their eyes on the path on which they’re
walking, are wearing appropriate protective equipment, or are using the safest technique for lifting
objects. Additional behaviors related to security are
also observed.
Not all of the items on the checklist apply to all
employees, said Adams. Some that do include
wearing appropriate footwear, keeping “eyes on
task,” having a work area that is free of obstacles and
debris (good “housekeeping”) and visibly displaying
company ID.
The vast majority of behaviors that have been
observed so far have been in the “safe” category, said
Adams — roughly 97 percent. This provides an
opportunity to reinforce positive approaches, he said,
and is a good way to open the discussion that occurs
at the end of the observation process.
When an observer does identify potential at-risk
behaviors, Adams told class members they should
ask employees why they took the approach or action.
Sometimes the reason is because of a barrier that
prevents a person from doing a job in a safer way. In
those cases, observers can put in requests to a committee for fixes or improvements.
If an unsafe behavior is within an employee’s
ability to change, Adams recommended observers
use wording such as, “wouldn’t it be better if you did
it this way?” He also suggested they ask employees
for their suggestions for safety improvements.
“The best scenario is when employees come up
with their own solutions,” he said. ■
Eyes on Task: Focus on the subject, and ensure hand safety while performing
duties on the job.
Lifting and Lowering: Knees should be bent, back straight, chin raised and the
load should be close to the body. Eyes should also be the item.
Balance: While walking between cars on a moving train carrying items, use safety
rails, keep eyes “on path” and square shoulders and feet for stability.
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16
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
Police Website Becomes Latest Tool
in Protecting America’s RailroadSM
T
he Amtrak Police Department has just
unveiled a new public website that offers a
behind-the-scenes look at the men, women,
and K-9s who make up the force and strive to keep
the traveling public safe.
The site —police.amtrak.com — features videos,
photos, safety tips and news, including links to
recent press coverage of the department. (Note: Do
not type “www” at the start of the web address.) It
was designed in-house by Jim Lewis, security awareness strategist,
Amtrak Police Department.
Prominently displayed is the department’s mission and vision
for providing “customer-oriented policing,” as well as law-enforcement contact information, including RAILPOL, the European
network of rail police forces, of which the Amtrak Police
Department is an associated member.
“Everyone has a role when it comes to keeping our stations and
trains safe,” says Vice President and Chief of Police John J.
O’Connor. “This website offers another way for us to encourage
employees and travelers to stay informed and vigilant. Open communication is key.”
Civic Conversation Follow-Up
For those interested in an
Amtrak Police career, the site
provides a link to job listings, as
well as details on basic requirements, including fitness
standards. Applicants, for
example, must be able to bench
press 57 percent of their
weight.
Descriptions are provided for the various divisions within the
department. The site notes, for instance, that “Amtrak currently has
the most K-9 units in the railroad industry with vapor wake capabilities.”
The Special Operations Unit has a dual identity, the site notes. It
has a highly visible team that conducts security sweeps aboard
trains and throughout Amtrak stations,” as well as an “undercover”
team, which “can be working at any location, at any time, without
anyone knowing they are at work.”
Lewis says the site will be updated frequently with new
information. ■
The gathering of Amtrak personnel and civic leaders along the
Cardinal route in
Huntington, W.Va., in
early March marked the
first such conversation in a
rural region. Local officials
discussed plans to update
local train stations, as
well as an interest in
expanding to daily service
from three days a week.
“We are very pleased the group
came here because it put the
emphasis not only on the convenience of rail travel, but also on its
efficiency, especially in light of
rising oil prices,” says Huntington’s
mayor, Kim Wolfe. “If we could
offer a more aggressive passenger
rail schedule in the future, I know
it would be utilized.”
Photos: Joe Rago
Amtrak Ink
April 2011
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17
Promotions in Motion
‘Charm City’ Partnership
Through a renewed partnership with
Baltimore’s Convention and Visitor’s
Center, Amtrak hopes to tap a growing
share of the millions of people who travel
each year to the harbor city.
The company is one of six “strategic partners” with the nonprofit group Visit
markets within the Northeast
Corridor,” says Paul Siegel,
manager, Sales and
Marketing. “This alliance
with Visit Baltimore targets
this core audience and provides us with a total
exposure value exceeding
$170,000.”
As part of the partnership, Amtrak is offering a
30-percent discount on companion rail tickets for travel into Baltimore
through 2011.
40-Days Travel Promo for the 40th
Baltimore, and as such has a prominent spot
on the group’s website (www.visitbaltimore.org).
“Five of the top 10 cities from which travelers to Baltimore originate are Amtrak
In celebration of the company’s upcoming anniversary, children between the ages of
2 and 15 can travel free when accompanied
by a paying adult.
One child per adult qualifies for the deal,
which applies to travel between May 1 and
June 9.
Employees Gear
Up for Next
Walking
Competition
Employees are once again preparing to clip on pedometers and make a
six-week commitment to track their steps, improve their health and
take advantage of the benefits of walking by participating in the
company’s Stay on Track — Keep Walking competition. The next round
of the program begins Tuesday, April 26, and runs through June 6.
Nearly 1,000 employees, including 57 teams and 300 individuals, participated in the first competition, which ended in March. At press time,
rankings for that competition were still being tabulated. The winners,
participant rankings and more information on the walking program can
be found on the intranet under “Employees” → “Human Resources Health Services.”
Certain conditions
and restrictions apply,
including a requirement that tickets be
purchased in advance
during a roughly twoweek window (April 25
and May 6). The offer is
valid on all trains except
Acela Express.
“We’ll be promoting
this offer through TV,
print, online advertising
and social media as a way to publicize our
40th anniversary celebration and encourage
families to travel this spring,” says Gail
Reisman, senior director, National
Advertising and Marketing Programs.
In related efforts, 40-percent discounts
for companion fares will be offered in connection with the 40th anniversary exhibit
train events, as well as in connection with
National Train Day events. ■
Update:
‘Smart ID’ Badges
The vast majority of the new identification badges have now been distributed,
according to the Corporate Security
division of the Amtrak Police
Department. Yet some 1,000 still have
yet to be picked up.
To check to see if your name is on the
list or to get updates on the effort, go to
the company intranet under Police →
Smart ID.
To report problems or ask questions
related to the IDs, send an e-mail
message to [email protected].
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April 2011
Amtrak Ink
Employee Milestones
Starting this month, you can view Employee
Milestones online. Go to Amtrak.com and click on
“Inside Amtrak” to connect to the company intranet.
Congratulations to All of You!
HOLLOWAY, RICHARD
Wilmington Shops
ADAMSON, JAMIE
Phila. 30th Street
Station
ANDINO, ANGEL
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BEIMBORN, GARY
W. Oakland Maint.
Facility
BELLAVIA,
SALVATORE
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
HOLTON, CHARLES
New York Penn Station
HOWARD, LINDA
CNOC
JOHNSON, OZIAS
NW Base
KRIVOGORSKY, IGOR
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
LAHR, KENNETH
Chicago Crew Base
LYNCH, SCOTT
Salisbury T&E Crew Base
BROWN, VERNON
New York Penn Station
LYONS, RICHARD
Sunnyside Yard NY
BRYANT, AISHA
CNOC
PACHECO, MANUEL
Providence Station
COLANTONE,
BARBARA
Washington Crew Base
TELEVIK, PETER
Los Angeles Offices
DEVINE, PATRICK
Raymond Plaza West
DREWES, KEITH
Jacksonville Station
ELWIN, DAVID
Southampton St. Yard
FERGUSON, STEPHEN
Southampton St. Yard
FLYNN, JAMES
Deerfield Beach Station
FOBBS, TAMMY
Phila. 30th Street
Station
THORNTON,
ELIZABETH
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Contact Center
TREMMEL, LAURRIE
Western Reservation
Sales Contact Center
MC NEAL, HAROLD
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
KOERNER, MARIE
Corp. HQ, Wash., D.C.
BLAIR, MAX
Salt Lake City Crew Base
MAYBIN-AHMED,
KATHLEEN
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BLIXT, LARRY
Fargo Station
ALBRITTON, RENEE
Phila. 30th Street
Station
MOUNT, SHARON
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BABINEAUX, HARRIET
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Contact Center
MUNDIS, DAVE
Harrisburg Station
BACHRACH, HARRY
Rensselaer Station
BARNIAK, MARY
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BAZAN, JUDITH
Los Angeles Offices
BOGDAN,
CHRISTOPHER
Brighton Park Facility
PIERRO, JOHN
Chicago
Mech.&Terminal Offices
PRATER, ROBERT
Wilmington Shops
PRICE, MARY
Washington Crew Base
BROWN, KENNETH
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BYERS, WILLIAM
Brighton Park Facility
CHAPLIK, WILLIAM
New York Division HQ
COLEMAN, ROBERT
Phila. 30th Street
Station
BROCKWAY, DIANNE
CNOC Justison Office
CAMERON, BETTY
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Contact Center
SLOWEK, ROGER
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
DANTZLER, ETHEL
Sanford Station
COYLE, KEVIN
Phila. 30th Street
Station
DOIRON, DENNIS
St. Louis Station
MCDADE, THOMAS
CNOC
OLDHAM, ERNEST
Wilmington Shops
BRIDGEFORD,
THOMAS
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
DALE, TERRY
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
WOOD, THERESA
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
FUNK, HELENA
New York Division HQ
MURPHY, MARK
Wilmington Shops
BOUDREAU, JAMES
Chicago Offices
RADOVICH, DEBRA
Trenton Station
CARTER, MARITA
Material Control Facility
BENSON, LAWRENCE
Wilmington Station
GIRDLER, ROBERT
Miami Mechanical Yard
HRICZAK, LARRY
Phila. 30th Street
Station
VANWRIGHT,
CLARENCE
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Contact Center
FONDACARO, JOSEPH
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Contact Center
WENGERT, GERALD
Wilmington Shops
KULLMAN, GARY
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
KREZEL, BONNIE
Philadelphia Call Center
BROWN, RONALD
C&S HQ
CRAIG, WILLIAM
Lakeland Station
HOLM, KAREN
Cleveland Station
FRIAS, HECTOR
Washington Union
Station
GORDON, DAVID
Deerfield Beach Station
STEINBEISER, ROBERT
Phila. 30th Street
Station
STOCKUNAS, RONALD
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Contact Center
WAGNER, TIMOTHY
Harrisburg Station
WALDRON, ANN
FRANCINE
Rensselaer Mech.
Facility
WARD, DAVID
Phila. 30th Street
Station
DORMAN, WILLIAM
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
EDWARDS, GORDON
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
ELLSWORTH, JAMES
Ivy City Maint. Facility
EWALD, ELIZABETH
CNOC
GREEN, THOMAS
Southampton St. Yard
HAUGHEY, ANDREW
Sunnyside Yard N.Y.
Amtrak Ink
April 2011
|
19
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
HUGGINS, MICHAEL
Los Angeles Offices
KEETON, DWAINE
Niles Station
NEU, JOHN
Milwaukee Station
ROLFE, CHERYELE
Los Angeles Offices
SHOCKLEY, KAREN
Manassas Data Center
HURST, KENNETH
Sacramento Station
LA COLLA, FRANCIS
Syracuse Station
JACOBS, RONY
Jacksonville Station
LENART, JOHN
C&S Construction
POLINAIRE,
CHRISTOPHER
Phila. 30th Street
Station
RUSSELL, KARL
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
STUPKA, GARY
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
SAMM, MICHAEL
Material Control
Facility
TUCKER, BRYCE
Quad Ave. M/W Base
JONES, BEVERLY
Western Reservation
Sales Contact Center
MATTHEWS, JOHN
Phila. 30th Street
Station
RANSOM, JOEL
Mid-Atlantic
Reservation Sales
Contact Center
KALICKI, GERALD
St. Louis Station
MELLOTT, GERALD
Perryville M/W Base
RILEY, THOMAS
New York Penn Station
KAPLAN, BRUCE
Corp. HQ, Wash., D.C.
MILLER, WILLIAM
Southampton St. Yard
ROBINSON, JOHN
Southampton St. Yard
SCHULTZ, ROBERT
Metrolink Riverside
Crew Base
SHEPPARD,
CHRISTOPHER
Caltrain Main Office
WALLACE, KAROL
Western Reservation
Sales Contact Center
WIMBISH, LINDA
Phila. 30th Street
Station
Ink in Your Inbox
Option Saves Trees, Speeds Delivery
Be greener. Sign up to have Amtrak
Ink e-mailed to your personal e-mail
address, rather than have the paper copy
mailed to your home. Employees who
already receive Amtrak Ink via their
Amtrak-issued e-mail address will continue to receive it there.
In addition, employees may also sign
up to receive Amtrak This Week and
Special Employee Advisories in their personal e-mailbox. This will be most
beneficial to employees who don’t have
an Amtrak-issued e-mail address and
don’t always see or have time to read
Amtrak This Week or Special Employee
Advisories posted at their crew base or
facility. Amtrak This Week provides timely
information about company activities and
Special Employee Advisories often include
messages to employees from President
and CEO Joe Boardman. If you feel like
you never hear about what’s going on,
here’s an opportunity to get more
company news.
To opt-out of receiving a paper copy of
Amtrak Ink and to start receiving Ink,
Amtrak This Week and Special Employees
Advisories at your personal e-mail address,
visit the Amtrak intranet to sign up. To
sign on to the intranet from a home
Internet connection, go to Amtrak.com
and click “Inside Amtrak” at the bottom
of the page. Under the “Employees”
heading, click the “Log in to Amtrak
Intranet” link. If you do not have an
Amtrak-issued login ID and password,
and/or you cannot remember your login
ID and password, your login ID is your
Personnel Number (the 8 digit number
that can be found on your pay stub —
please include the leading zeroes). If you
cannot remember your password, please
contact the Amtrak Help Desk (1-800-7724357) and they will help you reset your
password.
The sign-up period begins April 18 and
ends on May 28, and employees will not
be able to change their selections until
the next opt-out and sign-up period in
approximately six months. Please note
that there will likely be an overlap period
during which you may receive both the emailed and printed version of Amtrak Ink.
There will also be a lag time between
signing up and receiving Amtrak This
Week and Special Employee Advisories to
your personal e-mail. Please bear with us
as we work through this transition. ■
Presorted
Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Des Moines, IA
Permit No. 589
60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
To change your address, call 1-888-MY-HR-ESC (1-888-694-7372)
or send an e-mail message to [email protected].
This Month In Amtrak History
APRIL
April 19, 1971
April 24, 1983
April 1, 1992
The new passenger rail system, which to
date had been known as Railpax, adopts
the name Amtrak.
Amtrak’s Chicago – Oakland train is
renamed California Zephyr in conjunction with the service being rerouted
through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
Capitol Corridor service welcomes its
100,000th passenger. Initial ridership for
the service far exceeded original projections. In its 20 years of operation, more
than 17.5 million passengers have
ridden Capitol Corridor trains.