WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner and board chair Anthony Coscia are scheduled to appear before a subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in a hearing this Wednesday, June 12. The Railroad, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee will hold the hearing, “Amtrak and Intercity Passenger Rail Oversight: Promoting Performance, Safety and Accountability,” […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Are trains in Michigan Central’s future?
DETROIT — The magnificent indoor space at Michigan Central Station that once hosted New York Central passenger trains has been brought back to life in spectacular fashion by the Ford Motor Company. It joins New York’s Grand Central Terminal, union stations in Washington and Chicago, and Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal as well-preserved classics built […]
Suspension of Amtrak’s Adirondack to Montreal will continue into September (updated)
NEW YORK — Amtrak’s planned six-week outage of Adirondack service north of Saratoga Springs to Montreal, originally slated to last through June 29, will now apparently stretch into the second week of September. The news was originally reported by the Adirondack Explorer, based on Amtrak booking cancellations and a letter obtained by the non-profit news […]
NS, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority in talks on mainline acquisitions
Norfolk Southern and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority are in preliminary talks on a deal that would expand passenger rail service while also preserving critical freight connections. While negotiations are in early stages, the framework of an agreement would allow VPRA to purchase the Manassas Line and pursue an option to extend passenger rail service […]
Amtrak San Joaquins add stop at Allensworth State Historic Park for Juneteenth event
STOCKTON, Calif. — Amtrak’s San Joaquins will once again add a special stop at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for the annual Junteenth event, set this year for June 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In connection with the event, trains will offer half price “Allensworth fares” for those attending the Juneteenth celebration at […]
Athearn HO scale GE P40DC
The Athearn HO scale GE P40DC diesel locomotive is back, this time with new tooling and operating strobe lights. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief history of Amtrak No. 813, points out the numerous details on the Genesis-series model, and demonstrates the sound and light functions. Then sit back and watch […]
Athearn HO scale GE P40DC
The Athearn HO scale GE P40DC diesel locomotive is back, this time with new tooling and operating strobe lights. Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief history of Amtrak No. 813, points out the numerous details on the Genesis-series model, and demonstrates the sound and light functions. Then sit back and watch […]
Alabama governor’s office in talks with Mobile about Gulf Coast passenger funding
MOBILE, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office has been in contact with officials in Mobile about possible state involvement in the Gulf Coast passenger project, AL.com reports. Mobile officials expressed concern during a Monday meeting that the city, rather than the state, was being asked to provide funding for Amtrak’s effort to launch passenger […]
Pacific Surfliner adds service for X Games in Ventura
VENTURA, Calif. — For the second straight year, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner is adding service to Ventura while the city hosts the X Games sporting competition. The additional trains will run June 28-30; during the same period, reservations will be required on the Surfliners because of anticipated additional ridership, and the Rail 2 Rail and Metrolink […]
North Carolina, Amtrak to run special trains to U.S. Open golf tournament
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Department of Transportation has announced that the state will run special passenger train to this year’s U.S. Open golf championship at Pinehurst, N.C. The “Open Express” train will run daily between Raleigh Union Station and the Pinehurst Clubhouse, near Pinehurst No. 2 golf course, during the June 13-16 tournament. The […]
Heat advisory will change schedules for some Amtrak trains on Northeast Corridor
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced schedule changes for some Northeast Corridor trains because of heat orders issued by CSX Transportation. A brief alert posted by Amtrak on its NEC social media feed says “CSX, the owner and maintainer of the tracks, issues heat orders notifying Amtrak that the maximum speed of passenger trains are reduced […]
More talk but no action as Mobile city council considers Amtrak service
MOBILE, Ala. — Members of the Mobile City Council remained focused on its potential funding obligation to support Amtrak Gulf Coast service at a Monday meeting with Amtrak representatives, WKRG-TV reports. Representatives of the passenger operator, as well as CSX, the Southern Rail Commission, and the Federal Railroad Administration were on hand for a meeting […]