Latest news with #MarcMagliari
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amtrak lets 250 employees go, eliminates numerous other positions
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A passenger train company that has routes through Kansas has terminated dozens of positions as it looks to cut its overall costs. 27 News reached out to Amtrak this week to find out if any of its services or transportation routes will be impacted by the recent elimination of numerous jobs within the company. Marc Magliari, Amtrak spokesman, responded saying there will be no changes in service levels in the Topeka area where it has a train station. 'Amtrak has recently completed a review of its costs and management structure and identified opportunities to better align resources with the important work we are doing for America. Through a reduction-in-force process, and cutting of open positions, Amtrak has eliminated approximately 450 roles. This workforce adjustment, combined with other recent cost-saving actions, will help Amtrak save $100 million annually.' Amtrak informed around 250 employees on Wednesday, May 7 they would be let go. Another 200 open positions were also closed. Jim Mathews, president and CEO of the Rail Passengers Association, condemned the 'mass firings' the same day they were announced. He claimed the decision by Amtrak to adjust its workforce in an effort to achieve operational profitability stands at odds with reports the company is seeing record levels of people using its services and increased revenue. Men to complete 250-mile Kansas ultramarathon for charity causes 'Rail Passengers is very concerned that these personnel cuts will hinder Amtrak's ability to efficiently serve America's passengers and manage the scores of major construction projects that Congress funded through the Infrastructure Investment in Jobs Act (IIJA). We've particularly concerned about reports that Amtrak has laid off members of its procurement team and capital delivery team, who are playing a vital role in managing billions of dollars worth of investments that will address the railroad's crippling state-of-good-repair backlog. Our Association is calling on Amtrak to provide a high-level explanation to the public of why these firings were enacted at this particular point in time, which departments will be affected, and how these personnel cuts will impact operations and capital programs.' Amtrak, in its FY 2024 Highlights report on its website, announced the company had achieved 'an all-time ridership record' with 32.8 million customers. The company also hit a new record with ticket revenue of $2.5 billion. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
28-04-2025
- Business Insider
I spent 15 hours in a roomette on an overnight Amtrak train for $400. I made 4 mistakes I won't repeat on future rides.
I traveled from Denver to Salt Lake City on an overnight Amtrak train in January. I booked a $400 roomette accommodation for the 15-hour train journey. I made a few mistakes along the way, from not knowing dining etiquette to skipping a rest stop. I took an overnight Amtrak train from Denver to Salt Lake City in January. I spent the 15-hour journey in a private 23-square-foot space with two seats and two beds — otherwise known as a roomette. I was no stranger to the environment. I had previously taken two other overnight rides on Amtrak trains. So I thought I'd get through the experience well prepared and with no regrets. But I'm still learning from my travel mistakes. Here are four slip-ups from my most recent trip that I won't forget on future rides. I should have called to request a room on the train's top floor. I traveled from Denver to Salt Lake City on Amtrak's California Zephyr — a double-decker train. My previous Amtrak rides had single-story cars, so I was excited to step on board and hoped my room would be on the top floor. It wasn't. And although the views of Rocky Mountain National Park were spectacular from my room, I could see further out from the dining car's windows on the second story, and I longed for a room with a higher vantage point. Although Amtrak's booking platform didn't have an option to select a specific room, Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari told Business Insider that you can call the contact center, speak to a live agent, and request a particular room if it's still available. He added that family and accessible bedrooms are on the lower level, regular bedrooms are on the top level, and roomettes are on both levels. I should have brought snacks for in-between meals. My Amtrak ticket included three meals. An attendant came by my room to reserve a seat in the dining car for each. I had breakfast just after we departed at about 9 a.m. I chose the noon lunch slot and the 5 p.m. dinner slot. I didn't get hungry between breakfast and lunch, but around 3 p.m., my stomach started growling. In hindsight, I should have packed snacks for the ride. The train had a café car with snacks, beverages, and microwavable meals for sale, but I decided to save my money and fuel up at dinner. I didn't realize I was supposed to wait for meal call before entering the dining car. Hungry and eager, I entered the dining car a minute before 5 p.m. The empty tables were set with mini flower arrangements that looked charming against the rolling canyon backdrop out the windows. At the other end of the car, I spotted a handful of employees looking at me and talking among themselves. "I'm here for my dinner reservation," I said. One replied that I was supposed to wait for an attendant to announce dinner over the intercom. Embarassed, I apologized and started to turn back. They told me to stay and sit at the first table while another employee went to the intercom. I should have taken advantage of every rest stop. Some stops on overnight Amtrak trains are long enough for passengers to get out and walk around the platform for a few minutes. I typically take this opportunity to get fresh air and stretch my legs, whether sunny or snowing outside. But when this train made its final long stop roughly 15 minutes before dinner, I was entranced in a book and decided to stay in. After dinner, I regretted not getting off at that final extended stop when I craved space to stretch out and move my body. When I arrived in Salt Lake City around midnight, I was grateful for fresh air and open space.
Business Insider
23-04-2025
- Business Insider
I spent 15 hours on an Amtrak train, and 7 surprises made it worth the $400 price tag
I took a 15-hour train ride from Denver to Salt Lake City on an Amtrak Superliner. For $400, I booked a 23-square-foot roomette accommodation, and my ticket included meals. Seven unique aspects of the trip made it a surprising and worthwhile experience. I've spent 140 hours on overnight trains, and my most recent trip still managed to surprise me. In January, I took a 15-hour Amtrak Superliner train from Denver to Salt Lake City. For $400, I stayed in a roomette, a 23-square-foot private room with two chairs and two bunks. It was my third time traveling on an Amtrak sleeper train, so I wasn't expecting to be surprised. But seven aspects of my trip were unique to my other long-haul train experiences — and made the ride worth the cost. I had never been on a double-decker overnight train before. Every overnight train I'd been on previously, from the US to Europe, had one-story cars. So I was surprised to learn I'd be taking a double-decker train on my latest overnight trip. My past Amtrak trips were on Viewliner trains, the one-story sleeper fleet that runs in the East and the South, but this trip was on the two-story Superliner fleet that travels on routes west of Chicago and New Orleans. Although my roomette was on the first level, I wandered the top floor to see the railside views from a higher angle. I also appreciated that the dining car was on the top deck, so I had exceptional views during meal time. The observation car wowed me. The restaurant wasn't the only communal car upstairs — another was built purely for sightseeing, filled with booths and chairs facing two rows of windows. I headed to the observation car just before noon, three hours into my trip. We were passing through Rocky Mountain National Park as the snow stopped and the sun brightened the landscape. I was mesmerized by the epic natural scene as I spotted highland cows — one of my favorite animals that I'd never seen in real life before. In my room, I wasn't expecting my seat to be so much more comfortable than previous overnight Amtrak rides. I'd booked an Amtrak roomette before, so I knew what to expect when I entered the 23-square-foot space — two seats facing each other that formed a lower bunk by night, a pullout table between them, and another bunk that pulled down from above. It had been nearly four years since my last overnight Amtrak ride, and as soon as I sat down, I could tell the seats were newer and far more comfortable. An Amtrak spokesman, Marc Magliari, told Business Insider that the entire Superliner fleet was getting an interior refresh, and 76% of them — including my ride — had already been updated. "The seats have the same frame, but the cushions are new, and there's more lumbar support in this current seat cushion design than the old seat cushion design," Magliari said. "If you see gray, vinyl seating, then you know that you are in a fresh room." The vinyl felt much smoother on my skin than the pilled, blue fabric seats in my previous Amtrak accommodations. The upgraded seat cushions weren't stiff like the old ones either. I thought the seats alone made the new Amtrak roomette I was shocked that the bunk felt like a real bed. My ticket included meals, and I was astonished by how good the food was. To me, train food beats airplane food any day. But unless you're on a luxury overnight train, I've still found food on the rails mediocre at best. So I was surprised when all three included meals were as good as many budget restaurants I enjoy. Sweet and juicy strawberries topped my French toast for breakfast. The grilled chicken on my Caesar salad made for a flavorful lunch, and my three-course dinner featured premium ingredients like Brie salad and flat iron steak. I was impressed by how much more satisfying these dishes were than the meals on my previous overnight Amtrak rides. I was surprised that there was no WiFi on board, and even more surprised that I didn't care. Less than two hours into the trip, I realized the train didn't have WiFi. This surprised me since my previous overnight Amtrak trips have included it. Normally, I'd be annoyed to learn I didn't have this amenity on a long journey, but I didn't mind this time. I could check my phone with data during stops and while passing through cities and towns. And on the train, my book, my Nintendo Switch, and the views out the window were enough to keep me content for the 15-hour ride. I knew I'd have great views, but I didn't consider how the landscape would transform. The Western US is rich with awe-inspiring natural landscapes, so I was stoked for the views on my journey. But I didn't think about the contrasting landscapes between Colorado and Utah. Watching the snowy mountain forests gradually transition into desert canyons was amazing. I gazed out the window as frozen rivers melted, dry shrubs replaced tall green trees, and forest-topped mountains turned to bare red canyons. It was remarkable, and it's the ultimate reason I choose to travel by overnight train again and again — long journeys on the rails give you a passing look at the country from a vantage point you won't find anywhere else.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
After days of widespread cancellations, Amtrak restores Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago
Amtrak's Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago has been restored less than two weeks after railcar corrosion issues caused widespread cancellations, according to a statement from the agency. All Amtrak trains on the Borealis, Hiawatha and Amtrak Cascades routes have been restored and are operating on schedule, although each replacement train is operating with a limited number of cars, according to the release. Hiawatha service trains were operating without bus substitution as of last Friday, said spokesperson Marc Magliari in an email. According to Amtrak's website, all Hiawatha trains scheduled to depart Monday are running on-time or slightly delayed from Milwaukee and Chicago. Widespread cancellations of Amtrak routes impacted travelers in late March after the agency removed its fleet of Horizon passenger cars due to concerns over corrosion. The removal of the corroded Horizon cars affected services on the Downeaster, Hiawatha, Borealis and Amtrak Cascades routes. Amtrak urges customers to book early for a guaranteed seat, according to the release. The most up to date arrival and departure times are available on the mobile app or by text or phone 1-877-231-9448 to speak with an Amtrak Customer Care Specialist. RELATED: Amtrak's new line from Milwaukee to the Twin Cities is a month old. It's already had 18,500 riders This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Amtrak restores Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amtrak ridership in Minnesota up 176% since 2021, up 89% in North Dakota
Mar. 29—GRAND FORKS — For a town like Rugby, North Dakota, where the population is about 2,400 and the nearest commercial airports are roughly an hour away, the local passenger train is a point of pride and a part of daily life. "We're very proud of our Amtrak station, the fact it's still a stop here and the train does stop here," said Laurie Odden, the director of the city's Chamber of Commerce and visitors bureau. "I think as family members, friends, we love to be able to drop someone off at the train station, or pick them up, or what have you, or entertain them between the times it picks up and drops off." Later this year, Amtrak will cut the ribbon on interior and exterior improvements to the town's historic train depot, including a new heated outdoor platform. It will also unveil similar upgrades at the Devils Lake station. The Grand Forks station has been upgraded in recent years as well, and renovations at the Fargo station are expected to wrap up later in 2025. Amtrak and some city officials hope the multimillion-dollar updates will attract even more passengers to its Upper Midwest lines, which have seen ridership grow every year since 2021. Although Amtrak ridership in North Dakota still hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels, ridership in the state has roughly doubled in the past four years. Ridership in Minnesota has nearly tripled, surpassing pre-pandemic numbers. Nationwide, Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari painted an even rosier picture. "Our ridership is above and beyond what it was before COVID," he said. "And that's pretty much the picture across the country." In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, North Dakota and Minnesota saw annual passenger rail ridership numbers of 101,119 and 131,973, respectively, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In 2021, those numbers hit their lowest point at 44,950 and 65,827. In 2024, the most recent data available, 85,199 riders took the train in North Dakota, an 89.5% increase since 2021. In Minnesota, that number was 181,716, a 176% increase. Minnesota ridership was boosted last year by the introduction of Amtrak's new Borealis route between St. Paul and Chicago. It exceeded ridership expectations — Amtrak and MnDOT initially projected annual ridership on that route would be around 125,000. Instead, Borealis saw 100,000 riders in just its first 22 weeks. The uptick can be attributed to several things, like population growth, pent-up desire for travel left over from the pandemic, and even milder winters the past few years, which frequently translates to higher ridership in the winter months, Magliari said. But in the numbers, he also sees a demand for "other options that are more comfortable, safer, more reliable than driving." "People are looking for options besides, you know, an 18-wheeler in their rearview mirror, and someone next to them yacking on the phone that they're holding, or people in the car on the other side shaving or putting on lipstick," he said. "I mean, driving is not as wonderful an experience as maybe it once was, and I think you'll hear the same thing about flying." Dale Niewoehner, a former Rugby mayor who has lobbied to Amtrak for more than 35 years, said the value of regular passenger service to a small, rural community like Rugby can't be overstated. "A lot of people want to bring up the fact that it's nostalgic or history," he said. "Well, that's fine, but it's still a method of transportation here in rural America. "You know, Grandma wants to go to Seattle, she can come up here, get on this train, and nobody's going to frisk her or anything," he continued. "She can sit herself down in a chair or in a sleeper and safely get to Seattle without any hassle. And she can leave her car at the depot, and when she gets home, she can jump in her car and go home. And I think that's really important." And where the train stops, economic and tourism benefits follow, Odden added. Current Rugby Mayor Frank LaRocque said that judging by the license plates that frequent the depot parking lot, many Manitobans travel to Rugby to catch the train. So do people from across neighboring counties. Last year, 3,361 people got on or off the train in Rugby, according to Amtrak data. "They use the hotels if they have an early morning train. ... They eat in the restaurants," he said. Magliari heard similar feedback in a recent visit to Red Wing, Minnesota, one of the stops on the new Borealis line. "Folks in that community were very, very clear about what a great improvement that's been for business in Red Wing, to make it easier for people to go back and forth between Red Wing and Chicago and St. Paul, for new business and for tourism," he said. "So there's certainly a great Midwestern example." In North Dakota, for decades, the only passenger rail line has been the Empire Builder, which travels from Fargo to Grand Forks and west through Williston on its way between Chicago and Seattle and Portland. There are hopes for that to change in the coming years. On Dec. 20, the federal government published the Long Distance Service Study, which included aspirations for more long-distance routes across the country, including the North Coast Hiawatha line. That line was decommissioned in North Dakota in the 1970s, and today is operated in Montana by the Big Sky Rail Authority. The hoped-for expansion would connect Chicago and Seattle through Fargo, servicing the bottom half of the state. There has also long been interest in extending service to St. Cloud and Fargo, Magliari added. Amtrak is a federally chartered corporation, meaning it operates like a private business but is government-owned. In Niewoehner's experience, the federal government can be fickle at times — investments and projects can come through one day and be discontinued the next. He still remembers a time decades ago when there were discussions of ending daily Amtrak service in Rugby. Still, he has high hopes that Amtrak's multimillion-dollar investment in the state in recent years means passenger rail service is here to stay. "I hate to think of the time that this train is not going to stop here, if it just goes whizzing by," he said. As for LaRocque, he hasn't taken the train in many years. When it comes to travel, for LaRocque — a state trooper of 20 years — it's tough to beat his love of driving. Recently, though, he's been thinking it might be time for a trip. "I was just thinking about it yesterday. I should go for another train ride. It's been a while," he said, adding that he would like to go out west, perhaps to see the famous Pike Place fish market in Seattle. "And I'd like to go through the mountains — just ride out there, spend a couple days, and jump back on and ride back to Rugby." Following are year-over-year numbers for stations along Amtrak's Empire Builder in North Dakota and Minnesota, comparing 2024 numbers to 2023: * Devils Lake: 3,092 (2023), 3,922 (2024) * Fargo: 17,545 (2023), 19,986 (2024) * Grand Forks: 9,863 (2023), 13,018 (2024) * Minot: 19,962 (2023), 22,680 (2024) * Rugby: 2,718 (2023), 3,361 (2024) * Stanley: 2,440 (2023), 2,960 (2024) * Williston: 17,213 (2023), 19,192 (2024) * Detroit Lakes: 4,182 (2023), 5,580 (2024) * Red Wing: 5,609 (2023), 11,031 (2024) * St. Cloud: 8,169 (2023), 9,358 (2024) * St. Paul-Minneapolis: 77,597 (2023), 130,328 (2024) * Staples: 5,931 (2023), 7,977 (2024) * Winona: 10,847 (2023), 17,442 (2024)
