Amtrak goes to pre-packaged meals on western trains, makes other temporary changes to long-distance service

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CHICAGO — Amtrak will introduce its pre-packaged “Flexible Dining” program on western long-distance trains beginning Friday, April 17, in response to the sharply reduced ridership resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. With the introduction of the program on trains west of Chicago and New Orleans, only the Lorton, Va.-Sanford, Fla., Auto Train will retain full dining […]

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Anderson sends farewell message to Amtrak employees NEWSWIRE

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The Oklahoma Railway Museum is acquiring two coaches from short line railroad Farmrail. Oklahoma Railway Museum Tuesday afternoon rail news: — With William Flynn set to take over Wednesday as Amtrak president and CEO, outgoing CEO Richard Anderson sent a message to employees today thanking employees for their efforts during his tenure and in the […]

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UPDATED: Trains News Wire Digest for Monday, April 13 NEWSWIRE

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A Chicago-bound Illinois Zephyr passes through Downers Grove, Ill. Amtrak ridership has dropped from 100,000 passengers a day to about 4,000 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the passenger railroad’s CEO says. TRAINS: David Lassen Monday morning rail news: — Amtrak, which normally handles 100,000 passengers a day, is down to about 4,000 a day because […]

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News Wire Digest Fourth Section for Friday, April 10 NEWSWIRE

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New ‘Railroad History’ editor Dan Cupper Railway & Locomotive Historical Society A Friday afternoon rail news update: — The agency which oversees Amtrak’s Downeaster has voted to suspend operation of the train between Boston and Brunswick, Maine, effective Monday. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority says the suspension will be in effect through at […]

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

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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 […]

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More cuts set for Amtrak regional service NEWSWIRE

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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 […]

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Trains News Wire Digest for Thursday, April 2 NEWSWIRE

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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 […]

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A look at Amtrak’s next CEO NEWSWIRE

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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 […]

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Trains News Wire Digest for Tuesday, March 31 NEWSWIRE

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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 […]

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Trains News Wire Digest for Monday, March 30 NEWSWIRE

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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 […]

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