Former Norfolk Southern exec to lead Amtrak

Charles “Wick” Moorman, who was the former CEO of Class I railroad Norfolk Southern Corp. until June 2015, will head Amtrak effective Sept. 1.   Amtrak on Friday announced that former freight railroad executive Charles “Wick” Moorman will head the U.S. government’s for-profit, intercity passenger railroad, effective Sept. 1.
   The Amtrak board said Moorman’s experience will help the national railroad continue its modernization, and enhance safety and customer service initiatives begun under the leadership of Joseph Boardman.
   Moorman, a graduate of Georgia Tech and Harvard Business School, retired as CEO of Norfolk Southern Corp. in June 2015 and stepped down from the company’s board at the end of last year.
   “Wick’s deep operational background and track record of building teams and driving innovation is exactly what we need to provide unparalleled service to the more than 500 communities we serve,” Jeffrey Moreland, Amtrak’s vice chairman, said in a statement. “We are confident that, working together with the Board, Wick can formulate a strong plan to take Amtrak to the next level and assemble the management team and expertise to carry it forward.”
   Amtrak said that Moorman will avoid any potential conflicts of interest associated with his holding of NS stock.
   Amtrak has arrangements with some freight railroads to use their tracks for passenger service and some freight railroads have contracts to operate non-Amtrak commuter rail services in several communities.
   “Wick Moorman is a proven railroader whose track record of success demonstrates his commitment and adherence to rail safety, efficiency and service to customers. His contributions and leadership in the freight rail industry, I believe, will advance the working partnership the freight railroads have with Amtrak,” Edward Hamberger, the president of the Association of American Railroads said. “The AAR and its freight rail members recognize the importance of Amtrak as a reliable U.S. passenger rail service and look forward to working with Wick in his new capacity.”
   Boardman “recognized the delicate balance that exists in this country between freight rail and passenger rail and was a partner in forging new ways to find that right transportation mix. Joe’s steadfast commitment to positively advancing the role of Amtrak and raising the profile of passenger rail in the United States has left an enduring record of achievement,” Hamberger said.
   Rep. Bill Shuster, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Jeff Denhem, the chairman of the Hazardous Materials subcommittee, praised Moorman’s appointment.
   “This is promising news from Amtrak. We encouraged the passenger railroad to search for candidates with the vision and management skills to successfully implement new reforms and improve performance, and Wick Moorman has the necessary qualifications. He knows the railroad business extremely well, and we believe he is capable of running Amtrak like a business, rather than a bureaucracy. This will be essential to improving U.S. passenger rail service, and fostering a more business-like structure at Amtrak was our goal in the rail provisions of the FAST Act.”
   The FAST Act is a five-year transportation spending blueprint enacted early this year.
   Provisions on Amtrak provide the rail carrier $5.45 billion in government funding and require it to set up different management for the heavily used Northeast Corridor and the rest of the national network, and to produce profit and loss statements for each of the business lines.
   Amtrak has been plagued for years by financial troubles, an inability to invest in modern infrastructure and a series of natural disasters and accidents that have bedeviled policymakers.