Digest: Amtrak relaunches USA Rail Pass with $299 special

Passenger train stops at station

Amtrak offering USA Rail Pass at $200 savings Amtrak is relaunching its USA Rail Pass by offering the 10-ride pass for $299 through June 22, a savings of $200 over the regular price. The electronic pass allows up to 10 segments of coach travel in a 30-day period; trips involving a connection will count for […]

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Digest: Florida county makes deal on crossing upgrades, ends suit against Brightline

Front of a black, white, and yello train

Indian River County ends Brightline lawsuit, reaches agreement on $31.6 million in crossing improvements Longtime Brightline opponent Indian River County, Fla., has agreed to drop its lawsuit against the passenger service over grade crossing improvements along the Florida East Coast rail line used by the passenger carrier. WPBF-TV reports the agreement calls for cooperative efforts […]

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Visit a garden-railway display at a nature center

A family watches a large-scale train display

For many years I have been a volunteer at our local nature center (Sandy Creek Nature Center of Athens-Clarke Co., GA). It occurred to me that their circular flower and nature gardens would be a perfect setting for a garden railroad. I approached personnel at the center, and they were enthusiastic, as it would create […]

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U.S. Sugar interested in acquiring second steam locomotive

Steam locomotive on display behind fence

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — U.S. Sugar Corp. is interested in buying and restoring to operation an Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotive currently on display in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Daily Record reports. Locomotive No. 1504, a class P-5-A 4-6-2 built by Alco in 1919, would be declared surplus by the city council, which would also rescind its […]

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Digest: Second Missouri River Runner to resume July 19

Amtrak logo.

Missouri River Runner gets second round trip for remainder of year as of July 19 Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner will restore its second daily round trip as of July 19. State funding and federal coronavirus relief funds will maintain the two-round-trip schedule between St. Louis and Kansas City through the remainder of 2021. “We appreciate […]

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Digest: NJ Transit announces additional commuter rail service

Electric locomotive hauls commuter train through S curve

NJ transit adds weekday trains, weekend Gladstone Branch trains, North Jersey Coast shuttles NJ Transit announced it would add 60 trains to its commuter rail schedules as of June 6, including select weekday trains throughout the system, weekend Gladstone Branch trains, and additional Long Branch-Bay Head shuttle trains on the North Jersey Coast Line. Weekday […]

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Digest: FRA, FTA release key documents on Gateway tunnel project

Amtrak train coming out of tunnel

Release of environmental report, Record of Decision allows Gateway tunnel project to move forward The Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration have issued the final Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision on the Gateway tunnel project under the Hudson River, which clears the way for the project to receive federal funding.  “This […]

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Digest: Pacific Surfliner to require reservations on peak summer weekends

Blue and silver-painted locomotive at a station platform surrounding by brown steel work and palm trees. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner renewable diesel.

Pacific Surfliners to require reservations on four weekends; more could be added Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will require reservations for travel on peak weekends this suffer, a move to manage capacity when more travelers are anticipated. Four weekends have been designated for the reservation requirement — Memorial Day weekend (May 28-June 1), Fourth of July weekend […]

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