Lamy, N.M. — In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Golden Spike, Altiplano Rail is chartering four private railroad cars. The westbound Golden Spike Rail Tour, which began on May 2, 2019, will travel from Chicago to Los Angeles on Amtrak Southwest Chief, go north to Oakland, Calif., on the Coast Starlight, and then […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Study sets $1 billion price tag to extend SMART to connect with Amtrak NEWSWIRE
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Expansion of Northern California’s SMART commuter rail into Napa and Solano counties, allowing a connection to Amtrak, would take six years and about $1 billion, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. The figure comes from a study funded by the state of California into the possibility of a link from the […]
Union official tells paper Amtrak plans 20-percent cut to police force NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK — Amtrak will cut its police force by 20% over the next three years, the New York Post reports, a move its union president says “will jeopardize the safety and security for the passengers and employees.” William Gonzalez, president of Amtrak’s Fraternal Order of Police, told the Post that Amtrak police chief Neil […]
New Jersey governor pushes for Hudson tunnel funding NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK — Calling the project “a matter of national security and economic stability,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy pushed Friday for funding for the Gateway Project, which includes a new tunnel between New Jersey and New York as part of a series of infrastructure upgrades to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line. Murphy, in testimony at […]
House committee chairman vows to get new Hudson tunnel built NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK — The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has vowed to get a new rail tunnel built to connect New York and New Jersey, the Associated Press reports. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) made the pledge in comments at New York’s Penn Station as he and other members of his committee prepared […]
Analysis: Why the ‘Hoosier State’ will die on June 30 NEWSWIRE
Trainmen uncouple the Hoosier State’s three car consist from the eastbound Cardinal at Indianapolis on April 23, 2019. The Hoosier trainset deadheads westbound on Mondays and eastbound on Tuesday to position equipment, and earns no revenue on Thursdays and Saturdays. Bob Johnston Amtrak operations guru Chris Jagodzinski uses an inspection trip for local leaders on […]
Penn Station work to continue in summer 2019 NEWSWIRE
An NJT train tiptoes through “A” Interlocking’s work zone on the west end of Penn Station on June 20, 2017. This summer “JO” Interlocking on the east end of the station will be rebuilt. Bob Johnston NEW YORK — Continued infrastructure work at New York’s Penn Station will lead to changes in service this […]
Adirondack Scenic secures former New York Central diner from Amtrak NEWSWIRE
An Adirondack Scenic locomotive and train. Alex Mayes UTICA, N.Y. — While the threat of losing 34 miles of track enters into long-term planning, the Adirondack Scenic Railroad has a lot on its plate as it readies for the 2019 season, including preparing for its latest acquisition: an Amtrak-donated Heritage Diner car. Amtrak recently notified […]
VIDEO: New Mexico governor speaks at ‘Southwest Chief’ rally in Las Vegas, N.M. NEWSWIRE
The New Mexico Rail Passengers Coalition held a rally in Las Vegas, N.M., to bring awareness of the importance of the Amtrak Southwest Chief to the local community on April 19, 2019. The rally was held in the recently restored Plaza Hotel, with about 125 people attending. Elected officials from New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas […]
‘Amtrak Joe’ Biden makes a run for 2020
Then-Vice President Joe Biden at the newly renovated Wilmington, Del., Amtrak station dedication in March 2011. Michael T. Burkhart WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Amtrak Joe” is making another run for the White House. Former Vice President Joe Biden announced Thursday he is running for President of the United States in 2020. The campaign is Biden’s third […]
Amtrak says loss of ‘Hoosier State’ could threaten jobs at Beech Grove NEWSWIRE
BEECH GROVE, Ind. — Elimination of Amtrak’s Hoosier State could threaten jobs at the passenger railroad’s Beech Grove shops, according to an Amtrak spokesman and workers at the facility. WISH-TV reports that Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said that, if the four-day-a-week train between Indianapolis and Chicago is eliminated, it would limit Amtrak’s ability to ferry […]
Amtrak introduces ‘Share Fares’ discount for group travel NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced a new group discount, Share Fares, which has gone on sale today (April 24). The fare provides discounts for up to three passengers when groups of two to four travel together, with a three-day advance purchase. The first passenger will pay full price, with the second receiving a discount of […]