Amtrak Office of Inspector General

Amtrak Airo™ trainset with Coach/Cab Car. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

OIG Releases Audit Report on Amtrak Intercity Trainset Program

Amtrak experienced early challenges with stakeholder communications in its intercity trainset acquisition and maintenance facility modification work, leading to scope changes, cost increases and schedule delays, according to a new report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Amtrak OIG Identifies Opportunities to Reduce Locomotive Idling

According to a report released on Oct. 18 by the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG), Amtrak “has opportunities to use its own data to reduce excess locomotive idling and to train employees about its sustainability goals,” which will help the railroad achieve its goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing the purchase of carbon free and renewable electricity.

(Photo Courtesy of Amtrak OIG, Via Twitter)

OIG to Amtrak: Update (and Verify) Unified Operations Center Business Case

Amtrak’s plans to save costs and consolidate personnel/functions in a Delaware building it purchased for $41.1 million in May 2020 “have not materialized because it didn’t effectively verify the feasibility of its plan before it made the purchase,” according to a new report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Over the past 12 years, Amtrak has brought 74 of 386 stations into ADA compliance.

New Report Assesses Amtrak’s ADA Compliance Efforts

Better planning and coordination could help Amtrak complete an “aggressive” $1.2 billion plan to bring its remaining stations into Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance by FY 2027, according to a report from the railroad’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Amtrak's PTC systems are expected to be interoperable with its host and tenant railroads by year’s end, but the Amtrak OIG says Amtrak can take steps to better ensure its systems are reliable.

Amtrak OIG: Ensure PTC Reliability

The Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) has recommended in a new report that Amtrak should “better measure” PTC (Positive Train Control) system reliability. It also noted that Amtrak faces two risks that may diminish the safety benefits of PTC.

Amtrak OIG Opioid Opinion

Some Amtrak employees are at risk of protracted prescription painkiller popping, Amtrak’s internal OIG (Office of Inspector General) says in a 40-page report, “SAFETY AND SECURITY: Expanded Random Drug Testing Could Help Further Detect and Deter Prescription Opioid Misuse.” The report notes that Amtrak “could strengthen its ability to detect and deter prescription opioid misuse among employees conducting safety-related work by expanding its random drug testing program.”