United States
Employee Resigns Prior to Administrative Hearing
An Amtrak Service/Train Attendant based in Miami, Florida, resigned from his position on December 20, 2022, prior to his administrative hearing. Our investigation found that the former employee violated company policies by engaging in outside employment, including self-employment, while on medical...
Contractor Pays Over $3 Million to Resolve Contract Billing Issues
Our investigation uncovered billing irregularities related to contracts on New York’s Gateway Program rail infrastructure projects in the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak recovered approximately $3 million from a contractor who charged overhead rates that exceeded maximum pay rates as proscribed by the...
Train Operations: Company Has Improved Management of Intercity Trainset Acquisition and Can Improve Stakeholder Engagement on Major Capital Programs
Our objective for this report was to assess the company’s oversight of the Intercity Trainset program.We found that the company experienced early challenges with stakeholder engagement on the ICT program, leading to scope changes, cost increases, and schedule delays in its trainset acquisition and...
Governance: Quality Control Review of the Independent Audit of Amtrak’s Consolidated Financial Statements for Fiscal Year Ended 2022
Amtrak (the company) contracted with the independent certified public accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP to audit its consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2022, and for the year then ended, and to provide a report on internal control over financial reporting and on compliance and...
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Amtrak Has Opportunities to Strengthen Controls over High-security Keys
Our objective for this report was to assess the extent to which the company has controls to manage, distribute, track, and retrieve high-security keys.We observed that high-security keys are broadly available to the public and can surface in online and brick-and-mortar marketplaces, contributing to...
Supervisor Terminated for Misuse of Amtrak Vehicle
An Amtrak Supervisor based in Hamilton, New Jersey, violated company policy bymisusing his company-owned vehicle by regularly stopping at bars and restaurants onhis way home from work and by not keeping this vehicle at an approved location.During his interview with the OIG, the employee admitted to...
Foreman Terminated for Abuse of Medical Leave
An Amtrak Assistant Foreman based in New York, violated company policy when he engaged in outside employment while on a medical leave of absence. In addition, on April 5, 2022, he falsified a Railroad Retirement Board application for sickness benefits by stating he had no income. The employee was...
Semiannual Report to Congress #66 (April 1, 2022 to September 30. 2022)
I am pleased to submit the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) Semiannual Report to the United States Congress for the six months ending September 30, 2022, which is our independent and objective assessment of Amtrak’s programs and operations.Amtrak continues its post pandemic rebound with...