PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Flyer, a two-year pilot program to provide “one seat” passenger service from New York City to Berkshire County in Massachusetts, will move ahead, as funding for the program was included in the state’s budget signed into law Wednesday. The program will receive “not less than $270,000” for its inaugural year, […]
Railroad: Amtrak
CP puts damper on plans for more ‘Hiawathas’
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s plans for increasing Chicago-Milwaukee Amtrak Hiawatha service may not be as close to fruition as state officials have believed. Canadian Pacific Railway, the host railroad for much of the Hiawatha route, has released a letter to the state’s rail program manager saying it will not support additional service without additional improvements […]
Truck driver killed, Amtrak ‘Illini’ derailed in grade-crossing collision (second update) NEWSWIRE
UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. — Amtrak’s southbound Illini derailed Sunday evening after hitting a truck at a grade crossing near the University Park Metra station, about 30 miles south of Chicago. The driver of the truck was killed, according to a University Park Fire Department official quoted by ABC News, and two people on board the […]
Amtrak says it can’t reach agreement with Metra, asks STB to settle Union Station rent dispute NEWSWIRE
The Surface Transportation Board is once again being asked to settle a dispute between Amtrak and Metra over rent at Chicago Union Station. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Declaring the matter at an impasse, Amtrak has asked federal regulators to determine compensation and terms over Metra’s lease at Chicago Union Station. In a filing with the […]
Amtrak to begin nonstop Acela service between Washington, New York NEWSWIRE
An Amtrak Acela Express prepares to stop at Metropark, N.J., in 2017. Amtrak will begun running one nonstop Acela round trip daily between New York and Washington in September. Scott A. Hartley WASHINGTON — Amtrak will begin one nonstop round trip between Washington and New York’s Penn Station, the passenger railroad announced today. The service […]
Dukakis, Gunn share concerns about makeup, objectives of current Amtrak board NEWSWIRE
Former Amtrak president and CEO David Gunn. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — Former Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis remembers his time on the Amtrak Board of Directors as working with people well-versed in transportation and “committed to the simple but powerful notion that the entire country needs a first-class rail passenger system.” Former […]
Charges against Amtrak 188 engineer again dropped NEWSWIRE
A National Transportation Safety Board investigator observes activity at the site of the Amtrak train No. 188 crash in 2015. National Transportation Safety Board PHILADELPHIA — For a second time, criminal charges have been dropped against the engineer of an Amtrak train involved in a fatal derailment in Philadelphia in 2015. Charges against Brian Bostian, […]
NTSB: Human error, inattention to safety risks led to 2018 ‘Silver Star’ crash NEWSWIRE
New York to Miami Silver Star train No. 91 was operating on track warrants and verbal communication with CSX Transportation dispatchers when it crashed into a parked CSX autorack train about 2:27 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2018, at Cayce, S.C. Jonathan Hinely WASHINGTON — Human error combined with inadequate attention to safety risk led to […]
Wisconsin announces plans for more ‘Hiawathas’ NEWSWIRE
A northbound Amtrak Hiawatha passes the closed tower at Rondout, Ill, on June 2, 2019. TRAINS: David Lassen MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin officials announced plans to add three Amtrak Hiawatha round trips to the Chicago-Milwaukee route over the next five years, and should be able to add two of those trains with or without cooperation from […]
Amtrak service changed by CSX track work in North Carolina NEWSWIRE
RALEIGH, N.C. — Amtrak’s Carolinian will be reduced to weekend-only service along its full New York-Charlotte, N.C. route beginning July 22, and schedules for the Palmetto and Silver Star will also be altered, because of CSX Transportation track work, according to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The schedule changes will […]
Amtrak to restore service to New Orleans NEWSWIRE
NEW ORLEANS — Amtrak is restoring service on all routes in and out of New Orleans following Hurricane Barry. Service will resume today for the eastbound Crescent; the Monday departures of its westbound counterpart from New York will be the first inbound train to serve New Orleans. Similarly, northbound service resumes today for the City […]
Meal changes in store for ‘Auto Train’ passengers; possibly other Eastern Amtrak trains NEWSWIRE
Superliner lounge used as coach diner awaits dinner guests on southbound Auto Train in 2015. Breakfast and dinner have been included in the fare price for all passengers since Amtrak started its version in 1983. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — Complimentary dinners are on their way out for Auto Train coach passengers. Food prepared onboard may […]
