California agencies set online ‘Corridor Conversations’ event about passenger rail service The agency that manages Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner service is hosting a free public online event, “Corridor Conversations,” featuring presentations from and a roundtable discussion by leadership of California’s three state-supported intercity passenger rail corridors. Participants will include Donna DeMartino, managing director of the host […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Behind Amtrak’s new locomotive designs
WASHINGTON — “If you’re planning for a 50th anniversary, you’ve got to look at where you came from to see how far you’ve gone,” Amtrak’s Matt Donnelly tells Trains News Wire. Donnelly, the company’s lead brand communications specialist, and Devon Parsons, Blair Slaughter, John Skalski, John Dzedzy, and Seth Geist — equipment and rolling stock engineering […]
Amtrak asks STB to require CSX, NS to allow Gulf Coast service (updated)
WASHINGTON — Amtrak is taking its effort to start service along the Gulf Coast to the Surface Transportation Board. The passenger railroad is asking the regulatory body to require CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern to permit operation of two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. In its filing, Amtrak is asking for […]
Amtrak announces new paint schemes in YouTube video
WASHINGTON — Amtrak will paint at least six locomotive in new and heritage paint schemes in the coming months in honor of the railroad’s 50th anniversary this year. In a YouTube video launched Tuesday, March 16, an Amtrak representative discusses the history of the railroad’s liveries and detailed the newest paint schemes well into the […]
Digest: Minnesota bill would fund state share of improvements needed for second passenger train
Minnesota state senator introduces bill to fund rail improvements for second daily Amtrak train The president of the Minnesota state Senate has introduced a bipartisan bill to fund rail infrastructure improvements needed for the addition of a second daily Chicago-Twin Cities passenger train. The bill introduced by Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) would provide the state […]
Digest: LA Union Station to be one of two sites for Academy Awards
LA Union Station to host part of Oscars ceremony Los Angeles Union Station will be one of the two venues for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, Variety reports. The station, built in 1939, is a frequent setting for films, but has never been part of the Oscars. It will be used this year, along with […]
News Photos: Talgos’ final resting place
Two Amtrak Cascades Talgo Series VI trainsets’ final resting place before scrapping is Coast Rail Services in Anaheim, Calif., as seen on March 6, 2021. The distinctive passive-tilt equipment, owned by Washington, was removed from service at the end of June 2020, along with two trainsets owned by Amtrak. The Amtrak Series VI trainsets were […]
As Amtrak restores long-distance service, best prices are on ‘new’ dates
WASHINGTON — Anyone ready to lock in summer travel plans that involve long-distance trains will find lower fares on days that have had no service since last October. Amtrak wasted no time Wednesday in complying with marching orders from Congress in the just-passed economic stimulus legislation, immediately announcing when it would resume daily service on […]
Amtrak announces dates to restore daily service on 12 long-distance routes
Amtrak service will resume daily on 12 long-distance routes which had been cut to triweekly service in May and June, following Wednesday’s passage by Congress of the American Rescue Plan aid package, which includes funding for service restoration. Ticketing is already available for the restored service in Amtrak’s reservation system, meaning availability for seats and […]
Digest: Developer’s agreement with Metra will allow project to be built above Electric line
Developer’s deal will allow construction above Metra tracks, lead to new station A Chicago developer says he has reached agreement with Metra to build over Metra Electric District tracks as part of a $20 billion development in the area near Soldier Field, a deal that will include the developer building a replacement for Metra’s 18th […]
Digest: CP announces Ballard fuel cells will power hydrogen locomotive
Ballard Power Systems to provide fuel cells for CP’s hydrogen locomotive Fuel cells from Ballard Power Systems will be used in Canadian Pacific’s project to develop a hydrogen-powered road locomotive. The Ballard fuel cells will provide 1.2 megawatts of electricity, working with batteries to power the traction motors of the locomotive, being converted from diesel […]
Digest: Delays add $300 million to cost of Gateway project
Delays in start of Gateway project push cost to $11.6 billion Ongoing delays in beginning the Gateway tunnel project on the Northeast Corridor have pushed the estimated cost of tunnels under the Hudson river to $11.6 billion, a $300 million increase over the previous estimate. NJ.com reports Frank Sacr, interim executive director of the Gateway […]