Trains Top 10 stories for 2019, No. 8: Amtrak cuts, tinkers with service and routes NEWSWIRE

Crawfordsville, Ind. train station on June 29

Shelbi Hoover, Paul Utterback, and Dr. Helen Hudson help prepare the Crawfordsville, Ind., station on Saturday, June 29, the day before the final run of the Hoosier State. Bob Johnston If you’re a fan of Amtrak, 2019 might be called a “building year,” similar to a major league team recouping from years of losses and […]

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Amtrak to resume Penn Station work Jan. 3; LIRR schedules to change NEWSWIRE

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Plasser American maintenance-of-way equipment works at New York’s Penn Station during an earlier phase of Amtrak’s Infrastructure Renewal Program. Work at the station will resume Jan. 3, leading to schedule changes for the Long Island Rail Road. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK — Amtrak will resume infrastructure work at New York’s Penn Station on Jan. 3, […]

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Bennett Levin: Time for state to take over ‘Keystone’ corridor operation NEWSWIRE

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Amtrak ‘Keystone Service’ train No. 664 hustles east at Mount Joy, Penn., in January 2018. Mark Hoffman HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania should sever its relationship with Amtrak and take over operation of the Keystone Service (Philadelphia-Harrisburg) and the in-state portion of the Pennsylvanian (New York-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh), according to one rail industry veteran. Lower taxpayer outlays and […]

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Virginia, CSX announce major rail infrastructure plan

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ARLINGTON, Va. — The Commonwealth of Virginia and CSX Transportation have reached a deal on a $3.7-billion plan that will address rail congestion south of Washington D.C. by separating passenger and freight operations, allowing for a significant expansion of passenger and commuter rail services. The agreement announced Thursday will create a new, state-owned Long Bridge […]

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Mobile city council to vote on financial support for proposed Gulf Coast Amtrak service NEWSWIRE

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Crowds greet an Amtrak inspection train at Mobile, Ala., on Feb 18, 2016. Mobile’s city council is set to vote on financial support for the return of Amtrak service along the Gulf Coast. Bob Johnston MOBILE, Ala. — Mobile’s city council will vote Dec. 31 whether to make a financial commitment to efforts to restore […]

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Report: Amtrak may make some tickets nonrefundable, impose change fees NEWSWIRE

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WASHINGTON — Amtrak is considering airline-style nonrefundable fares and ticket-change fees, according to a leaked memo. The tech website BGR, quoting from a paywalled Business insider report, says the changes could come as soon as January. They would make the lowest-priced “saver” fares nonrefundable and non-changeable 24 hours after purchase, and impose a 25% cancellation […]

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Pacific Surfliner, Coaster train service faces changes for Del Mar work NEWSWIRE

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A Coaster commuter train climbs Miramar Hill near San Diego in January 2016. Coaster and Amtrak service to San Diego will be disrupted this week by work to address bluff erosion in Del Mar, Calif. TRAINS: David Lassen DEL MAR, Calif. — Work to stabilize eroding coastal bluffs in Del Mar will disrupt Amtrak Surfliner […]

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Station improvements completed at BWI airport NEWSWIRE

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GLEN BURNIE, Md. — A $4.7 million renovation of the Amtrak and MARC commuter rail station at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is now complete. The 14-month project began in August 2018, and provides expanded seating, with charging stations for phones and other personal electronics, new ticketing facilities, improved restrooms, and refreshment and snack options. […]

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Amtrak to close Kalamazoo ticket office NEWSWIRE

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo will become the latest Michigan city to lose a staffed ticket office at its Amtrak station, WWMT-TV reports. The TV station reports the ticket office will close “at the beginning of 2020.” It follows similar moves East Lansing, Niles, Jackson, and Flint, which saw their ticket offices close in 2018 [see […]

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Amtrak worker killed in New York electrical accident NEWSWIRE

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NEW YORK — One Amtrak worker was killed and two others were injured in an accident at a power substation in the Bronx on Thursday, the New York Daily News reports. The newspaper reports the worker was electrocuted in an electrical explosion about 11:30 a.m. at Van Nest Yard, an electrical facility shared by Amtrak […]

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Chicago-area steel plant illustrates role of small businesses in new Acelas NEWSWIRE

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A welder at the LB Steel factory in Harvey, Ill., works on a tilting transom for a new Acela trainset. Bob Johnston LB Steel Vice President David Abshire shows how the tilting transom sits on top of a trailer wheelset and connects it to the frame. Bob Johnston HARVEY, Ill. — How does a 35-year-old […]

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Senators request Amtrak eliminate arbitration requirement for ticket purchases

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WASHINGTON — A group of 13 U.S. Senators, all Democrats, have written Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson requesting that the passenger railroad do away with its recent move requiring passengers to accept arbitration rather than being able to sue — a request Anderson quickly turned down. In January, Amtrak changed the contract language accompanying its tickets […]

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