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Amtrak beefing up service, staffing and security for Obama's inauguration
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Amtrak has sent out a press release regarding all the increased measures it is taking to ensure a smooth inauguration day. Below is the release from Amtrak, unchanged. I do encourage people to check Amtrak, MARC and VRE web sites for further information as things are changing all the time with regards to the inauguration.
A commenter left this information, which I feel compelled to post. "If you go to the VRE web site it states that all trains are reserved, you need a special ticket to ride January 20th. and that it is a special schedule. MARC is pretty much the same thing."
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Amtrak has expanded capacity by adding trains and cars to maximize available space for service to and from Washington, D.C., during the inauguration of the nation’s 44th president on Jan. 20, 2009. The extra trains and cars will be added to Northeast Corridor Amtrak trains on Jan. 20, with a majority of the extra capacity available southbound toward Washington in the morning and northbound from Washington in the afternoon and evening. All Amtrak trains in the Northeast require reservations and ticket purchases prior to boarding.
Supplementing Amtrak service in the Washington, D.C. area will be commuter rail service in Maryland and Virginia. MARC Penn Line service between Baltimore and Washington will become allreserved on Jan. 20, and schedules will be completely changed from normal practice in order to align with inauguration activities. Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains, which operate between Fredericksburg/Manassas, Va. and Washington, will operate on a normal schedule and will not require reservations Jan. 20. Passengers planning to use MARC and VRE are encouraged to check their Web sites.
Amtrak is advising its customers to expect extremely large crowds at Washington Union Stationand is providing the following travel and security information.
• Arrive at the station no earlier than one hour prior to your train’s departure time.
• Pick up your roundtrip tickets (inbound and return tickets) before boarding your train for Washington.
• Pack lightly, as no lockers or storage facilities will be available in the station. A list of items prohibited from the Inaugural event sites and locations is available on the District of Columbia Inaugural Web site.
• The station’s food court may be open for a limited time only; however food service is available aboard Amtrak trains.
• Follow the instructions of station personnel and law enforcement for exiting and entering Washington Union Station. New pedestrian traffic patterns will be in place.
• Amtrak cannot provide alternate transportation or accommodations in the event of a service disruption. Heightened front-line and behind-the-scenes security measures will be taken in stations and aboard trains, and may include:
• Amtrak Police officers and Mobile Security Teams
• Federal, state and local law enforcement and anti-terrorism forces
• K-9 units
• Identification checks
• Passenger, and carry-on and checked baggage screening
Due to the high volume of traffic expected, some trains’ passengers may be asked to remain on board for a short period of time prior to detraining to ensure the safe and orderly movement of passengers through Union Station. With numerous trains arriving within short timeframes, trains will take turns unloading passengers to prevent unsafe overcrowding conditions in the station. Passengers with disabilities and special needs should specifically request assistance when making reservations.
Reservations for Amtrak trains may be made online at Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USARAIL. All tickets are reserved. Amtrak multi-ride tickets to or from Alexandria, Washington, New Carrollton, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and Baltimore will not be accepted, and Amtrak will not honor MARC or VRE tickets on Jan. 20.
Helpful Links
For more travel options to, and within Washington, D.C., and other important information, please visit the following sites:
District of Columbia Inauguration Site
Washington Metro Area Transit Authority
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For more of my inauguration stories, check out the list below.
- Two African embassies throwing inauguration party for Obama
- Inauguration Committee puts out a long list of advisories for Obama's swearing-in
- Special Olympics to join inaugural parade
- Inaugural D.C. Ball benefitting Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls clubs
- 2009 Florida Inauguration Celebration to benefit local Red Cross chapters
- Mambo For Obama Inaugural Ball added to schedule
- Texas holding inaugural ball despite no Texan in the White House
- Local 'The Wire' actor to host the H.O.P.E. Inaugural Youth Ball
- Conservation Inauguration Gala honors Obamas and Bidens
- North Carolina Inaugural Ball sold out
- Celebrate the inauguration by cruising on the Potomac River
- If you have an inauguration story, I want to hear it!
- Annapolis, Md. hoping to capture some Obama inauguration business
- New list of balls, galas, and other events celebrating Obama's inauguration
- D.C. Council chops off one hour of inaugural drinking time
- The Newseum is the place to be for Obama's inauguration day
Special Report: Inauguration Day 2009Related Articles:
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