The new leader will serve as a Co-Chief Executive for most of this year.
Amtrak’s board appointed Richard Anderson as its next Chief Executive. A veteran of the airline industry, Anderson was previously Chief Executive and Chairman of Delta Air Lines. He will serve alongside outgoing CEO Charles Moorman as an interim management solution until December 21.
The national passenger railroad has been going through a difficult period, taking criticism from elected officials in New York and New Jersey for its decision to limit service at Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan for much of the summer in order to make track repairs. Moorman and Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia said the decision is not a response to the criticism. Moorman was brought in last year as a transitional leader to work on improving organization and safety, they maintain.
In any case, Anderson is no stranger to navigating challenging situations in the transportation industry. He led Delta through bankruptcy and presided over its dramatic turnaround into one of the world’s most successful airlines. Anderson retired as Chief Executive of Delta in 2016 after nine years in the top job. He earlier served as Chief Executive of Northwest Airlines, which Delta acquired in 2008.
Coscia noted that both Anderson and Moorman, a railroad industry veteran, “had to manage through enormous problems in order for their companies to be successful.” In a statement, Anderson said: “Amtrak is a great company today, and I’m excited about using my experience and working with the board to make it even better. I’m passionate about building strong businesses that create the best travel experience possible for customers.”
Apart from resolving issues related to Penn Station, Anderson will need to accelerate the planning and construction of a major new rail tunnel under the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey, the New York Times reports. The “Gateway” project, as it is known, was ranked as the most important transportation infrastructure project in the US by the Obama administration. It is part of a series of upgrades with a price tag expected to top $20 billion.
