This Week at Amtrak 2006-05-04
May 4th, 2006
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Volume 3 Number 20
- This is the fifth and last in a series of special editions of This Week at Amtrak concerning a report by a bi-partisan forum of congressmen known as the Amtrak Working Group, led by Congressman Richard Baker of Louisiana. In March, this group issued the most important government document regarding Amtrak since the final report of the Amtrak Reform Council was issued in December of 2002 by Chairman Gil Carmichael and his blue ribbon panel. The title of the AWG report is “Amtrak in the 21st Century.”
- Amtrak Chairman of the Board David Laney was quoted in a news article earlier this year saying a new President and CEO of Amtrak would likely be named in mid-May, which is only days away. We do know a well-known, international search firm was engaged to handle the search, and a number of respected candidates are part of the process. As this week marks the 35th anniversary of the start of Amtrak operations, we eagerly await the naming of a new chief for Amtrak.Whoever the new chief is, the Amtrak Working Group report has clearly outlined much of a full agenda of change which needs to be completed. In the past few months, we also know change has begun at Amtrak, under the combined leadership of Mr. Laney and Acting President David Hughes. Mr. Hughes has left a favorable impression wherever he has gone, helping boost employee morale and not hesitating to make needed changes. All of this process has been good, and long overdue.
Categories: This Week