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 […]
ENFIELD, N.C. — Four auto racks on Amtrak’s southbound Auto Train derailed Wednesday night, delaying the train and leading to altered schedules for several Amtrak trains through North Carolina. WTVD-TV in Raleigh, N.C., reported the derailment occurred about 11:30 p.m. None of the 394 passengers or crew were injured. The derailed cars remained upright and […]
Three Amtrak GE P42DCs lead the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners’ Chattanooga Limited convention train across the James River near Lynchburg, Va., in September 2012. AAPRCO’s annual convention and mid-year specials are at risk with Amtrak’s new policy. Chase Gunnoe WASHINGTON — The two organizations representing the private-car industry say they’re doing their […]
Nickel Plate Road No. 765 inches closer to the platforms at Metra’s LaSalle Street Station in Chicago on June 17, 2017, as it leads the Joliet Rocket. Organizers are holding off on ticket sales pending clarification of Amtrak’s recent announcements regarding private passenger cars and excursions under Amtrak’s common carrier umbrella. TRAINS: Steve Sweeney FORT […]
The Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society’s 2017 New River Train rolls through Sandstone, W.Va., with 30 private cars in tow. A new Amtrak policy could mean the end of this and all other excursions using the passenger railroad’s equipment. Chase Gunnoe WASHINGTON — Special trains and certain private varnish moves will no longer be […]
National Park Service volunteer Dan Jerome demonstrates Native American traditions through Montana on the Empire Builder in 2008. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — The National Park Service “Trails and Rails” volunteer lecture program has been cancelled on five Amtrak trains and shorteneed on three others this year. The changes are the result of the result Amtrak’s […]
A sleeping berth shown set for feet first in the direction of travel on an Amtrak long-distance train. Bob Johnston Q I previously understood that the safest position to sleep while traveling by train was with feet first, but the past Amtrak trips I took had the bed set up head first. Is there an […]
Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson Amtrak WASHINGTON — If railroads that host Amtrak passenger trains fail to meet Congress’ statutory requirement to have positive train control installed Dec. 31, 2018, Amtrak’s president says the company will drop service on lines that don’t comply. The move would significantly disrupt passenger service on virtually every Amtrak route in […]
An aerial view of Sunday’s wreck between Amtrak’s Silver Star and a parked CSX freight train in Cayce, S.C. The widow of the Amtrak conductor killed in the crash has filed suit against Amtrak and CSX. Jeff Blake, The Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The widow of the conductor killed in Sunday’s crash of Amtrak’s […]
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The head of the National Transportation Safety Board says a misaligned switch is the immediate reason Amtrak’s southbound Silver Star collided with a parked CSX Transportation freight train early Sunday, killing two people and injuring dozens. Investigators say they’ll now try and find out why the switch was misaligned. NTSB Chariman Robert […]
See Amtrak’s incredible Acela Express in action on the Northeast Corridor! Read more about America’s high speed rail aspirations in the March 2018 issue. […]
