NORMAL, Ill. — “It’s definitely getting better,” Amtrak conductor Keith Inglesby says, considering ridership during a recent trip aboard the Texas Eagle. “A month ago, if we had, say, 50 people scheduled, maybe 37 would actually make it,” he says. In contrast, Inglesby counted only five no-shows in addition to the 90 ticketed passengers booked […]
NORMAL, Ill. — “It’s definitely getting better,” Amtrak conductor Keith Inglesby says, considering ridership during a recent trip aboard the Texas Eagle. “A month ago, if we had, say, 50 people scheduled, maybe 37 would actually make it,” he says. In contrast, Inglesby counted only five no-shows in addition to the 90 ticketed passengers booked […]
Friday evening rail news in brief: Amtrak suspends service to, from New Orleans because of Cristobal Amtrak will suspend service to and from New Orleans for several days because of the forecast landfall of Tropical Storm Cristobal along the Gulf Coast, cancelling the City of New Orleans while abbreviating service on the routes of the […]
Thursday morning rail news in brief: Amtrak restores one full Keystone Service round trip Amtrak will restore one New York-Harrisburg round trip on its Keystone Service route as of Monday, with train No. 640, a 5 a.m. departure from Harrisburg, operating to New York while train No. 653 to Harrisburg departs New York’s Penn Station […]
One person is reported dead and passengers and crew were injured after the westbound Amtrak Empire Builder hit a John Deere sprayer tractor east of Wolf Point, Mont., shortly before 11 a.m. today. The Billings Gazette reports the accident occurred near Bainville at an ungated grade crossing, and that the operator of the tractor was […]
The dispute between Amtrak and Metra over Chicago Union Station is back before the Surface Transportation Board. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Amtrak has filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board asking the agency to settle its ongoing dispute with Metra over terms and compensation for Chicago commuter railroad’s use of the Amtrak-owned Chicago […]
PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak’s next-generation Acela made its first test on Amtrak trackage on Thursday, with the second Alstom-built trainset making a round trip from Penn Coach Yard in Philadelphia to Thorndale, Pa., some 35 miles West of Philadelphia on the line to Harrisburg, Pa. The first Acela trainset continues to test at the Transportation Technology […]
With a reduced seven-car consist, the eastbound California Zephyr approaches Chicago’s Union Staion on April 2, 2020. Amtrak says it plans to reduce frequencies to “less than daily” operation on most long-distance routes beginning Oct. 1. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — In a Memorial Day letter to Congress, Amtrak management has asked for $1.475 billion in […]
More Tuesday rail news in brief: FRA to provide $91.5 million in funding for New Jersey’s Portal Bridge Amtrak and New Jersey transit have received $91.5 million in funding from the Federal Railroad Administration toward replacement of the Portal Bridge, the aging structure over New Jersey’s Hackensack River that has long been a problem spot […]
A southbound Amtrak Hiawatha approaches Metra’s Western Avenue station in August 2019. Hiawatha rail service, replaced by buses since April 24, will resume June 1. TRAINS: David Lassen Memorial Day rail news in brief: Hiawatha rail service resumes June 1; more trains to be added June 29 One Amtrak Hiawatha round trip will return Monday, […]
Amtrak is looking to hire individuals who will restore agent staffing at 15 stations in 12 states, responding to a congressional mandate to do so. The passenger railroad says in a statement that “These uniformed workers will be trained to assist our customers with booking and boarding trains, including helping with unaccompanied minors, carry-on baggage […]
PUEBLO, Colo. — Amtrak’s next-generation Acela has achieved a testing milestone, reaching speeds up to 165 mph in testing at the Association of American Railroads’ Transportation Technology Center Inc. near Pueblo. That is faster than the equipment’s planned top operating speed of 160 mph. Amtrak has posted video of the train in operation courtesy of […]
