Amtrak reroutes Texas Eagle as Senate confirms board members

Amtrak announced on Dec. 17, 2015 that its Chicago-San Antonio Texas Eagle (Trains 21 and 22) is operating on a new route between Fort Worth and Dallas, and that the U.S. Senate confirmed Tony Coscia and Derek Kan as Amtrak board of directors members.

Following negotiations, the Texas Eagle is now operating over a route shared with Trinity Rail Express (TRE) commuter trains. The rerouting “avoids the freight train operations that were challenging our trains every day on the previous routing,” said Mark Murphy, Amtrak Senior Vice President and General Manager of the business line that includes the Eagle. “This route simplifies our movements through the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center and will improve reliability for more than 100,000 Amtrak passengers who use our Fort Worth gateway every year.”

Amtrak said there are no missed stops or public schedule changes at this time for Texas Eagle daily service.

Murphy and Mike Chandler, Amtrak Deputy General Manager responsible for the Texas Eagle, credited the negotiating team that worked with TRE, its parent agencies in Fort Worth and Dallas, Union Pacific and other carriers, and noted the support of TEMPO (Texas Eagle Marketing and Performance Organization) and Texas Rail Advocates in accomplishing the route change.

Coscia, currently the Chairman of Amtrak’s board of directors, was appointed to another five-year term.

“I thank the Administration and Senate for the nomination and confirmation to continue to help guide the future of America’s Railroad,” said Coscia. “We have made significant progress during my five years on the board, and I look forward to working with the other board members, executive leadership and the employees to continue to grow ridership, increase operational efficiencies and improve the company’s financial position. Additionally, I want to welcome Derek Kan to the Amtrak board of directors. Derek brings a wealth of knowledge, including transportation experience to the board. As a California resident, Derek will join current board member Yvonne Brathwaite Burke as a representative of the state with the second-highest level of ridership in the nation and three of the four most heavily traveled Amtrak routes outside of the Northeast.”