Modified Surfliner schedule extended at least another week

Cab car leads passenger train along track next to ocean

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — A modified Pacific Surfliner schedule because of landslide issues in San Clemente has been extended at least another week, through Friday, Feb. 16, according to the updated Travel Advisory page on the Surfliner website. The modified schedule, available here and described in detail on that advisory page, includes two outright cancellations […]

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City of Mobile to skip STB hearing on Amtrak service

Logo of the City of Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. — The City of Mobile will not take part in the Surface Transportation Board’s hearing on delays in launching Amtrak service between Mobile and New Orleans, Mayor Sandy Stimpson informed the board in a brief letter today (Thursday, Feb. 8). The board announced Tuesday that it would proceed with that hearing on Feb. […]

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Union Pacific opens Phoenix intermodal facility

Yellow locomotive with stack cars being loaded

PHOENIX — Union Pacific has opened its Phoenix Intermodal Terminal, the latest addition to the railroad’s “pop-up” terminal strategy to test markets before building large, permanent facilities. The railroad says in an article on its website that the facility opened Feb. 1, 45 days after it first announced plans for the facility [see “Union Pacific […]

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NS dispatchers to get scheduled days off under a pilot program

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern and the American Train Dispatchers Association will launch a pilot program next month that provides dispatchers with a scheduled rest day that rotates weekly. “We want everyone on our team to have access to predictable time off,” said Rodney Moore, vice president of network operations, said in a statement Tuesday (Feb. […]

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STB to proceed with Amtrak Gulf Coast hearing

Man speaking from seat in hearing room

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will proceed with its planned hearing on the status of Amtrak Gulf Coast service on Wednesday, Feb. 14, the board announced in a decision issued Tuesday. The parties to the agreement allowing service to begin — Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority — had […]

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New slide activity halts freight traffic through San Clemente

Passenger train on single track next to palm trees and beach

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — BNSF freight traffic past the site of the latest landside in San Clemente has been halted by additional slide activity, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Tuesday night freight movement was suspended after the slope moved another 1.5 to 3 feet in a 24-hour period through Tuesday afternoon, Scott Johnson, Metrolink director […]

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A closer look at how capacity impacts growth on Amtrak’s network: Analysis

Passenger train with two locomotives and bilevel cars on multi-track main line

WASHINGTON — An Amtrak press release issued last week, “Ambitious 2024 Initiatives Propel Amtrak Ridership Growth,” outlines the company’s goal of doubling ridership by 2040. This is based on “improving passenger train service for our customers and efficiently and effectively carrying out a massive major infrastructure capital program aimed to modernize and upgrade our infrastructure, […]

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