METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Amtrak adds hearing loop tech.

Company offers a variety of accessible travel services to passengers with disabilities and is working to further improve the accessibility of its facilities and train equipment.

January 24, 2013
1 min to read


Amtrak installed hearing loop technology at designated ticket counters and at the customer service desks in New York and Washington to enhance the travel experience for passengers with hearing loss.

“Amtrak strives to improve service to all our customers and using technology to better communicate with passengers with hearing loss is the right thing to do,” said President/CEO Joe Boardman.

Ad Loading...

Amtrak also offers a variety of accessible travel services to passengers with disabilities and is working to further improve the accessibility of its facilities and train equipment.

A hearing loop is a wire connected to a microphone into which an Amtrak agent speaks that then transmits the sound electromagnetically. Passengers with hearing loss, and who use telecoil-equipped hearing aids or cochlear implants, can access that sound to better hear Amtrak personnel. The telecoil functions as a wireless antenna that links to the microphone and delivers customized sound to the listener while eliminating background noise.

No receivers are required.

Topics:AmtrakRail

More Rail

Transit Reaches 200 Agency Partnerships, Expands Rider Experience Tools
Technology•by Alex Roman•November 6, 2026

Transit Expands Agency Partnerships, Reaching 200 Official App Partners

COO Jake Sion discusses Transit’s growth, the success of its Transit Royale program, and how technology is helping agencies improve the rider experience.

Read More →
A rendering of Trinity Metro's future station at the Medical Center
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 30, 2026

Trinity Metro Breaks Ground on $270M TEXRail Extension

The 2.1-mile extension will connect Fort Worth’s Medical District and Near Southside to downtown, surrounding communities, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Read More →
Austin Light Rail rendering from UT perspective
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 30, 2026

Bringing Austin’s First Light Rail System to Life

Austin Transit Partnership CEO Greg Canally discusses the city's nearly 10-mile light rail project, its collaborative approach to project delivery, the importance of community engagement, and the milestones ahead as construction approaches in 2027.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two Metra locomotives on rail tracks.
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 29, 2026

Metra Draft Plan Outlines Costs, Service Improvements for Regional Rail

The Systemwide Network Plan identifies infrastructure needs and potential investments to expand all-day, bidirectional rail service across the Chicago region.

Read More →
METRO Magazine graphic featuring railroad tracks and switches inside a dark tunnel with the headline “Amtrak Completes First Street Tunnel Upgrades, Restores Service.”
Rail•by Elora Haynes•October 29, 2026

Amtrak Completes First Street Tunnel Upgrades, Restores Service

The nine-day construction project included replacing aging track infrastructure and modernizing switch systems near Washington Union Station.

Read More →
FRA Invests $2.3B in Rail Projects Nationwide
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 28, 2026

FRA Announces $2.3B for Passenger, Freight Rail Projects Nationwide

The CRISI Grant Program funding will support rail infrastructure improvements, safety upgrades, and projects aimed at improving freight and passenger rail service across 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A Caltrain electric railcar on the tracks
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 27, 2026

Caltrain’s Electrification Drives a New Era of Ridership Growth

The railroad’s shift to electric service has brought more frequent trains, stronger customer satisfaction, and increased ridership, earning it APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System award.

Read More →
METRO Magazine graphic featuring a dark blue background with abstract curved lines and the headline “FTA Advances $164M Broward County Commuter Rail Project.”
Rail•by Staff and News Reports•October 26, 2026

FTA Advances $164M Broward County Commuter Rail Project

The proposed 10.5-mile commuter rail extension would connect Fort Lauderdale and Aventura, expanding passenger rail options in South Florida.

Read More →
An A line MTA subway car near the soon to be replaced signaling system.
Rail•by Staff and News Reports•October 23, 2026

New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project

Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
The LA Metro San Fernando Valley light rail extension corridor
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 20, 2026

LA Metro Breaks Ground on East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project

The 6.7-mile line will add 11 stations along Van Nuys Boulevard, expand access to jobs and regional transit connections, and support Metro’s broader efforts to improve mobility as rail ridership grows.

Read More →