Amtrak CEO resigns

In case you missed the news, Amtrak's chief executive stepped down on Friday. The railroad did give a reason for the resignation. Alex Kummant was with Amtrak for less than three years, but he leaves with two huge accomplishments: the rail carrier set record annual ridership in the past year and President Bush signed a bill this fall that provides nearly $13 billion in funding for Amtrak.

Here's the story from the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amtrak Chief Executive Alex Kummant resigned Friday after two years marked by significant growth in ridership and revenue, the national passenger railroad said.

Kummant's resignation is effective immediately, Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said.

William Crosbie, the railroad's chief operating officer, will serve as acting president and CEO. Amtrak said Kummant will help with a transition to new leadership.

Donna McLean, chairwoman of Amtrak's board, thanked Kummant for his service in a statement released Friday.

"During the past two years, the company experienced exciting economic times, strong ridership and revenue growth, solid profit and loss performance, and the advancement of the Amtrak brand overall," McLean said.

Kummant, hired as president and CEO in 2006, also is credited with overseeing the completion of labor agreements with all Amtrak's union employees. He took over for David Gunn, who was fired in 2005, a year in which Amtrak had to suspend all high-speed Acela service after discovering cracks in some brakes.

Kummant previously served as an executive with Omaha, Neb.-based railroad operator Union Pacific Corp.

Amtrak's board said it will continue to try to increase ridership as fuel costs and other economic concerns send more commuters to trains and buses.

"Current economic conditions highlight the need for us to continue finding ways to drive quality and customer service across the system," said board vice chairman Hunter Biden, the son of Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

Amtrak funding

The rail safety bill that the House of Representatives may vote on today is part of package of other rail legislation. While the rail safety bill has received the lion's share of media attention -- and for good reason -- one of the bills in the package, S 294, would authorize $12.9 billion for Amtrak over the next five years. The last long-term spending bill for Amtrak expired in 2002 and supporters of this bill say it would double Amtrak spending on an annual basis.

Amtrak has seen record ridership levels in the past few months, but has often struggled to keep up. Some trains -- particularly on the weekends -- on the Los Angeles-to-San Diego route have been standing-room-only and on some occasions passengers who had tickets were not allowed to board trains that were already stuffed to the max.

The House and Senate have passed earlier versions of the spending bill. The one up for a vote in the House is the compromise version.

-- Steve Hymon