Better late than never dept.

Amtrak critics have long warned of inadequate emergency evacuation planning in and around New York's Penn Station. In late September an Amtrak transformer fire brought NYC rails to a standstill because of inadequate plans for rescue workers to get in or passengers out of the tunnels. Only 2 of 6 tunnels were sufficiently equipped for escape or ventilation. To remedy this problem Amtrak has given Swedish construction giant Skanska AB a contract worth 126.6 million to renovate ventilation and safety facilities in the East River Tunnels. Work will begin in January 2005 and is scheduled to be done by 2009.

Amtrak metes out justice on the rails

The Chicago Daily Herald reports that "A westbound Amtrak train struck and killed a man Wednesday afternoon in Chicago as he was trying to load stolen auto parts into a truck that was parked on the tracks."