NEW YORK — Amtrak is cancelling some trains and operating a modified schedule with others this afternoon as a result of “severe weather issues in the Northeast,” the passenger railroad says in an advisory on its website. Cancelled trains are: — Boston-New York Acela Express No. 2190; — Empire Service trains 280 (Niagara Falls-New York) and […]
Thanksgiving-weekend travelers line the Holland, Mich., platform on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, for an extra Chicago-bound Pere Marquette. Bob Johnston Passengers grouped by departure snake through Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 2018. Bob Johnston CHICAGO — Amtrak has touted more Midwest coach capacity out of the Windy City […]
WASHINGTON — Steve Predmore has become the latest executive with an aviation background to join Amtrak, joining the passenger railroad as executive vice president and chief safety officer. Predmore will join Amtrak on Nov. 4, reporting to Stephen Gardner, senior executive vice president and chief operating and commercial officer. Predmore has most recently been vice […]
Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder passes the Metra Milwaukee North line station in Lake Forest, Ill., on June 2, 2019. Lake Forest’s former city manager has been indicted as a result of his efforts to bring an Amtrak stop to the community. TRAINS: David Lassen LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The former city manager of Lake Forest […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is calling for freight railroads to do more to improve Amtrak on-time performance, indicating to Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration his interest in working with the passenger railroad and federal agency on the issue. Durbin sent letters to Amtrak and the FRA in response to a report […]
New Mexico U.S. Senate Candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver speaks of the importance of rail transportation and the influence of train travel in her life growing up. Thomas Scalf LAMY, N.M. — The New Mexico Rail Passengers Coalition held a rally at the old depot in Lamy, N.M. to Save the Southwest Chief. Fifty people gathered in […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak could see notable financial gains from even a relatively slight improvement in on-time performance and significant gains with more substantial improvements, according to a report the passenger railroad has welcomed as an indication of the costs it incurs when host railroads fail to give its trains operating priority. The report by the […]
Four Northeast Corridor stations used by Amtrak and NJ Transit, including Princeton Junction, N.J., will receive makeovers in a program announced Tuesday. Here, a Princeton “Dinky” awaits departure to the Princeton University campus from Princeton Junction in August 2019. TRAINS: David Lassen NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Four stations used by NJ Transit and Amtrak on the […]
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A 14-car derailment blocked BNSF Railway’s main line east of Flagstaff on Monday, disrupting freight traffic as well as Amtrak’s Southwest Chief. A BNSF spokesperson told local media outlets the accident occurred at 5:14 a.m., and that no hazardous materials were involved. A BNSF service advisory placed the derailment site at Darling, […]
A Chicago-bound Amtrak Hiawatha passes through Deerfield, Ill., in December 2016. Amtrak is requiring reservations on the Hiawatha and several other corridor routes as part of its preparations for increased Thanksgiving holiday ridership. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Amtrak says it will add capacity on many of its corridor routes for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, […]
Amtrak’s new chief of long distance business development, Larry Chestler, poses aboard the cafe car of the Cardinal on Oct. 1. Bob Johnston The Cardinal arrives Chicago on Oct. 5 with one Viewliner sleeper and no Viewliner II diner. Introduction of the diner has been delayed because, according to Chestler, Amfleet II lounge cars are, […]
A San Diego-bound Pacific Surfliner departs Los Angeles in February 2017. Amtrak is adding a 13th San Diego-LA Surfliner round trip beginning Monday. TRAINS: David Lassen ORANGE, Calif. — Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will add a 13th round trip between San Diego and Los Angeles beginning Monday, Oct. 14. The new southbound train No. 578 will […]
