Feds to loan Amtrak millions for new locomotives
Blog item in the Washington Post about Amtrak getting new rolling stock:
The federal government plans to loan Amtrak about $563 million to buy 70 locomotives to run along the busy Northeast and Keystone corridors, allowing improvements in service between Washington and other cities, and in Pennsylvania.
Amtrak said the locomotives are expected to begin operating in 2013 and will replace models that have been in service for 20 to 30 years.
"Record numbers of passengers are riding Amtrak trains across our national network of intercity routes," Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman said in a statement. "To better serve our customers, we are implementing a fleet replacement and renewal plan to improve the reliability and performance of our equipment. "
The federal government plans to loan Amtrak about $563 million to buy 70 locomotives to run along the busy Northeast and Keystone corridors, allowing improvements in service between Washington and other cities, and in Pennsylvania.
Amtrak said the locomotives are expected to begin operating in 2013 and will replace models that have been in service for 20 to 30 years.
"Record numbers of passengers are riding Amtrak trains across our national network of intercity routes," Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman said in a statement. "To better serve our customers, we are implementing a fleet replacement and renewal plan to improve the reliability and performance of our equipment. "