Amtrak to restore long-distance routes, recall workers

Amtrak announced yesterday that, due to the $1.7 billion in federal funding it will receive under the American Rescue Plan, it will fully restore daily long-distance service, bring back furloughed employees and continue progress on vital capital projects.

The House yesterday passed the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, and President Joe Biden is expected to sign it tomorrow. In addition to the funds for Amtrak, the bill includes $30.5 billion for public transit.

"This funding will benefit the entire Amtrak network, out state and commuter partners, customers and employees," Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Bill Flynn said in a prepared statement. "We will work closely with Congress and the Biden administration on next steps for funding to support Amtrak's long-term growth. Funding options include expanding the Amtrak network through new corridor routes, that will create thousands of new jobs, reducing our nation's carbon footprint, and helping the economy recover and flourish in the years ahead."

Amtrak will restore daily service for 12 long-distance routes following pandemic-related schedule reductions in 2020. The schedule has been updated on all Amtrak reservation systems, including Amtrak.com and the Amtrak app. The daily schedules will begin in May and will be grouped into three phases.

Additionally, Amtrak will recall the more than 1,200 furloughed employees through the remainder of fiscal-year 2021 and into fiscal-year 2022, railroad officials said in a press release.

Meanwhile, a number of rail advocacy organizations praised Congress for passing the American Rescue Plan. The OneRail Coalition said the legislation "will ensure critical transportation resources are available to provide essential mobility options for front-line and other workers, as well as provide a needed impetus to our national economic recovery."

Nicole Brewin, senior vice president of government and public affairs at the Railway Supply Institute (RSI), said the legislation's funding for Amtrak and transit-rail agencies is a critical step for railway suppliers and their customers.

"These much-needed funds will help ensure that our customers can continue to serve riders and communities across the nation, and by extension the hundreds of railway suppliers who support those operations," Brewin said in a prepared statement.