MARKS, Miss. – Effective this weekend, Amtrak City of New Orleans trains will stop daily at a new station in Marks, Miss., on the Chicago-New Orleans route made famous in a song by Steve Goodman and recorded by Arlo Guthrie and many others. Service in both directions is effective tomorrow, May 5, with a ribbon-cutting […]
The Crescent stops at Meridian, Miss., a station that is about to lose its agent. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — In another cost-cutting move, “made jointly by the operating divisions and the Long Distance Service Line,” says spokesman Marc Magliari, Amtrak will eliminate ticket agents at 15 stations serving seven long distance routes as early as […]
Private cars bring up the rear on the westbound California Zephyr at Hinsdale, Ill. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Some private car owners say Amtrak’s new tariff rates and restrictions will make business more challenging and expensive, but at least they now have a written policy to work with. Amtrak announced an increase in tariffs […]
The westbound Capitol Limited passes through Goshen, Ind., on March 24, 2018. The train is one of two which will offer cold-meal service for sleeping car passengers beginning June 1. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — For sleeping car passengers on two Amtrak routes between Chicago and the East Coast, it appears dining innovation is a […]
Moonlight Dome will run several trips on Amtrak to support Norfolk & Western No. 611. Adam Auxier WASHINGTON — The Virginia Museum of Transportation will operate a series of private railcar trips utilizing a rare Baltimore & Ohio dome behind Amtrak trains beginning April 28 and 29. These trips are fundraising events for Norfolk & […]
Two private cars bring up the rear on the westbound California Zephyr at Hinsdale, Ill, on June 24, 2016. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — New Amtrak guidelines on special trains and private cars issued Wednesday provide a few exceptions from its original plan — to only allow private car moves between a train’s originating and […]
Pennsylvania Railroad-painted E units Nos. 5809 and 5711 lead special train through Lee’s Crossroads, Pa, in June 2014. The consist was returning from the Streamliners at Spencer railfan event in North Carolina. Jonathan Wright PHILADELPHIA — One of the nation’s leading railway preservationists is calling on the enthusiast community to exercise restrain despite a call […]
The 2011 AAPRCO special makes its way north from Fort Worth, Texas, to Newton, Kan., BNSF Railway’s Red Rock Subdivision. Keel Middleton EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter is a response to Trains News Wire regarding comments Bennett Levin made about private passenger car owner safety and behavior. The story is published online. In order to respond […]
The ‘Empire Builder’ engine crew changes at Whitefish, Mont., on Feb 4, 2017. Bob Johnston ST. PAUL, Minn. – Winter storm Xanto, which is threatening travelers with blizzard conditions from the Dakotas through Minnesota and Wisconsin on April 13, and 14, is the type of weather system that the Empire Builder typically slogs through between […]
An Amtrak Lincoln Service train, led by P42 No. 168 and with an Amfleet car at the rear of the consist, passes through Lemont, Ill., on Jan. 20, 2018. Amtrak is hoping to order replacements for the P42s and Amfleet equipment this year. TRAINS: David Lassen Amtrak plans to seek proposals from manufacturers and award […]
CHICAGO — Metra is asking the Surface Transportation Board to resolve a disagreement between the commuter rail agency and Amtrak involving its lease and trackage rights at Chicago Union Station — a dispute that could have ramifications elsewhere. The issue was prompted by the merger last year between Amtrak and Chicago Union Station Co., which […]
Amtrak intends to remove Business Class seating from the Auto Train and Crescent routes, effective May 1. The upgraded class of service was offered on both routes for about two years. The upgrade did not sell well and often resulted in higher base coach fares because, with a fixed number of cars in the train […]
