New Amtrak CEO, in ‘Town Hall’ employee event, discusses Auto Train derailment, recovery NEWSWIRE

NEC_PrincetonJct_Lassen

A northbound Amtrak Northeast Regional train passes through Princeton Junction, N.J., in August 2019. As of Monday, Northeast Corridor operations are down to 10 trains between New York and Washington. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Though his tenure as Amtrak’s next president doesn’t officially begin until April 15, William J. Flynn was introduced to employees […]

Read More…

More cuts set for Amtrak regional service NEWSWIRE

Amtrak2

Amtrak has begun another round of service cuts as ridership declines continue because of the coronavirus. The latest changes, all effective Monday, April 6: — The Downeaster will reduce operations to one round trip a day, in keeping with Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ executive order that no one will use public transportation except for an […]

Read More…

Trains News Wire Digest for Thursday, April 2 NEWSWIRE

San_Joaquin_Logo

Thursday morning rail news: — The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority has released the draft Environmental Impact Report for a project to extend Amtrak San Joaquin service and Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail service to Sacramento, beginning a 45-day period of public comment on the plan. The project involves improvements to Union Pacific’s Sacramento Subdivision […]

Read More…

A look at Amtrak’s next CEO NEWSWIRE

William_Flynn_Amtrak

William Flynn, Amtrak’s incoming president and CEO Amtrak Amid a national health crisis, Amtrak is set to seas its 12th president/CEO on April 15. William J. Flynn retired on Jan. 1 as CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. and at 65 has racked up a career spanning ocean shipping, freight railroading, logistics and air […]

Read More…

Trains News Wire Digest for Tuesday, March 31 NEWSWIRE

MTA

Tuesday morning rail news: — Eight workers for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority are now reported to have died of complications from the COVID-19 virus, Spectrum News reports. As of Monday, the agency has 333 confirmed cases of the virus and 2,700 workers in quarantine. While the MTA has acquired 75,000 disposable surgical masks for […]

Read More…

Trains News Wire Digest for Monday, March 30 NEWSWIRE

logo_viarail

A Monday morning update on the latest COVID-19-related cuts in rail service: — VIA Rail Canada will dramatically reduce operations as of Tuesday, operating only one train per day on each of its routes in the Quebec City-Windsor, Ontario, corridor, with those trains stopping at every station. Elsewhere, its Montreal-Jonquiere, Quebec; Montreal-Senneterre, Que; and Sudbury-White […]

Read More…

Trains News Wire Digest for Sunday, March 29 (updated) NEWSWIRE

logo_viarail

Sunday morning rail news: — Canada is restricting domestic travel by passengers showing signs of the COVID-19 virus, such as fever, coughing, or difficulty breathing. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the rules Saturday; they go into effect Monday at noon. The Canadian Press reports that under the order issued by Transport Canada, VIA Rail Canada, […]

Read More…

Trains News Wire Digest for Saturday, March 28 NEWSWIRE

SF_Muni_logo

A Saturday morning update of rail operation changes because of the COVID-19 outbreak: — San Francisco’s Muni is shutting down all light rail service as of Monday, March 30, replacing the service with buses. Subway stations will be closed, except for those also used by Bay Area Rapid Transit trains. Closure of the Muni Metro […]

Read More…

News Wire Digest Second Section for Friday, March 27 NEWSWIRE

Amtrak2

— One crewman suffered a foot injury when nine auto racks of Amtrak’s northbound Auto Train derailed Thursday afternoon near DeLand, Fla. None of the train’s passenger cars derailed and no passengers were injured, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, which attributed the derailment to “a problem with the track.” The passenger portion of the […]

Read More…

Trains News Wire Digest for Thursday, March 26 (updated) NEWSWIRE

Brightline_WestPalm_Lassen

A Brightline train departs West Palm Beach, Fla., in 2019. The Florida passenger service has shut down indefinitely because of the COVID-19 virus. TRAINS: David Lassen Thursday morning rail news: — Florida passenger service Brightline shut down operations Wednesday and laid off 250 of its 300 employees because of the coronavirus pandemic. In an email […]

Read More…