The Amtrak board of directors is extending the contract of President/CEO Joe Boardman for his achievements in improving Amtrak’s operational and financial performance and to provide continuity of leadership critical to the ongoing implementation of the company’s strategic plan.

“As a result of the good work Amtrak employees across the company are doing to implement our plans and produce our achievements, the board of directors asked me to continue in my role,” said Boardman. “Key to our current success is our improved financial position and our plans for growth are made more attainable because Amtrak is covering more of its operating costs, and costs are under control and in line with industry standards.”

Under Boardman’s leadership, Amtrak has experienced many accomplishments, including record ridership and revenue, continued reductions in the need for federal operating support, a significant pay down of debt, the best ever system-wide on-time performance, expansion of state-supported services, the introduction of Wi-Fi service and eTicketing, and the creation and implementation of a corporate strategic plan.

In addition, he is managing new equipment orders for Northeast Corridor (NEC) and long distance services, a major planning effort for the development of next-generation high-speed rail, a comprehensive employee safety program, enhanced security initiatives, and numerous capital projects to improve Amtrak infrastructure, stations, maintenance shops and other facilities.

On his first day at Amtrak during the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday travel period, Boardman walked the platforms at Washington Union Station, greeting passengers and talking with employees, and has continued that practice whenever and wherever he travels. It is not uncommon to see him speaking to passengers aboard a train or visiting with employees out on the railroad at crew bases, railyards, stations and other locations. He has logged over 200,000 miles traveling on Amtrak trains during his tenure.