ink
A Monthly Publication for and by Amtrak Employees
Volume 19 • Issue 2 • February/March 2014
Operation Lifesaver
ACS-64 Maiden Voyage
Wi-Fi in the Midwest
Train of Thought
T
Amtrak Government Affairs and Corporate Communications
Joe McHugh, Vice President
Government Affairs &
Corporate Communications
I. Suzi Andiman
Director, Employee
Communications
Liliana Lopez
Sr. Communications Officer
Marlon Sharpe
Principal Graphic Designer
Lisa V. Pulaski
Graphic Designer
Chuck Gomez
Multimedia Specialist
Check out one of our
social media channels today!
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February/March 2014
Amtrak Ink
We Reached our
Safe-2-Safer Goal!
200,000
January:
230,896
December:
192,718
November:
185,038
October:
173,624
September:
161,114
August:
147,102
July:
138,253
June:
130,351
May:
122,509
AA
ran them in the cold, in the snow and in the
hursday, Feb. 6, 2014, was a historic
rain. They’ve performed beautifully. And
day for Amtrak. At a ceremony that
our locomotive engineers and mechanical
took place at Philadelphia 30th Street
teams are thrilled to have this technologiStation attended by Vice President Joe
cally advanced equipment, too.
Biden and Secretary of Transportation
As I rode back to
Anthony Foxx, we formally
Washington from Boston on
accepted the first of
Northeast Regional train #171
70 new Amtrak Cities
led by ACS-64 #600, on its
Sprinter (ACS-64) electric
first revenue run, I couldn’t
locomotives for service on
help but notice our people in
our Northeast Corridor
the field and at the different
(NEC)—North America’s
stations stopping and admirbusiest stretch of railroad.
ing the new locomotive. It
This was not just a histurns heads, and it also brings
toric day for the company,
hope. We are a changing
but also for the rest of our
Joseph H. Boardman
company, and that day was
country as well. Amtrak is
the first day of a new era for
integral to the daily life of the
Amtrak and for the mobility of this region.
Northeast, linking communities in states
Amtrak expects to have several more
along the NEC. Our new locomotives will
new locomotives enter revenue service in
help power the economy of the greater
the coming weeks and then will receive
Northeast and usher in a new era of
delivery of the remaining units through
improved reliability, mobility and connec2015.These locomotives and the work being
tivity for intercity rail.
done by CAF on the new long-distance
Our new locomotives are truly motors
fleet order show that we are investing in
for growth—ready to support current and
our future and by doing so, we are investing
future ridership. They are and will continue
in our economy. It is great to see the “Made
to generate employment for Americans
in America” plates on these new locomoacross the country. Constructed by Siemens
tives. I hope each and every one of you is
at its plant in Sacramento, Calif., parts for
as proud as I am to be part of our company.
the new locomotives come from approxiWe are evolving every day to continue to
mately 70 suppliers in more than 23 states.
be the best and safest intercity passenger
The locomotives have been run under
transportation operation in the nation. n
every condition our daily services face. We
200,000
180,000
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
The peer-to-peer injury
prevention program, Safe2-Safer, reached its previous
goal of 100,000 observations
in February 2013. Track
Amtrak’s system-wide
progress each month.
Table of Front Line Focus
Contents
4 This Month’s Leading News
Helping a Passenger Rejected by the Airlines
Mildred Stalling, Chicago Union Station manager, and
Marlene Snipes, on-board service attendant, received
this letter of gratitude for helping a 500 pound passenger
return home to France. Part of his travel included travel
on Amtrak from Chicago to New York.
Know a high school student interested in attending
RailCamp? Read about how to sign up.
5
Bulletin Board
President’s Service and Safety Awards (PSSA) nominations
are currently being accepted. Learn about what our Equal
Employment Opportunity Office does for you.
8
Strategic Plan
Joe Boardman message on the refreshed Amtrak
Strategic Plan FY 2014-2018.
10ACS-64 Revenue Run
Read about the ACS-64 engine delivered to Amtrak and
put in revenue runs this February.
14Q & A with Mike DeCataldo
Who is our Northeast Corridor General Manager? Our
employee Q&A will give you some insight.
17Milestones
Employee milestones from December 2013 to January
2014.
ink
Publication
for and by
Amtrak Empl
Volume 19
oyees
• Issue 2 •
February/M
arch 2014
Locomotive #600 in
Bristol, Pa., with the
Grundy clock tower
in the background.
Hope you are keeping well.
Just want to say that we
reached home eventually. We
want to thank you for being
so kind to us on the day we
arrived to take the train to
NY on 12 November 2013.
Remember, Kevin [Chenais]
on his big scooter wheel chair.
Mildred Stalling and Marlene Snipes
Kevin really took a great liking
to you and to Marlene. You
were particularly humane, kind and gentle with us. God
bless you dear Mildred. We will never forget you and your
sweet gentle smile. We were really so touched with the
way you treated us. Thank you Mildred you will always be
remembered.
Gratefully and sincerely,
Christina Chenais
Amtrak Police Department Members Save a Life
A Monthly
On the Cover
Dearest Mildred,
Operatio
n Lifesav
er
ACS-64 M
aiden
Voyage
Wi-Fi in th
e Midwe
st
Photo courtesy of
Gary Pancavage.
Amtrak Headquarters
60 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Ecom@Amtrak.com
Amtrak Ink is a monthly employee publication of Amtrak, the
National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
® AMTRAK is a registered service mark of the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation.
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, Sergeant John Cullinan,
along with Police Officers Steven Sibbitt and Anthony
Switek responded to Officer Brian Larkin’s report of an
emergency in the women’s restroom in the North Arcade
of Philadelphia 30th Street Station. When they arrived at
the scene, they found a female Amtrak employee lying
unconscious on the floor. On examination, the officers
found that she was not breathing and in cardiac arrest.
After a basic assessment from Officer Brian Larkin,
the officers immediately called for Emergency Medical
Services and began to assist the woman. Sergeant
Cullinan began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),
while Officer Sibbett supplied her with oxygen from
the automated external defibrillator (AED)/Oxygen
kit, and Officer Switek prepared the AED for use. The
officers took turns performing CPR until the AED was
used, and the Amtrak employee began breathing on her
own. Thanks to the quick response and decisive actions
of Sergeant Cullinan and Officers Larkin, Sibbett and
Switek, the woman survived and continues to recover.
Amtrak Ink
February/March 2014
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3
Upcoming News & Promotions
Summer Rail Camp for High
School Students
20
The number of
communities scheduled to
host the Amtrak Exhibit
Train in 2014.
108,000
The total number of Denver
passengers that Amtrak
served last year.
$600
million
The amount in TIGER
competitive grants that
the U.S. Department
of Transportation is
making available to fund
transportation projects.
2,206,814
Overall Amtrak ridership
for January 2014.
$2,928.63
Food and beverage
remittance that Lead
Service Attendant (LSA)
Timothy Corbett
averaged per trip in
January 2014 in the café
car of the Southwest Chief.
4
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Do you know any high school age students
who might be interested in attending RailCamp?
Spaces are still available for the 2014 RailCamp
programs which provide hands-on railroading and
preservation experience. The National Railway
Historical Society (NRHS) teams up with rail
industry partners to offer students on both coasts
an unforgettable week of facility tours, train operations, workshops, train rides and more.
RailCamp East will be held July 6-11, 2014, in
Newark, Del., with some activities in Strasburg,
Pa. The RailCamp Northwest program will take
place from July 27 – Aug. 2, 2014, and again be
held in Tacoma, Wash.
Throughout its 15 year history, the NRHS
program has given unique, hands-on railroad
experience to nearly 500 high school boys and
girls. In past years, students have also learned
about preservation techniques, railroad history
and career opportunities.
Registration forms and news updates can be
found at nrhs.com/program/railcamp and also
on the NHRS Facebook page at facebook.com/
railpreservation. Questions should be directed to
infor@nrhs.com.
Visit the Slavery at Jefferson’s
Monticello Exhibit at the Constitution
Center in Philadelphia from April 9 –
Oct. 19, 2014
Thomas Jefferson helped create a new nation
based on individual freedom and self-government—yet he remained a slaveholder throughout
his life. This powerful, revealing, and deeply personal exhibition follows the stories of six slave
families who lived and worked at Jefferson’s plantation—the Fossett, Granger, Gillette, Hemings,
Hern, and Hubbard families—and their descendants who fought for justice and helped bring to
light their ancestors’ lives and values.
Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello features more
than 280 artifacts that represent each family’s
trade as well as personal items of Jefferson’s
including a walking stick, chess set, books, spectacles and replica of the portable desk used to draft
the Declaration of Independence. Explore the
story of slavery in early U.S. history while discovering the struggle and the self-determination at
February/March 2014
Amtrak Ink
the heart of America’s founding. Leave inspired
to discover your own family heritage and history.
Amtrak employees must show their employee
badges at the box office to receive discounted
ticket pricing of $10.50 of the regular $14.50
admission or you can also enter the promo code
“AMTRAK” online at constitutioncenter.org.
Introducing the My CareerTrak
Recruiting Management System
On March 31, 2014, the My CareerTrak
Recruiting Management System (RMS) will
replace our current eRecruiting (eREC) system.
Amtrak employees and external candidates will
use RMS to search and apply for Amtrak jobs.
In preparation for the RMS transition, please
refer to the following timeline:
Date
Activity
March 14
Employee Service Center (ESC) accepts
final job requisitions in eREC.
March 17 – 28 RMS Informational Teleconferences will
be conducted for all employees.
March 18 – 19 Talent Acquisition Advisors (TAAs) and
ESC will be in training and unavailable
for recruitment support services.
March 17 – 31 ESC experiences a brown-out for all new
job requisitions received from
March 14 – 24, 2014.
March 24
My CareerTrak RMS training will be
available for all employees.
March 30
eREC will be turned off for all users. All
open requisitions will be redirected to My
CareerTrak RMS.
March 31
My CareerTrak RMS is live!
Ongoing
TAAs will continue to source and screen
candidates.
To help you prepare for the eREC to RMS
transition, we will conduct RMS teleconferences
the last two weeks in March. More information
about these planned teleconferences is forthcoming. n
Bulletin Board
PSSA Nomination Period is
Now Open
Safety Awards winners.
Winners will be selected in the Fall
and honored in November at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Nomination forms are posted
on the company Intranet and can be
found in the Forms Library, which is
available by clicking “Library” then
clicking “Forms.” Questions can also be
directed to committee members and/or
2014PSSA@amtrak.com.
Nominations are currently being
accepted for the 2014 President’s
Service and Safety Awards (PSSA)
and we are excited to announce the
addition of a new category to this year’s
awards. The Living our Values Award
will recognize our employees for going
above and beyond to exhibit Amtrak’s
core values of Commitment to Safety,
Integrity, Spirit of Service, Desire to
Improve, Respect, Entrepreneurial
Amtrak’s EEO Compliance Office
Spirit, Accountability, Humility and
The Amtrak Equal Employment
Forgiveness.
Opportunity (EEO) Compliance
Now is a great time to get started
Office is a part of the Law departon your nomination forms. The PSSA
ment. It has offices in Washington,
nomination
period runs
Philadelphia, New York, Chicago and
to nominate
anythrough
Amtrak® employee,
Wednesday, April 30, 2014, and will
Los Angeles. The EEO Compliance
Amtrak
supporter,
notvalued
be extended
beyond
that date. or yourself,
Officefor
is tasked with handling comOnce the nomination period concludes,
plaints that fall under Amtrak’s
making an outstanding contribution
nominations will be reviewed for comAnti-Discrimination and Antipleteness
and strength of information,
Harassment Policy (5.2.3). As you may
to Amtrak.
so please make sure to make your
know, the policy prohibits discrimnominating
form
as
clear,
concise
and
ination is
and harassment based on a
Deadline date for all nominations
complete as possible.
person’s race, color, religion, gender,
Wednesday, April 30, 2014.
age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation
or other personal characteristics protected by law. This policy also prohibits
sexual harassment and retaliation (for
filing an EEO complaint, participating
in an EEO investigation or reporting
an injury or safety issue). Violating
the policy constitutes an act of serious
misconduct that can result in disciplinary action, up to and including
termination.
The EEO Compliance Office
reviews every discrimination and
harassment complaint. However, not
every complaint of discrimination or
harassment is handled by this office.
Someoncomplaints,
particularly those
2014 President’s Service & Safety Awards nomination forms are available
the
Amtrak
Intranet
in theremember
Forms Library. To to
access
the forms go to the Amtrak
Intranet out of routine employee
that
arise
Also,
please
support
home page, click on “Library” then click on “Forms.” Forms are also available by
2014PSSA@Amtrak.com.
disputes, are referred to management
thee-mailing
committee
members as they work
for handling. For example, if two
diligently to select this year’s award
co-workers are engaged in an argurecipients. They need everyone’s help
ment and one of those employees
to ensure that we select the best of the
says to the other, “you young people
best as our 2014 President’s Service and
Here’s Your
Opportunity…
Amtrak is a registered service mark of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
don’t know anything,” that complaint
may be referred to management even
though the employee made an age-related comment. Management routinely
handles employee disputes. Managers
can contact the EEO compliance office
if they need guidance handling these
types of complaints.
When the EEO Compliance Office
handles a complaint, a member of the
staff will conduct an investigation.
Every complaint will be treated confidentially to the extent practical, keeping
in mind that an investigation will
include talking to the complainant, the
accused and any witnesses.
The EEO Compliance Office staff
is trained to conduct neutral fact-finding investigations. Its findings are
based solely on the facts and the credibility of the evidence gathered during
the investigation. This means that
they conduct thorough investigations
without taking sides.
The EEO Compliance Office works
hard to resolve complaints as quickly
as possible, and is committed to completing investigations within 75 days.
Of course, employees have the right to
seek assistance from other resources.
However, they believe that Amtrak’s
internal resources (i.e., your union,
management, or the EEO Compliance
Office) can respond to your concerns
effectively and quickly.
Amtrak’s Helpline
Amtrak is committed to maintaining
a positive and productive environment
for all employees. If a conflict arises at
work, there are people and resources to
turn to for help.
Employees may call the toll-free
Amtrak’s Helpline at (866) 908-7231
or go online at report-lineweb.com/
Amtrak to report any type of workplace conflict or concern. A third-party
interview specialist will document the
issue in detail and relay this information
to Amtrak for follow-up. Employees
Amtrak Ink
February/March 2014
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5
Bulletin Board
will be given the option to remain
anonymous. All Helpline reports are
reviewed by a member of the EEO
Compliance Office who refers the
reports to the appropriate department.
For example, reports may be referred
to a senior manager in the employee’s
department, Employee Relations,
the EEO Compliance Office or the
Amtrak Police Department. The decision about where to direct the reports
is made based on the information
given to the Helpline. In general, the
Law department will not conduct
further intake before referring the
report. All key information should be
given to the Helpline at the time the
complaint is filed. Helpline reports will
be handled promptly and discreetly.
Amtrak encourages employees to
try to talk to the person with whom
they are having the conflict first and
attempt to resolve the problem. You
may also contact your manager or
union representative for assistance.
Please note that Helpline
reports are reviewed by
the Law department only
during regular business hours.
Emergencies, such as workplace violence incidents, should
be reported directly to the
Amtrak Police (215-349-4919)
or to your local management.
Amtrak Police
Department on Point
During the NFL Super
Bowl XLVIII
Through extensive planning, effective partnerships
with local, state, and federal
agencies and the hard work
of our employees, the Amtrak
Police Department successfully protected our passengers
and railroad assets throughout the preceding events and
game day of Super Bowl
XLVIII. n
Super Bowl crowds were monitored by APD teams before and after the game.
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February/March 2014
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K-9 unit Philip Kuipers and Kylee patrol the crowds during
the event.
Chicago 14th Street Yards
The Amtrak 14th Street Coach Yard
and Maintenance Facility sits on a
48-acre site. This photo was taken
from the six-story control tower that
overlooks and coordinates activities.
Amtrak employees perform numerous
tasks here such as repairing engines,
replacing wheels on any cars assigned,
checking water supplies to restocking
toilet paper. Replenishing food and
drink supplies, cleaning and other
tasks are also done here. Most of the
Wi-Fi installation for our Midwest
trains took place at the 14th Street
Chicago Yards.
Amtrak Ink
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|
7
A Message from Joe Boardman
The Amtrak Strategic Plan has been updated for the 2014-2018 fiscal years.
Dear Co-workers,
Since implementing our 2011 Strategic Plan our accomplishments have been significant. We set the
groundwork necessary to build a stronger Amtrak. We must continue to make bold changes to help secure
our future and improve intercity passenger rail’s value as a national asset. To do so, we have refreshed our
Strategic Plan for the next four years. I would like you to use this plan as our guide to future success—a tool
for pointing us along our journey.
If you have not already seen it, I would like to introduce you to the highlights of the refreshed Strategic
Plan.
• We have an updated vision that directs what we want to do: “Moving America where it wants to go.”
Our updated mission tells us how we will achieve this: “Deliver intercity transportation with superior
safety, customer service and financial excellence.”
• We have narrowed our corporate themes and refined the strategic goals. We have sharpened our
focus to three themes and aligned goals that will make the greatest difference for Amtrak: Safety and
Security, Customer Focus and Financial Excellence. These goals are highly integrated—the success
in all of them is crucial to sustaining Amtrak’s future. Two previous goals, Mobility and Connectivity
and Environment and Energy, have now become ways in which we can achieve our goals, rather than
be goals in-and-of themselves.
• In my next communication, I will explain how our business line strategies will result in better results
for our customers.
• Although there have been changes in our strategy our values and leadership philosophy have not
changed.
The refreshed Strategic Plan will ensure a successful Amtrak tomorrow. We are all aware that it will take
time for the plan to show the results that we aim to obtain. However, I am confident that if we are united,
with shared focus and aligned action, we will continue to transform Amtrak into a world-class passenger
transportation company.
For the FY14-FY18 plan to work successfully, I need each of you to learn and help others learn our new
strategy. To support you in that effort, I am committed to providing resources to help you understand how
our strategy affects you, your team and your business line/department and how you can contribute towards
the achievement of our business goals. I encourage you to review the Reference Summary, the Strategy
Refresh Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a full copy of the Strategic Plan all of which can be found
on our company Intranet home page. If you have any questions regarding the Strategic Plan, please contact
Amtrak.Strategic Plan@amtrak.com.
While you are reviewing the Strategic Plan please remember that we are developing new initiatives
that will help each business line meet our strategic goals. More information will come to you soon. In the
meantime, thank you for your support and for your hard work.
Sincerely,
Joe Boardman
President and CEO
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February/March 2014
Amtrak Ink
Wi-Fi in the Midwest: Improving Customer
Experience
O
n Feb. 10, 2014, Amtrak officially made Wi-Fi service
available to our Midwest passengers with eight
corridors now offering the free amenity. Amtrak
installed the Wi-Fi equipment under contracts with the states
of Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin as part of their
collective sponsorship of Amtrak service. With this latest
addition, our Wi-Fi service covers 85 percent of passengers
across the national network.
“We continually look for ways to improve the customer
experience on board our trains. The availability of a free Wi-Fi
service that delivers the speeds and connectivity passengers
are looking for is yet one more way to achieve this goal and
maintain a competitive position among transportation providers,” said Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Matt Hardison.
To make the service a reality, Amtrak maintenance
facilities in Brighton Park, Ill., Chicago 14th Street, and Ivy
City, Washington, D.C., installed approximately 38,000 feet
of cable and wiring before performing countless hours of
systems testing and validation. “This was truly a team effort.
These crews faced one of the most brutal winters in Midwest
history, and we exceeded expectations by finishing the installations and launching the service on time. All the crews really
came together to meet our goals,” said Evan Hicks, Passenger
Experience project manager.
Making a mobile
Wi-Fi network happen
is probably more
complicated than you
think, and certainly
requires a lot of hard
work on the part of
our employees. The
process of installing
Wi-Fi in our trains
begins with crews preparing the roof of the
communications car—
many times the food
service car—where
antennas are mounted
to capture the signals
from the nearby cell
towers. Otherwise
Chicago 14th Street Maintenance Facility
known as the “ski
Foreman Ron Wallace and Electrician Scott
rack”, this equipSebby were part of the crew from Chicago
ment is connected
that did the installation.
Crew at Ivy City Maintenance Facility mounted the roof antennas.
to the Central Control Unit (CCU) or “brain.” The brain
itself is securely located inside the train to protect it from
the elements and is connected to access points throughout
the train—typically two in each car. These access points are
what send the brain’s communications throughout the train
and allow a customer to connect to the Internet.
Given that it routinely supports 30 to 50 percent of users
on any given train, AmtrakConnect Wi-Fi has proven to be
a popular service for our passengers. “The employees understand that Wi-Fi is the way to the future and they are excited
to help bring it to the customers,” said Ed Witham, mechanical superintendent from the Central region. The recently
launched Midwest services have already observed as many as
166 devices attached to the Wi-Fi network on a single train,
with nearly 4 GB of data being consumed.
“We welcome all the work and any type of modification
that we do in cars because it helps the bottom line,” said Ron
Wallace, mechanical foreman at 14th Street Maintenance
Facility. n
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9
Amtrak First ACS-64 Goes Into Revenue Service
On Thursday, Feb. 6, in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station,
President and CEO Joe Boardman, along with Vice President
Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony
Foxx and members of our board of directors and other
dignitaries, inaugurated Amtrak’s new Cities Sprinter
electric locomotive (ACS-64) that will help power the
economic future of the Northeast region.
The new locomotives will operate on Northeast Regional
trains at speeds up to 125 mph on the Northeast Corridor
between Washington, D.C., New York and Boston They
also will power Keystone trains and all long-distance trains
operating on the NEC.
From left to right: Amtrak Chief Mechanical Officer Mario Bergeron, Amtrak
Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Coscia, Amtrak President and CEO
Joe Boardman, President of Siemens Rail Systems in the U.S. Michael Cahill,
President and CEO Siemens U.S.A. Eric A. Spiegel and Vice President of
Locomotives Siemens Rail Systems of North America Dave Ward.
Locomotive #600 goes on its first revenue ran from Boston. Above: Chief of
Operations Chris Jagodzinski. Right: Conductor Chris Weldon.
10 | February/March 2014
Amtrak Ink
Above: Engineer Pat Darcy. Right: U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Anthony Foxx, Engineer Rick Stolnis
and Vice President Joe Biden.
Above: Engineer Arthur Fontes and
President and CEO Joe Boardman.
President and CEO Joe Boardman being interviewed by a television
reporter in Boston.
Members of the press corps attended the Philadelphia 30th Street Station
event.
Amtrak
Amtrak
Ink Ink
February/March
February/March
2014 2014
| | 11
Working with our Rail Partners to Save Lives
E
very three hours a person
gets hit by a train, according
to Operation Lifesaver,
Inc. (OLI), a national non-profit
safety education group. Amtrak and
OLI are working together to bring
awareness and education to different
communities across the country to
end rail-automobile collisions at grade
crossings and along railroad rights-of
way and reduce injuries and deaths as
a result.
OLI has programs in all 50 states
and it trains volunteers who provide
free safety talks to community groups,
school bus drivers, truck drivers and
student drivers in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers
found around railroad tracks and operating railroads.
The organization’s strength is its volunteers who distribute information and educate communities about rail safety.
It supports state programs, developing videos, educational
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February/March 2014
Amtrak Ink
brochures, instructional information
and other materials for audiences of
all ages.
Scott Sauer is director of system
safety and risk for Southeastern
Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
(SEPTA) and one of the newest
members of the OLI board of directors. His involvement started at the
local level with the Pennsylvania state
board of directors and he began by
giving presentations at schools.
“The real work is being done by
volunteers,” Sauer said during one
of the Operations Lifesaver board
of directors meetings. “You have to
believe the mission and know that the incentive is to save
lives.” Sauer says that many of the volunteers dedicate their
time to Operation Lifesaver because there is a personal connection or they might have an experience that made them
want to educate people.
Sauer was formerly a train operator for SEPTA and
during this time he had near-misses and no hits. “I saw
people getting killed on the tracks,” he said. “This is what
made me become a volunteer.” OLI’s treasurer Steven
Neubauer, director of field safety support for Burlington
Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNSF), was a locomotive
engineer who was involved in a collision. “For many years
I was a volunteer. I probably gave over 1,000 presentations.
This is the only way that we can effectively reach out to the
community,” said Neubauer. “I think operators can go out
to the community and say ‘this is my job and this is what
happens when there is a collision.”
According to the Association of American Railroads,
there were approximately 160,000 miles of track operated
in the United States in 2010. “It is important to have a representation from all of our partners,” said Neubauer. “Our
partners are very important and Amtrak is a big part of it.
When we have an incident, it affects everyone.”
“Amtrak operates over the host railroads where the
majority of grade crossings are located,” said Amtrak Chief
Safety Officer Michael Logue who is also an OLI board
member. “That is why it is so important that we have a
person dedicated to Operation Lifesaver to help get the
message out.” Barbara Petito is the new Amtrak OLI specialist. Previously, the position was filled by a volunteer.
Petito is now a full-time staff person for this position and she
will play a crucial role in Amtrak participation with OLI.
OLI is run by a very diverse board of directors who
come from different railroads. Sauer sees his role on the
board as the “voice for the transit community that deals
with light rail and elevated subway. We all have different voices but we are all in for the same reason
and our ultimate goal is the same,” Sauer
said. “Teach and spread the message and
working towards saving people’s lives,” is
the goal of Operation Lifesaver says
the board of director chairman,
Bill Barringer, Jr. from Norfolk
Southern Corporation. Barringer
said that everyone can be involved:
families and friends and communities.
“Volunteering for Operation Lifesaver is
a great way to give back to the community
by reaching out and touching somebody. All
you need is to have a passion for savings lives.”
The organization has seen some changes in the
past few years. The board of directors is relatively new
and they have launched new initiatives to achieve their collective mission.
“One of my goals is to try to leave the organization in
better shape,” said Barringer when talking about his goals
for the organization. Nancy Hudson, state coordinator
for the OLI board of directors, has seen the changes. “We
have new leadership and they all bring different abilities
and that makes us stronger,” said Hudson. “They all
come to the table with the same goal: to promote
the program and save lives.” Terry Lubdan, CSX
manager of community affairs and safety, has
been with OLI for 24 years and he says that
great improvements have been made
especially when it comes to training
people. “We have changed all training for volunteers, they are now
trained specifically to do things differently when going out there and
educate people,” said Lubdan.
Volunteers are always needed at OLI.
“We can all become more active and become
volunteers,” said Logue. “The training is available and our employees and anyone can save lives
in their communities by setting up presentations
at local schools and other local meetings and making
everyone aware of the dangers of railr crossing collisions.”
OLI has more information and resources on becoming
a volunteer and making an impact in your community, visit
oli.org. n
Amtrak Ink
February/March 2014
|
13
Employee Q&A
Mike DeCataldo, General Manager, Northeast Corridor
I
n October 2012, Michael DeCataldo
became the first business line
general manager appointed at
Amtrak. He leads the Northeast Corridor
(NEC) operation, which stretches from
Boston to Lynchburg. The NEC includes
the major rail terminals in New York,
Washington, Boston and Philadelphia
and the operations at intermediate
Amtrak stations and facilities.
DeCataldo joined Amtrak in
1995 as assistant general manager,
Customer Services. He was the general
superintendent, Northeast Division
before assuming his current position.
The NEC is the fastest, most complex
railroad operation in North America.
Our NEC business line structure is
helping Amtrak focus on performance
improvements that our customers, our
partners and our employees can measure. Amtrak Ink had the
opportunity to ask Mr. DeCataldo about his role and his work
at Amtrak.
What are your priorities as the general manager (GM)
of the NEC?
My top priority each day is to ensure the operation of a
safe and reliable railroad for the tens of thousands of passengers traveling on the Northeast Corridor and, of course, our
employees.
We are committed to providing the very best customer
service we can to our passengers as well as to our state and
commuter partners.
My team and I will continue to work to develop new
and improved customer service initiatives and find ways to
more consistently and efficiently communicate to our passengers. We will strive to improve our informational response
time to passengers during service disruptions through use
of Amtrak.com, our social media channels and through
effective communication between the passengers and our
on-board staff.
The successful continued development of the NEC
remains a priority. The NEC generates 37 percent of all our
riders and 38 percent of Amtrak’s total revenue, so increasing our revenues while containing our costs is critical for
future success.
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February/March 2014
Amtrak Ink
What are your long and short-term
visions to improve the NEC?
The issues and challenges that
impact the Northeast Corridor have
a wide range of implications that will
impact our operations now and in the
future, so many of my visions and hopes
for the corridor overlap into these two
categories.
I believe that our short-term initiatives should continue to reflect
our goal to provide safe, reliable and
environmentally friendly high-speed
intercity travel. This also includes
maintaining support for our long-distance and state supported business line
services, and working with our partners
at NEC Infrastructure and Investment
Development (NEC IID) to make
high-speed rail investments. As an
example, our impending federally- funded improvement
project in New Jersey will revamp the overhead wire system
between New Brunswick and Trenton.
Working to upgrade our larger stations along the corridor has also been a priority. We have seen steps in that
direction this past year with significant improvements
made at our stations in Philadelphia and Baltimore, and we
unveiled a master plan proposal to transform Washington’s
Union Station into an iconic transportation hub.
I will also continue to work with the key stakeholders
responsible for the Moynihan Station project in Manhattan,
which will ultimately provide a first class train station for
passengers.
I am also pleased to say that we were able to finalize
agreements with our partners at the Maryland Transit
Authority which resulted in the roll-out of weekend MARC
commuter line service. Through the offices of former Virginia
Governor McDonnell we were able to execute an agreement
that expands our Northeast Regional service to and from
Norfolk.
In New England, we will continue with our initiative
to replace aging movable bridge structures, most recently
completing a multi-million dollar project to remove the over
100-year old Niantic Bridge in Connecticut and replace it
with a more modern structure that has improved overall reliability in that area.
Employee Q&A
Going forward, I will continue to encourage the replacement of our aging fleet of equipment where possible. This
month’s introduction of the first of 70 ACS-64 locomotives in
the Northeast is a great first step towards that goal, as is the
recent news that Amtrak, along with the state of California,
has gone out with a request for proposal for new high-speed
rail equipment, which I believe is vital to future development
on the NEC.
What do you love about Amtrak?
What is most enjoyable for me is that each day I come to
work I find new challenges and with that fresh opportunities
to try to enhance our operations. I thoroughly enjoy the interaction with our passengers and employees as I travel the NEC.
I am encouraged by how much we have grown and the fact
that year-after-year a record number of people choose to ride
Amtrak. My co-workers and our state and commuter partners
play a vital role in our success more than ever before through
the PRIIA (Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement
Act) process and help us continue to grow as an organization.
How does the GM role differ from that of being general
superintendent for the NEC?
Well, my new role comes with a greater level of accountability for the safety, customer satisfaction, ridership, on-time
performance and at the end of the day, financial results for
the Northeast Corridor business line, as outlined in our
Strategic Plan. The other significant difference is the amount
of territory the general manager oversees on a day-to-day
basis. I consider it quite a challenge to oversee a 457-mile
area of track from Boston to Washington, but the talented
individuals that have become part of the NEC team alleviate
much of that challenge.
I am working with many of the same people as I did as
general superintendent, so I am comfortable with the interaction we continue to share.
My new position also allows me to travel more extensively throughout the Northeast and with that comes the
opportunity to personally discuss issues with our employees
and the chance to hear firsthand about passenger experiences, both good and not so good, while on-board.
What is your take on leadership?
In order to be an effective leader, you must surround
yourself with people who are knowledgeable and dedicated
to their profession and most importantly, work well together.
When I assemble a staff, I look for those qualities and I
think I have been quite successful in integrating my railroad
experience with some very talented individuals and, if one
succeeds, we all succeed. To me, the other important component of leadership is leading by example; what you say is
important but what you do is really what everyone notices
and pays attention to.
What does being collaborative mean to you? How do
you get everyone in your team engaged?
Well, if you look up the word it literally means to “work
with another person or group in order to achieve or do
something”.
This translates into what we are all trying to achieve
through our organization. I believe that all ideas have some
merit. Although I am charged with making some tough decisions, I believe that our path forward is best served when
participation in the process is embraced by everyone, which
to me, requires listening to what is said and providing feedback.
Are you an optimist? With all our challenges, how do
you bring optimism to Amtrak?
I am an optimist and at the same time a realist by nature.
I come to work every day excited about the prospects for
improving the great product we offer in the Northeast and
throughout the country, but I also understand the challenges
we face as an organization in finding ways to finance the
work we know must be done.
What is one of the most memorable moments that you
recall about being an Amtrak employee?
I have encountered my share of service disruptions and
unfortunately, mishaps on the railroad. It is during these
times that I found that I am most proud of the dedication
and tireless work of our employees. Our recovery efforts
following the horrific 9/11 attacks showed me just how fortunate we all are to have such a dedicated and professional
team in place. We were able to maintain a sense of order in
the midst of utter chaos.
More recently, I can recall how we responded during and
after Hurricane Sandy. While the storm left unprecedented
damage to our infrastructure and storm surges within the
Hudson River and East River Tunnels that had never been
seen before, we were able to restore vital Northeast Corridor
service within days and even more astonishingly were able to
keep our most important transportation hub, Penn Station in
New York, open throughout the ordeal.
These are all events that show how good we are at what
we do, but really, it is the people here at Amtrak that I
appreciate the most and have provided me with my fondest
memories. n
Amtrak Ink
February/March 2014
|
15
Exhibit Train begins its tour for 2014
For the third consecutive year, Amtrak is showcasing its past,
present and future in our traveling Exhibit Train in communities
across the country.
The first stop of the 2014 tour was the Arizona Railway Museum
in Chandler, Ariz., on March 1 and 2 to complement their 30th
anniversary celebration. The event had approximately 3,000 visitors.
The Exhibit Train features displays such as workable signals,
interactive video screens and trivia. It also includes favorite displays
such as the locomotive stand and horns. The Exhibit Train includes
two locomotives, three renovated baggage cars and one bistro
car, all with historic paint schemes. In addition, it features photos,
uniforms, vintage advertising and memorabilia from Amtrak’s
beginning in 1971 to today’s modern-sleeping cars and high-speed
rail service. For the schedule, visit amtrak.com/exhibit-train.
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February/March 2014
Amtrak Ink
Community
A Wish for a Young Member of the Amtrak Family
A
“nerd cave” is what 13-yearold John Carlson, son of
26-year Amtrak employee
Jim Carlson, requested when he was
asked to make a wish. John wanted
a place where he would be able to
relax with his family while he was
receiving his chemotherapy and
radiation treatments. In 2012, John
was diagnosed with a rare form of
cancer and while getting treatments
for his illness, his parents got in touch
with the Make-a-Wish Foundation of
Connecticut to see if they could grant
him his wish.
According to Make-A-Wish
Connecticut, they grant “the wishes of
children with life-threatening medical
conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”
John wanted a place where he
could enjoy his love for trains and his
love of being a Boy Scout. In his “nerd
cave,” he can enjoy games, spend
time with his family in a comfortable
newly decorated room surrounded by
posters of two of his favorite Amtrak
routes, the Lake Shore Limited and the
Empire Builder.
At the time of this article, John had
four more months of chemotherapy
to go. “John will be able to enjoy this
room with his family,” said Michael
Dominick, community and media
relations manager of Make-A-Wish
Connecticut. “Our volunteers work
hard to make the wishes creative, since
their wishes are only limited to a kid’s
imagination.”
According to Make-A-Wish
Connecticut, not all of the kids are
terminally ill. They are diagnosed
with a life-threatening medical condition, but in fact many go on to live
long, healthy lives, according to the
organization.
John Carlson, Road Foreman Jim Carlson, Patricia Carlson and President and CEO Joe Boardman tour
the new ACS-64 engine.
John is in remission and he and
his family had the opportunity to
ride and tour the ACS-64 locomotive
on its maiden run from Boston this
February.
“This trip was the first time John
has smiled in over a year. He had a
smile from ear-to-ear from when he
got up in the morning until he went to
bed that evening. It was the ride of his
life time and he couldn’t stop telling
everyone about it,” said Jim Carlson.
“It is comforting to know that the
company does care.”
“Amtrak is a family and we care
for each other. John is a brave young
man and I appreciated the opportunity
to be part of his journey to recovery.
We can always make a difference in
someone’s life and I hope that he and
his family know that we wish him the
best and we are happy with the progress that he is making,” said President
and CEO Joe Boardman.
If you are interested in becoming
involved or learning how to help the
Make a Wish Foundation, you can visit
wish.org. n
Amtrak Ink
February/March 2014
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17
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
Retirees
December 2013
ABBOTT, RICHARD
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Station
BORNHORST, CARL
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mech. Facility
BOWEN, ALAN
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
BROWN, JOHN
Los Angeles Offices
CARPER, WILLIAM
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility
Washington, D.C.
CAVACINI, FRANK
Philadelphia
Reservation & Sales
Office
DAVIS, RUBY
Chicago Mechanical
&Terminal Offices
DAVIS-PAIGE,
JENNIFER
Chicago Offices
DETRATTO, ERNEST
Brighton Park, Ill.
Facility
DONOVAN, WILLIAM
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility
Washington, D.C.
DORSEY, TERRY
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
DURIO, VAL W.
Oakland Maintenance
Facility
FORRER, JAMES
Hanford Station
GAUTIER, EVELYN
Philadelphia
Reservation & Sales
Office
GERGORA, JOSEPH
Providence MOW
Base
18
|
GONZALEZBORMANN, LUZ
Los Angeles Offices
GUERIN, THOMAS
Miami Station
HALL, DONALD
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
HANSON, EDWARD
Miami Station
HUGHEY, TERESA
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
JOHNSON, DEBORAH
New York Penn
Station
KING, STEPHEN
Boston South Station
LYDARD, KENNETH
Odenton, Md. M/W
Base
LYMAN, THOMAS
Sanford, Fla. Station
MARELLO, ALFONSE
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
MCFADDEN,
LAWRENCE
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
MEDINA, CARLOS
Brighton Park, Ill.
Facility
MITCHELL-BOWMAN,
PATRICIANA
New Orleans Station
NIEDBALA,
RAYMOND
Southampton St.
Yard, Boston, Mass.
NOGAR, DAVID
New York Division
Headquarters
O’BRIEN, JOHN
Providence Station
OLSON, RICHARD
Pacific Division
Headquarters,
Oakland, Calif.
February/March 2014
Amtrak Ink
PARKMAN,
RANDOLPH
New York Penn
Station
20-Year
Anniversary
ZUJUS, GREGORY
Southampton St. Yard,
Boston, Mass.
PATTERSON, ROBERT
Kansas City
Maintenance Facility
ANDERSON,
LATANYA
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility,
Washington, D.C.
25-Year
Anniversary
PENDYKE, JOHN
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Station
PIETRANTONIO,
PATRICK
New York Penn
Station
PINDER, GARY
Wilmington Shops
POTYRALA,
KENNETH
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
QUALL, THOMAS
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
ROSENWALD, BRIAN
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
RUIZ, LEONARD
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
SCHINDLER, TERRY
Wilmington Shops
SCHNABLE, RUTH
St. Louis, Mo. Station
SZCZESIAK, RONALD
Wilmington Shops
TREUT, DONALD
Wilmington Shops
WARD, HARRY
Harrisburg, Pa.
Station
WHITEHEAD, LOUIS
New Orleans
Maintenance Facility
WILLIAMS, ARTHUR
Chicago Locomotive
Shop
WILLIAMS, PATRICIA
Philadelphia Coach
Yard
January 2014
January 2014
ANZALONE, JAMES
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
ABERNATHY,
CALVIN
Metrolink Los Angeles
Taylor Yard Crew Base
CARTER, BONARA
Butler Building,
Washington, D.C.
BACON, TYRON
New York Penn
Station
CLARK, ANTHONY
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Station
BARNES, KATIE
Brighton Park,
Ill. Facility
DIXON, RUBY
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
BARRETT, LEWIS
Philadelphia
Reservation & Sales
Office
GIANDONATO,
JOSEPH
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
GRIFFIN, MICHAEL
Transportation Bldg.,
Washington, D.C.
GROSSO, JOHN
D.C. Coach Yard
HARVEY, PHILBERT
Baltimore Station
HENDRICKS, CARL
New Orleans Station
JEFFERSON, JUDY
Transportation Bldg.,
Washington, D.C.
KING SHEPARD,
LILLIE
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
BEAM, THOMAS
Wilmington Shops
BOWIE, ERIC
Brighton Park,
Ill. Facility
BROASTER,
DESPERINA
Baltimore Station
CALLOWAY, KEVIN
Chicago Mechanical
&Terminal Offices
CARR, BERNARD
Wilmington Shops
CARTER, BRETT
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
CHADWICK, DAVID
Quad Ave. M/W Base
Baltimore, Md.
RICE, PAUL
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
ELLIOTT, DENNIS
Klamath Falls, Ore.
Station
ROBERSON, MARK
Washington Union
Station
FERRITTO,
ROMANINO
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
SANTOS, JAIME
Los Angeles Offices
TETTEH, CATHERINE
New York Penn
Station
FULLER, WILLIAM
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
Employee Milestones
Congratulations to All of You!
GABRIELYAN,
MKRTICH
Los Angeles 8th St.
Coach Yard
MACKINSON,
EDWARD
West Oakland
Maintenance Facility
RILEY, JAMES
Wilmington Shops
GREELEY, KAREN
Philadelphia
Reservation & Sales
Office
MADDOX, GERALD
Washington Union
Station
ROBERTS, LINDA
Durham, N.C. Station
GREEN, RENE
Chicago Mechanical &
Terminal Offices
HAMRICK, KELLY
Amtrak Corporate
Headquarters
HARDING, DARRELL
Transportation Bldg.,
Washington, D.C.
HARMAN, DENNIS
Metrolink Stuart
Mesa Crew Base
Camp Pendleton,
Calif.
HARRELL, CHARLES
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
HART, LOVIE
Brighton Park,
Ill. Facility
INGRAM, PHILLIP
Bear, Del. Car Shop
MARTINEZ, SHARON
Chicago Mechanical
&Terminal Offices
MATTHEWS, DEBRA
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
MCCARTHY,
MICHAEL
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
MCCLINTON,
MARIENO
Chicago Mechanical &
Terminal Offices
MCCOY, PORTIA
New York Division
Headquarters
MEEHAN, RICHARD
Southampton St. Yard,
Boston, Mass.
NATHANIEL, KEVIN
Washington Union
Station
RILEY, MERLE
St. Louis, Mo. Station
ROTKO, JOHN
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
MEDINA, KENNETH
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
PHILLIPS, SANDRA
Chicago Crew Base
WALTON, ROBIN
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
SPITELLE, MARK
Wilmington Shops
STREAT, MICHAEL
Jacksonville, Fla.
Station
35-Year
Anniversary
40-Year
Anniversary
January 2014
January 2014
BLACK, KEITH
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
FRAZIER, MICHAEL
BOBBATO-CLARK,
MARIE
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
JONES, LARRY
Washington Union
Station
THOMAS, JEFFERY
D.C. Coach Yard
THORNLEY, ROBERT
Denver Station
TURNER, ERIC
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
WHITE, SUSAN
Riverside Reservation
& Sales Office
OLIVER, LAWRENCE
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
30-Year
Anniversary
BOUCHARD, PHILLIP
CNOC
Wilmington, Del.
BRAINARD, ROBERT
Beech Grove
Maintenance Facility
January 2014
PATTERSON, RAY
Reno, Nev. Station
GALLANT, ROBERT
Chicago Crew Base
DONOFRIO, RICKIE
Los Angeles Offices
GOOD, THOMAS
Wilmington Shops
FERRARI, ROBERT
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
QUALLS, MARRINA
Chicago Mechanical
&Terminal Offices
RICE, JACK
Reno, Nev. Station
BEFUS, JOHN
New Haven, Conn.
Station
GROSS, WILLIAM
Chicago Crew Base
LAURINO, LEONARD
New York Penn
Station
NORFLEET, JUNE
Chicago Union
Station
Metrolink San Dimas,
Calif. Management
LETTENGARVER,
BRENDA
Los Angeles Offices
SAMPLE, WILLIAM
Berlin, Conn. Station
BROWN, MARTIN
Miami Mechanical
Yard
PANELLA,
NICHOLAS
New York Penn
Station
POLSON, ROBERT
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
NELSON, JAMES
New London, Conn.
Station
STEWART, JOHN
Transportation Bldg.,
Washington, D.C.
KOSYLO, WILLIAM
Philadelphia 30th
Street Station
LOWE, ROBERT
Ivy City Maintenance
Facility
Washington, D.C.
NADDY, KEVIN
Chicago Crew Base
VENDETTI, LORI ANN
New York Division HQ
NOLAN, WILLIAM
Boston South Station
LATIMER, ESTHER
Chicago Mechanical &
Terminal Offices
HURD, SCOTT
Portland, Ore. Station
SHELINE, KEVIN
Sanford, Fla. Station
WILLIAMS, JOHNNY
Brighton Park,
Ill. Facility
LARSON, IAN
New York Penn
Station
MORONE, TRACEY
N.Y. Sunnyside Yard
THOMAS, KIMBERLY
Chicago Union
Station
NESCI, JOSEPH
Wilmington Shops
KRUEGER, JACK
Lincoln, Neb. Station
HERNANDEZ,
EDGAR
Los Angeles Offices
SENEY, DANIEL
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
KHACHADOURIAN,
JAMES
Rensselaer, N.Y.
Mechanical Facility
KRAUS, HELENE
Philadelphia
Reservation & Sales
Office
MCCASKILL,
JOHNNY
Chicago Crew Base
CLARK, GLENN
New Orleans Station
DOMINELLI, DANIEL
Wilmington Shops
GANNON, LEO
Southampton St.
Yard, Boston, Mass.
GRINER, STEVEN
Baltimore Station
Amtrak Ink
February/March 2014
|
19
60 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
To change your address, sign onto the Employee Information
Portal or complete an NRPC 2001 form and submit according to
the directions.
In Amtrak History
MARCH
The Midway Station opened on
March 1, 1978, to serve Minneapolis
and St. Paul. As its name implies, it is
located halfway between those cities,
and interestingly, it is also midway
between the equator and the North
Pole. Rising two stories, the building is
composed of variegated buff concrete
block interspersed with large expanses
of glass that allow natural light to
flood the interior waiting room. In an
attempt to build brand identity during
its first decade of operation, Amtrak
created standardized designs for new
stations; therefore, Midway Station has
a twin in Miami that opened the same
year. During 2014, Amtrak will move
from Midway Station to the restored
St. Paul Union Depot.
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Des Moines, IA
Premit No. XXX