Selected comments of politicians, organizations, and communities on the fight over Gulf Coast passenger service, as expressed in letters to the Surface Transportation Board [see “Analysis: Amtrak defends its Gulf Coast access request in new STB filing,” Trains News Wire, April 29, 2021]: Calling for completion of traffic modeling Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R): “For […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Amtrak establishes priorities in wish-list reports to Congress
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has issued its two most consequential documents of the year, which show where management intends to take the company and what it would like from Congress to achieve those goals. The 77-page General and Legislative Annual Report and Fiscal Year 2022 Grant Request, available here, asks Congress to almost double its pre-2020 […]
News photo: Amtrak gathers commemorative locomotives
An Amtrak special equipment move through Wilmington, Del., at 6:20 a.m. on Wednesday morning with “Salute to Veterans” ACS-46 No. 642 on the point and two P42 diesels in tow carrying two of Amtrak’s six 50th-anniversary paint schemes — “Midnight Blue” locomotive No. 100, and No. 46, which carries the current paint scheme with large […]
Digest: Maryland turns down request to single-track part of light rail project
Maryland DOT turns down request for single-tracking at Purple Line station, citing ‘significant risk’ to project The Maryland Department of Transportation has turned down a request to reduce the Purple Line light rail project to a single track at its Bethesda station. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich had made the request, seeking to create room […]
Digest: Biden to appear at Amtrak anniversary event
President Biden to appear at Amtrak event in Philadelphia President Joe Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Friday to take part in Amtrak’s 50th anniversary celebration, the White House has announced. The New York Times reports Biden will appear at an event at 30th Street Station, promoting his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, as well as […]
FRA obligates Rescue Plan funds to Amtrak, states
WASHINGTON — The $1.69 billion Congress authorized for passenger rail economic stimulus relief when it passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 last month was formally conveyed to Amtrak Tuesday by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This new assistance for Amtrak will get employees back to work and restore service on routes […]
News photos: Amtrak ‘Midnight Blue’ unit debuts
Tucked in behind P42 No 138 leading the westbound Cardinal, Amtrak P42 No 100 rolled into Chicago on Monday, fresh from repainting into the one-of-a-kind “Midnight Blue” color scheme [see “Behind Amtrak’s new locomotive designs,” Trains News Wire, March 18]. The two locomotives, baggage car, Superliner sleeping car, coach, and coach-baggage, fresh from refurbishing at […]
News and Analysis: Colorado commission advances Front Range plans
DENVER – The last vestige of north-south passenger trains serving the Mile-High City disappeared 50 years ago when Santa Fe’s ragamuffin round trip to the east-west main line at La Junta, Colo., didn’t transition to Amtrak. But work is well under way to change that. The Southwest Chief and Front Range Passenger Rail Commission is […]
Digest: Amtrak adds carbon-savings information to NEC tickets
Amtrak tickets on Northeast Corridor will now show carbon-emission savings Amtrak will add information on carbon-emission savings to Northeast Corridor tickets, showing how much they saved by not driving and by not flying. On the electrified route between Boston and Washington, D.C., Amtrak says use of its trains produces 83% less emissions than driving and […]
Digest: BNSF train derails in Southern California desert
No injuries as BNSF intermodal train derails near Barstow About 15 cars of a BNSF Railway intermodal train derailed Thursday at Jimgray, Calif., about 24 miles northwest of Barstow on the railroad’s Mojave Subdivision. The San Bernardino County Fire Department reports on Twitter that it responded to the accident about 6 a.m., but there were […]
Digest: Amtrak selects Siemens to build new intercity trainsets
Amtrak selects Siemens to build replacements for Amfleet I cars, other aging equipment Amtrak has selected Siemens to build a fleet of 83 intercity trainsets for use on the Northeast Corridor, Palmetto, and various state-supported services. The selection of Siemens as the “preferred bidder” — which is currently building cars for use on state-supported trains […]
Digest: Capitol Corridor memo expresses concern about Oakland ballpark plan
Oakland ballpark plan creates grade crossing issues, memo says The head of the agency operating California’s Capitol Corridor Amtrak service has voiced concerns about grade-crossing issues new a proposed new ballpark for the Oakland Athletics. The Waterfront District Ballpark adjacent to Jack London Square will require stadium visitors to cross a busy Union Pacific line […]