Arrive Magazine - March/April, 2009

All Aboard!
Welcome to Our Green Issue

Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways. Environmental management is an ever-increasing topic of importance all over the world. From alternate energy sources to carbon footprints to recycling to wildlife preservation, more and more companies and individuals are trying to minimize their impact on the environment.

We take a lot of pride in being an energy-efficient travel mode. Rail travel is about 17 percent more efficient than airline travel and 21 percent more efficient than automobiles on a per-passenger-mile basis. We’ve also taken multiple steps to reduce fuel consumption and, since 2004, we’ve cut our diesel fuel use by more than 8 percent, even though we’ve increased service.

In 2003, we joined the Chicago Climate Exchange as a charter member and, since then, we have committed to reducing our carbon emissions 6 percent by 2010. This was the most aggressive voluntary commitment in the U.S., and we are on track to surpass that goal.

To further reduce our environmental impact, we installed a windmill and solar panels at our Chicago yard last November as alternative energy sources. Along the Northeast Corridor, where all our trains run on electricity, power for our track lubrication systems also comes from solar panels.

Recycling is another priority for Amtrak, and our latest evaluation showed recycling and waste disposal programs yielded more than 183,000 pounds of paper, nearly 70,000 gallons of used oil, 2,800 gross tons of steel parts, and 85,000 pounds of cable or wire during the year.

But as we look to the future, we want to make an even bigger contribution for the protection

of our environment. That’s why we are currently testing multiple onboard recycling programs across the system with the goal of collecting cans and bottles in every café and lounge car by the end of 2009. In regard to facilities, our Engineering department is creating internal standards for new and renovated buildings to incorporate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, principles.

I’m proud that employees are taking matters into their own hands, as well. We have waste reduction and energy efficiency programs in place right now that began with employees taking initiative at their local office, station or maintenance facility.

Finally, I’d like to encourage you to take a look at our partnership with Carbonfund.org the next time you book a reservation on Amtrak.com. As a passenger, you have the opportunity to make an already efficient travel mode carbon neutral by contributing to an activity such as tree planting, which helps offset the carbon footprint from your trip. Since the program began last April, passengers have offset nearly 3 million miles of their train travel.

Using less energy should be one of our most important goals as a nation. It will be for Amtrak, and we ask you to please join us. Thank you for riding with us today. Should you need assistance of any kind, just let a member of the onboard crew know.