The westbound Southwest Chief passes through Brookfield, Ill., on May 15, 2019. Chief service is temporarily suspended in Kansas because of a BNSF route closure. TRAINS: David Lassen KANSAS City, Mo. — Amtrak has temporarily suspended service on its Missouri River Runner between Kansas City and St. Louis, and on the Southwest Chief between Kansas […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Safety board takes aim at Talgo train set in Cascades crash investigation NEWSWIRE
A view of the wreckage of derailed Amtrak Cascades Train 501 on Dec. 18, 2017. Steve Carter WASHINGTON — The conclusion of an investigation into a 2017 Amtrak Cascades derailment has touched off a debate over the safety of non-conventional trainsets. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded Tuesday that the Talgo equipment’s lightweight design was […]
National Transportation Safety Board says multiple state and federal agencies failed in 2017 Amtrak crash
WASHINGTON — A systemic safety failure by state and federal agencies caused the fatal December 2017 derailment of an Amtrak Cascades train on its first run on a new route in Washington state, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded Tuesday. The derailment investigation revealed a complex set of factors, including the pressure to put the new […]
Wisconsin, Illinois still want more ‘Hiawatha’ trips NEWSWIRE
Northbound Amtrak Hiawatha No. 333 passes Tower A20 in Glenview, Ill., on May 18, 2019. This is where Canadian Pacific trains enter and leave the Chicago-Milwaukee main line via the tracks at right to reach the railroad’s Bensenville Yard. Bob Johnston A southbound Hiawatha passes Metra’s Glen of North Glenview station in January 2019. Plans […]
Amtrak ‘San Joaquins’ introduce revised schedule NEWSWIRE
FRESNO, Calif. — Amtrak’s San Joaquins will introduce a new schedule on May 20, returning service to seven full-corridor round trips and offering service every two hours. Five of the trains will operate between Bakersfield and Oakland, while two will run between Bakersfield and Sacramento. In a media release, David Lipari, marketing manager for the […]
Amtrak, NJ Transit to invest $31 million in Northeast Corridor NEWSWIRE
Northbound Amtrak ‘Acela Express’ train No. 2164 overtakes NJ Transit train No. 2154, which has stopped at the Metuchen, N.J. station. Upgrades will speed passenger journeys soon for both operators from Trenton, N.J., to New York City. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK – Amtrak and NJ Transit will spend $31 million along the Northeast Corridor in […]
‘Trails and Rails’ program sets 2019 routes NEWSWIRE
Trails and Rails volunteer Andy Selden describes wildlife along the Mississippi River on the ‘Empire Builder’ in 2014. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON – Amtrak’s decision to no longer furnish meals or lodging for “Trails and Rails” program volunteers continues to curtail commentary on rail routes that used to have it. However, a new five-year agreement between […]
Illinois DOT bows to opposition on sidings for Hiawatha expansion
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Bowing to opposition from the communities of Glenview and Lake Forest, the Illinois Department of Transportation will no longer support plans for two sidings that are part of a plan to increase Amtrak Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee. Patch.com reports that acting IDOT Secretary Omer Osman said in a letter, released […]
NTSB to release ‘Amtrak Cascades’ accident report May 21 NEWSWIRE
Amtrak’s Freighthouse Square station in Tacoma is awaiting the return of trains to the Point Defiance Bypass. The release of the NTSB’s report on a 2017 derailment could hasten that process. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will release its report on the December 2017 derailment of an Amtrak Cascades passenger […]
‘Sunset Limited,’ ‘City of New Orleans’ service disrupted by flooding NEWSWIRE
NEW ORLEANS — Flooding has led to service disruptions on two Amtrak routes serving New Orleans, with the City of New Orleans and Sunset Limited both offering truncated service as a result. The triweekly Sunset Limited, which normally operates between Los Angeles and New Orleans, is currently unable to operate between Houston (or San Antonio) […]
North Carolina ‘Piedmonts’ sell out $1 promotional trips NEWSWIRE
North Carolina Department of Transportation Chief Deputy Secretary David Howard and Rail Division Director Jason Orthner shake hands in a photo taken at Raleigh’s Capital Yard on May 3, 2019, promoting the $1 Piedmont fare sale for trips Friday and Saturday. All trips are now sold out. North Carolina Department of Transportation RALEIGH, N. C. […]
Amtrak to shed decommissioned Superliner, Amfleet equipment NEWSWIRE
A plant grows out of a heavily-damaged dining car at Amtrak’s Beech Grove, Ind., shops on Dec. 14, 2018. The car, out of service since 2002, is not among those included in Amtrak’s latest list of equipment for sale. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — Superliners and Amfleet cars are among the latest batch of inactive rolling […]