SEATTLE — Amtrak maintenance issues that caused cancellation of Sounder commuter service spilled over into Cascades intercity departures, with buses substituting for Seattle-Eugene, Ore., service because of a shortage of serviceable equipment. Meanwhile, Amtrak’s eastbound California Zephyr tried to fight its way through a dangerous Nebraska blizzard — and lost. Those were among the operational […]
DENVER — Increased frequency and capacity and lower prices have led to a significant boost in ridership for Amtrak’s Winter Park Express ski train. Colorado Public Radio reports that one-way tickets were priced as low as $19, thanks to use of a state fee on rental car funds designated for rail projects. Trains were also […]
Nothing good will come from Wednesday’s dismissal of Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, who was pushed out as part of the White House’s purge of officials who are not deemed loyal to President Donald Trump. The timing of the move was curious. The Trump administration has been seeking to pull funding for programs it deems wasteful […]
WASHINGTON—Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner announced his resignation today (March 19, 2025). No successor has been named. In a statement on Amtrak’s website, Gardner says, “I am stepping down as CEO to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration. I am so proud of what the Amtrak team has […]
CHICAGO — Miles of downed trees and power lines through rural Missouri and Arkansas over the weekend resulted in half-day delays or truncations for two Texas Eagles. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles-bound Southwest Chief sat for 8 hours in New Mexico when a wind-driven brush fire blocked the right-of-way. Texas Eagle challenges A Washington Post storm […]
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Legislation calling for increased frequencies and reduced travel times for Amtrak Cascades service has passed the Washington state House of Representatives and moved to the Senate. House Bill 1857 passed by a 68-29 vote last Wednesday, March 12, beating a deadline for bills to advance out of their house of origin by […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has updated its mobile app to include the ability to select seats when booking tickets on trains with assigned seating. The feature is available when purchasing tickets for Acela trains, as well as for business class on the Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Vermonter, and Carolinian. Other features include updates on train status and […]
WASHINGTON — The former head of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party has been nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the last remaining vacancy on Amtrak’s board of directors. But unlike those Trump advanced during his first term, this nominee has been actively involved in pushing for increased Amtrak service from an area the passenger operator currently […]
NEW YORK — Yet another proposal has emerged for New York’s Penn Station, this one calling for relocation of Madison Square Garden to allow for expansion of the station and creation of a major train hall and park. The New York Times reports the plan from the Grand Penn Community Alliance would build a new […]
BEAR, Delaware — Amtrak is adding color coding at the entries to its railcars to guide passengers to the correct location to board its trains. The first cars introducing this system — which uses green near the doors to denote coach, blue for business class, and red for first class — were to be released […]
NEW YORK — The United Railroad Historical Society’s popular Hudson River Rail Excursions are done — for the time being. The last of the day trips between New York Penn Station and Albany-Rensselaer, N.Y., billed as “Farewell (For Now),” ran Sunday, March 2 [see “East River tunnel work to sideline …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. […]
This year was my second year attending the Amherst Railway Society’s Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield, Mass. and it sure was a great time. After being blown away by the sheer size of the show in 2024, I was ready to experience it again this year, and take it all in. Whether it’s your […]
