Amtrak Refreshes Interiors of Acela Express Trains

Updates will provide a more modern, comfortable customer experience. WASHINGTON, May 14, 2018/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amtrak is investing in an extensive refresh of its train interiors on the entire Acela Express fleet, which travels along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington, DC, aimed at introducing a more modern and comfortable customer experience. "Customers expect a premium experience when they board an Acela Express train, and these updated interior features will provide a more comfortable, refreshed look and feel – whether you want to relax, move about freely, work or play," said Amtrak CEO and President Richard Anderson.

The Acela Express refresh is a 14-month program for all of its 20 trainsets, which includes 100 Amtrak cars and 6,080 total seats. Each trainset will be refreshed individually with new cushions and covers for all business class and first-class seats, new carpet for the aisle runner and a deep clean. The total investment is valued at more than $4 million.

The refresh will take just over a year to complete and customers can expect a progression of upgrades during that time, with this approximate delivery schedule:

• May 2018: The first trainset will be refreshed and returned into revenue service;
• June 2018: The second trainset will be refreshed and returned into revenue service
• June 2018 - July 2019: One trainset will be refreshed every three weeks.

Amtrak schedules will not change due to the refresh. The refresh will occur in advance of the debut of the next generation Acela trainsets Amtrak announced in August 2016, which will provide 40 percent more trains, one-third more passenger seats with the same personal space and high-end comfort, more service, better amenities and a smoother ride. The first trainset prototype will be ready for testing in 2019, and will enter revenue service in early 2021. All trainsets in the current fleet will be retired in early 2022.

Materials from the existing Acela cushions and covers will be reused, recycled and turned into carpet padding, while the leather will be upcycled and converted into handbags, wallets and other consumer goods.

Links

http://www.amtrak.com

Stereotyping of Israelis and Italians

Stereotyping of Israelis and Italians

BLOOMFIELD, N.J., April 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition ("ONE VOICE"), a nationwide coalition of anti-bias activists, is vehemently opposed to a casting call for perpetuating a negative stereotype of Israelis and Italians.  The casting call, posted on castingnetworks.com, states "Looking for Israelis and Italian Actors that are not ashamed to admit they can be an asshole to others."  The casting call lists the production as a "Documentary" with the title "Assholes: A Theory".

"Here we go again," stated Dr. Manny Alfano, Founder and President of ONE VOICE. "It is unbelievable that such a blatant and damaging stereotype specifically targets Israelis and Italians.  This is totally unacceptable."

The offending casting call was posted by Ken Lazar Casting Company of New York and Los Angeles on the Casting Networks website soliciting "Israelis and Italian Actors (Especially Males)" from "New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia" for a Principal role in "ASSHOLES: A THEORY/ Documentary."

"They seek Israeli and Italian actors and tell them to purposefully act as a-holes to get the part, and then incredibly purport this to be a documentary – that is doubly insulting," commented Andre' DiMino, Communications Director of ONE VOICE.  "The entertainment industry must end its constant perpetuation of negative and damaging stereotypes of all people, and especially in this case, Israelis and Italians."

ONE VOICE has contacted the Anti-Defamation League ("ADL") about the offensive casting call.  "Every person of Israeli and Italian heritage should be outraged over this casting call, and should be even more concerned if such a damaging, pseudo-documentary will be produced," concluded Dr. Alfano.

ONE VOICE is different from all other Italian American groups in that its sole focus and objective is to fight bias, stereotyping and discrimination against Italian Americans.  It is the only national Italian American organization with this mandate.  ONE VOICE's stated mission is to "…secure the rightful representation of Americans of Italian origin and of all peoples whose paths toward social equality have been impeded.  The powers of intellect, wisdom and due process of law will be brought to bear on all inequities."