ink A Monthly Publication for and by Amtrak Employees Volume 19 • Issue 3 • April 2014 National Train Day Volunteers Needed Close Call Reporting Amtrak Business Lines Train of Thought his past March, we submitted our proposed we make of resources, both those we receive TFY 2015 budget to Congress. This year, we and those we generate. New Safe-2-Safer are requesting $1.62 billion in federal capital The FY 2015 budget will bring costs of our and operating support, an increase of approxi- other services (long-distance and state-sup- mately 16 percent over last year. ported) to light through this budgeting process. Milestone Our proposed budget redirects Both our state services and the operating profit obtained our long-distance trains are a from the Northeast Corridor valuable part of our nation’s February: (NEC) towards the planning and transportation system and I have 241,288 240,000 implementation of major multi- every reason to believe that January: year projects in the NEC such Congress will continue to provide 230,896 as replacing century old bridges the necessary funding to keep 220,000 and tunnels. NEC revenues have these services operating. It will recently exceeded operating costs be up to us then to manage them by more than $300 million a year. as efficiently as we can because Many don’t realize that much of our stakeholders, the state DOTs 200,000 2014 December: the revenue from the NEC is also and Congress expect nothing less 192,718 used to cover some of the costs of Joseph H. Boardman from us. 2013 November: state-supported and long-distance If Congress funds our request 185,038 180,000 trains. This year’s federal request asks Congress of $1.62 billion, this level of funding will allow October: to fully fund the operating and capital needs of Amtrak both to sustain our current levels of 173,624 the long-distance routes so that NEC revenues service and to make important investments in September: can be reinvested directly in our aging infra- our Northeast Corridor. Providing our legis- 161,114 160,000 structure—which badly needs it. lative and grant request for FY15 by business August: Today, the NEC is at capacity, and steadily line will bring even greater transparency to 147,102 increasing amounts of investment are needed Amtrak’s budget, and provide greater clarity on July: 140,000 if we are to maintain the current level of use the specific needs of each part of our business. 138,253 and begin to build for the future. Investing in As we hear more in the next few months June: 130,351 the NEC will benefit the entire company and, concerning our budget request, we will commu- May: in the long run, our nation. The country sim- nicate the next steps or any significant changes. 122,509 120,000 ply cannot afford to let a rail line that carries Our request has met a largely favorable initial half of Amtrak’s trains and 50 percent of the reception, and there is reason to hope that the nation’s rail commuters fall apart. improvements you’ve contributed to over the Amtrak has been going through changes in past decade are helping us to make an effective 100,000 order to grow, improve financially and become case. In the meantime, let’s continue to make the passenger railroad that we envision in our Amtrak the company that takes America Strategic Plan. Part of this change involves a where it wants to go by providing superior cus- clearer presentation of our budget and the use tomer service and safety. n The peer-to-peer injury prevention program, Safe- 2-Safer, reached its previous goal of 100,000 observations Amtrak Government Affairs and Corporate Communications in February 2013. TrackAA Joe McHugh, Vice President I. Suzi Andiman Liliana Lopez Amtrak’s system-wide Government Affairs & Director, Employee Sr. Communications Officer Corporate Communications Communications progress each month. Marlon Sharpe Lisa V. Pulaski Chuck Gomez Principal Graphic Designer Graphic Designer Multimedia Specialist Check out one of our social media channels today! 2 | April 2014 Amtrak Ink Table of Front Line Focus Contents “I would like to let you know that one of your telephone repre- sentatives, Ms. Loretta O’Bannon #6304 was outstanding in her 4 This Month’s Leading News resolving my Amtrak travel plans on Monday, March 3, 2014. Amtrak Exhibit Train’s successful trip to New Mexico. Art Ms. O’Bannon went over and beyond the exhibit discounts for employees. call of duty. She was patient, listened to my concerns, sensitive to my needs and was 5 Bulletin Board able to successfully resolve my situation. The California Zephyr comes back to Denver Union If there are any commendations that you Station. Empire Builder schedule change. Learn about give to outstanding employees, Ms. Loretta the social media program for writers. O’Bannon should be given one. National Train Day I am looking forward to my trip on 7 Amtrak, thanks in no small part to Ms. Learn why you should sign up to volunteer for National O’Bannon. Train Day 2014. Very truly yours,” Riverside Reservation & Sales Office 8 Confidential Close Call —Roberta Bryce Reservation Sales Agent Loretta Reporting System O’Bannon. Read about the Confidential Close Call Reporting System “Greetings from California: and what it means to our safety. My wife and I had the pleasure of traveling from Sacramento to Fresno on January 25 (Train 704). Although all staff members 16 Community with whom we interacted were helpful, we would like to espe- Learn about the Earth Day celebrations and our steward- cially commend Mr. Randall Curtis. ship to the environment. His courtesy, helpfulness, and friendly demeanor with the passengers in our car went way beyond our expectations. He 17 Milestones exemplifies the type of Amtrak employee that enhances the Employee milestones from January to March 2014. image of your operation. We sincerely wish him the best during his time with you. Amtrak could do well to hire future employ- ees of his caliber.” ink —William Stock, PhD A Monthly Publication for and by Amtrak Employees Volume 19 • Issue 3 • April 2014 “I am writing as a recent customer of Amtrak’s travel service on behalf of a federal government agency and wish to pass On the Cover on a word of gratitude for one of your employees, Mr. John Veterans Locomotive Hamilton. On Thursday, February 20, 2014 I was traveling from #42 outside the Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia on Acela Train 2212, and State line Tunnel in experienced a medical problem. Mr. Hamilton was the con- Canaan, N.Y. ductor on that train and he was very helpful in his concern and Photo courtesy of National Train Day care for me. This train was very busy and he had many respon- Volunteers Needed sibilities, but he kindly helped me recover, moved my luggage, Steve Ostrowski. Close Call Reporting Amtrak Business Lines and found me a seat on the train. Throughout my travels, he and his colleagues kept an eye on me as I recovered. It was a long and stressful day and I was happy to arrive safely at my destination. It was very reassuring to me that your employees Amtrak Headquarters 60 Massachusetts Ave., NE have a watchful eye and help those who have special circum- Washington, D.C. 20002 stances as they arise—even on the busiest of travel days. [email protected] Amtrak Ink is a monthly employee publication of Amtrak, the I hope you can pass on my appreciation to Mr. Hamilton and National Railroad Passenger Corporation. his supervisor as I am very grateful for his help.” ® AMTRAK is a registered service mark of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. —Gregory Downing Amtrak Ink April 2014 | 3 Upcoming News & Promotions Treasures from Korea: Arts and Culture Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392–1910 Amtrak employees can visit the constitution Amtrak employees can visit the Philadelphia center in Philadelphia until October 19, 2014, for Museum of Art until May 26, 2014 to enjoy this the exhibit about slavery at Thomas Jefferson’s exhibit and learn more about Korean art and Monticello. Thomas Jefferson helped create a culture. In this first full-scale survey devoted to new nation based on individual freedom and 10 the art of the celebrated Joseon dynasty, discover self-government—yet he remained a slaveholder The day in May when we a number of designated National Treasures— throughout his life. This powerful, revealing and will celebrate National many of which have never been outside of deeply personal exhibition follows the stories Train Day. Korea—and learn about kingship and courtly of six slave families who lived and worked at life, Joseon society, ancestral rites, and the role of Jefferson’s plantation—the Fossett, Granger, 60 Confucianism and Buddhism during this extraor- Gillette, Hemings, Hern, and Hubbard families— The number of coach seats dinary dynasty that spanned half a millennium. and their descendants who fought for justice and added to the Auto Train Amtrak employees can book now and save helped bring to light their ancestors’ lives and for the spring and summer $5.00 on adult general admission through May values. Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello features of 2014. 26 (your discount will automatically appear in more than 280 artifacts that represent each fami- the shopping cart), or reference Discount Code ly’s trade as well as personal items of Jefferson’s 160 AMTRAKSAVE5 when you visit. Visit phila- including a walking stick, chess set, books, spec- The top miles per hour that mueum.org to book your visit or obtain more tacles, and replica of the portable desk used to our trains will be able to information.