Speaker: John Bennett, Vice President, Amtrak

Amtrak, the National Rail Passenger Corporation, is under a congressional mandate to achieve operating self- sufficiency by 2003. A number of changes to Amtrak's operating environment and requirements were enacted with the Amtrak reauthorization in 1998 to support this objective. Several initiatives are underway to achieve this mandate including the implementation of high-speed rail (Acela) service between Boston and Washington, development of service quality initiatives, expansion of the express service as part of passenger train service and development of service improvements based on a market based network analysis.

Mr. Bennett described the mission and charter of Amtrak as established by congress. In that context, he summarized current operations, markets, and financial performance of Amtrak and the strategic business plans for achieving overall improvements. Continuing capital funding will be needed to achieve and sustaining operational self-sufficiency.

In particular, Mr. bennett described the current status, challenges and plans for implementing Acela service. Planning efforts underway for high-speed rail service in other corridors around the U.S. was also described and the policy implications in terms of funding and state/federal roles were discussed.

Mr. Bennett is the Vice President for Transportation Planning and Policy for Amtrak's Northeast Corridor business unit. In that role he led the economic and financial justification for high-speed rail in the Northeast Corridor leading to a $750 million procurement of equipment and facilities. He has also worked on special assignment to develop the process and initial results of the national Market Based Network Analysis focusing on long distance as well as corridor services. Before joining Amtrak, Mr. Bennett was the Vice President for Infrastructure and Systems at the Long Island Rail Road. He has also held senior management positions at Booz Allen and Hamilton and KPMG Peat Marwick.