Community Corner

Amtrak Touts National Train Day in May, Event at Historic Suisun City Train Depot

The event is scheduled 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday May 11 at the Suisun City Depot, 177 Main St.

Amtrak, the nation's largest surviving passenger rail service, is touting National Train Day on May 11, 2013, and sponsors in Suisun City are promoting a local event to coincide with the celebration.

There will be live music and entertainment with the Suspects of Soul, an interactive model train presented by the Western Railway Museum, and $1.43 hot dogs at the Waterfont Cafe for the first 143 attendees, according to event organizers and sponsors.

The event is scheduled 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday May 11 at the Suisun City Depot, 177 Main St. Also on tap at the event:

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- Suisun City Mayor Pete Sanchez will give welcome remarks.
- The Crystal Middle School Marching Band will perform.
- Shimmy Mob and Chapkis Dance will be on hand.
- Kids Depot for fun child-friendly activities.
- Suisun City Council Member Mike Segala will emcee.

According to Amtrak, May 11 is the sixth annual National Train Day, organized by Amtrak for train enthusiasts in more than 200 communities across the United States to underscore that "trains matter."

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National Train Day is an opportunity for people "to gather at their local train stations to share their commitments to train travel and celebrate the ways train connect us all," Amtrak officials said.

Nationwide in 2012, Amtrak served 31.2 million riders, employed 20,000 people, and produced $2 billion in sales, according to Amtrak.

"In addition, the more than 500 stations around the country through which Amtrak serves generated millions in local economic impact," according to Amtrak. "National Train Day celebrates this positive impact in communities across the country by inviting current and future passengers to tour equipment, enjoy family-friendly activities, and hear from local dignitaries."

Amtrak claims it operates 300 daily trains that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak also operates intercity trains in partnership with 15 states and contracts with 13 commuter rail agencies, according to Amtrak.

National Train Day in Suisun City is sponsored by the Suisun City Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District, Amtrak, Capitol Corridor, the City of Rio Vista, and Rio Vista Delta Breeze.

The Suisun City Depot is billed by the Business Improvement District as "Solano County's only working train station."

For more information about the Western Railway Museum in Suisun City visit www.wrm.org. For more about the history of Suisun City Depot, click here.

For more info about National Train Day visit NationalTrainDay.com.

Union Pacific Locomotive No. 844, pictured in the video attached to this report, is not scheduled to be in Suisun City for National Train Day. It has passed through Suisun City before, including April 2009, according to Suisun City News.

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