George Warrington; led Acela effort

MENDHAM, N.J. - George D. Warrington, a former Amtrak president who presided over the introduction of the national passenger railroad's Acela high-speed service in the Northeast, has died. He was 55.

Mr. Warrington died Christmas Eve at home after an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer, said an NJ Transit spokeswoman.

Mr. Warrington presided over the introduction of Acela Express, Amtrak's high-speed service between Washington and Boston.

He left Amtrak in March 2002 after he was chosen to take charge of NJ Transit by Governor James E. McGreevey. During his tenure, the system, already one the nation's busiest, added 100 trains to the schedule and increased or extended trips on more than 50 bus routes. He retired in March.

Mr. Warrington won praise for helping to create thousands of commuter parking spaces around the state and improving its budgeting process.