By Tanya Mohn
Amtrak started a YouTube channel this month to offer travelers a new way to get information about the rail line. The channel will feature videos about safety, security and other travel tips, information about the Trails & Rails program (done in conjunction with the National Park Service), high-speed rail initiatives and expansion plans for its Wi-Fi service. Personal stories of passengers who share their travel experiences will also be highlighted.
Amtrak has successfully used social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, said Darlene Abubakar, director of national advertising at Amtrak, “but video is just that next level of engagement.”
Videos will also be produced in response to feedback from customers on topics that they are curious about, Ms. Abubakar said.
History buffs are in luck, too. They will be able to explore some of Amtrak’s historic stations. The first is a five-minute video on the construction of Union Station in Washington, revealing “the great vaulted spaces reminiscent of the imperial Roman Bath.”
