Celebrate National Train Day and Discover the Rail Way

/PRNewswire/ -- American Idol Judge, Randy Jackson will join Amtrak in celebrating America's love for rail travel and act as celebrity headliner at the second annual National Train Day, May 9, 2009. Marking 140 years of connecting travelers from coast to coast, National Train Day celebrates the importance of train travel throughout the country with complimentary events in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, and many more locally organized events in communities nationwide.

"National Train Day is about giving back to the community and educating Americans about the benefits of rail travel," said Emmett Fremaux, vice president marketing and product management, Amtrak. "As one of the hosts of the most watched TV show in America, Randy Jackson is helping to raise the profile of train travel as an important part of American culture, one that has a promising future and continues to influence the way people connect with each other in their personal and professional lives."

As celebrity headliner for National Train Day, Randy Jackson will kick-off the festivities in Washington, DC. Jackson appreciates the benefits that train travel continues to provide Americans from the connection and value to the flexibility and convenience. "Showing support for Amtrak's National Train Day reinforces my belief that trains are the backbone of America," says Jackson.

The four major National Train Day events will be hosted from 10am to 3pm. An experience for the whole family, America will Discover the Rail Way at participating train stations while enjoying free live musical entertainment, an interactive green exhibit, VIP appearances, an Amtrakids Depot, and train equipment displays from the past, present and future. In addition to the four major market events, communities across the country are encouraged to develop and host their own National Train Day events. Nearly 100 local event celebrations were held for the first National Train Day in 2008.

Event Exhibits and Festivities

As part of National Train Day, each major event will be hosting the following festivities and exhibits to further excite and educate train enthusiasts about rail travel:

-- Amtrak Brand Display - Enjoy the Journey: Learn about Amtrak's
connectivity, available routes, train technology, amenities and
offerings. Amtrak "travel experts" will also be on hand to ensure
National Train Day attendees receive all the information they need.
-- Amtrakids Depot: Enjoy appearances by The Radio Disney Road Crew
where kids and former kids can enjoy music, a dance party, interactive
games, and receive giveaways. Magicians, face painters and educational
hands-on activities including interaction with real Amtrak employees
such as train engineers and conductors will also be onsite.
-- J. Craig Thorpe Gallery: Visit notable train artist J. Craig Thorpe's
exhibit, "Honor the Bright Land - Trains in our National Lands-capes,"
featuring his vision of trains in urban, rural, wilderness, and future
settings.
-- Trains Move our Economy Exhibit: Learn about high-speed corridors,
Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, rail infrastructure, electrification, and
the role of freight trains.
-- Eco Exhibit: Discover the green aspects of rail travel - energy
efficiency, electric rail, regenerative braking, etc. - with this
free-standing interactive display.
-- Model Train Displays: Enjoy model train displays dispersed throughout
the stations. Model trains are more than just a hobby; they are
steeped in tradition and promote family fun.
-- Train Equipment Displays: See the trains up close and personal with
displays that include historic private cars, commuter and freight
cars, and other Amtrak offerings.

-- Snapshot Station: Create fun memories of National Train Day with
photos featuring a custom train-themed photo backdrop.



Musical performances by talented local artists, as well as some of Island Def Jam's top up-and-coming talent, will entertain the crowds throughout the day.

Washington, D.C.

-- Karina Pasian is a Dominican American singer and pianist, who
currently resides in New York and was most recently nominated at the
Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary R&B album.


Philadelphia
-- Jon McLaughlin is a pop/rock singer-songwriter and pianist from
Indiana who, at the 2008 Academy Awards, performed his Academy Award
nominated song "So Close," from the movie Enchanted.

-- Rachel Yamagata is an up and coming singer-songwriter and piano player
whose work has been featured on several TV shows, including How I Met
Your Mother, ER, Nip/Tuck, Men in Trees and The O.C.


Chicago
-- Shemekia Copeland was brought-up by her father, legendary Blues
guitarist Johnny Copeland, and sang at the Cotton Club in Chicago when
she was only eight. More recently in her adult life, she headlined at
the Chicago Blues Festival.

-- Unique is an emerging R&B artist from Island Def Jam's latest talent
roster. He draws inspiration from well known artists such as Michael
Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Beyonce and Gwen Stefani.


Los Angeles
-- Matt Costa is an environmentally conscience singer/songwriter from
Huntington Beach, Calif., who has released four albums: a self-titled
five-song EP in 2003, a full-length album entitled Songs We Sing, a
six song EP titled The Elasmosaurus EP in 2005 and the full-length
album Unfamiliar Faces in 2008.

-- Chana is an LA-based singer whose tropical sound could be described as
global hip-pop. Chana has received accolades from several media
outlets including The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald and
Billboard Magazine and was one of the artists featured in iTunes'
"Best of The Store Latino."


Amtrak Guest Rewards Offer

In honor of National Train Day, Amtrak riders will earn double Amtrak Guest Rewards(R) points on each of the first four Amtrak train trips and triple points for the fifth trip and beyond, from March 16 through May 8, 2009. Plus, earn quadruple points for any trip taken on National Train Day, Saturday, May 9, 2009.

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