NEW YORK — Amtrak has cancelled or altered service on a number of trains in the Southeastern U.S. because of a severe winter storm, with some of the changes effective through Tuesday. The cancellations began Saturday. The following trains have been cancelled for today (Sunday, Dec. 9): — Auto Trains No. 52 and 53 between […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Dissecting Amtrak’s roomette sale NEWSWIRE
A Viewliner roomette rolls through Florida on the Silver Meteor in May 2018. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON—When two people ride together in an Amtrak roomette, the total fare is normally comprised of one room charge and two rail fares, each generally similar to what the travelers would pay riding in coach. Through Tuesday, Dec. 11, Amtrak’s […]
Talk aside, action on Gateway tunnel still stalled NEWSWIRE
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo leads a tour of Amtrak’s damaged Hudson River tunnel in October. Gov. Andrew Cuomo via Flickr Options for the Hudson River tunnel project, from Trains, September 2018. TRAINS: Rick Johnson NEW YORK — Partisan political bickering hasn’t helped the aging Hudson River tunnels that carry 200,000 Amtrak riders and NJ […]
Amtrak seeks applicants for social media residency program NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has begun an open casting call for participants in its #AmtrakTakeMeThere social media residency program, with entries accepted through Jan. 31, 2019. According to a press release, the program seeks “social media community leaders, whose creativity and energy allows them to connect with their followers on a deeper level. The judging panel […]
Heritage diners among latest cars to be sold by Amtrak NEWSWIRE
Amtrak diner No. 8502, formerly Burlington’s “Silver Cuisine,” stored in Chicago in August 2016. Bob Johnston The heritage diners being offered for sale by Amtrak, as well as those still on the roster (click to enlarge). Passenger Adelaide Mondesir headed to New York contemplates the Florida scenery at breakfast in former Southern diner 8521 on […]
With no power, Amtrak passengers find they’re boxed in for toilet use NEWSWIRE
An Amtrak Acela Express rolls through Old Saybrook, Conn., in 2016. Passengers on a stalled Acela trainset during the holiday weekend had to use a cardboard box as a toilet. Scott A. Hartley NEW YORK — When an electrically-powered train loses power, nothing works. That includes toilets. And as a delay mounts, the train may […]
Amtrak “Western Star”
Amtrak’s “Western Star” services between Omaha and Portland. This video shows the portion of the route through Wyoming. I recently traveled on Amtrak’s California Zephyr and incorporated some of the video I shot from that trip with the N scale version. Video submitted by Brian Olson. […]
Amtrak “Western Star”
Amtrak’s “Western Star” services between Omaha and Portland. This video shows the portion of the route through Wyoming. I recently traveled on Amtrak’s California Zephyr and incorporated some of the video I shot from that trip with the N scale version. Video submitted by Brian Olson. […]
Amtrak CEO cites “best performance in history” as deficit drops (updated) NEWSWIRE
Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr passes the Highlands Metra station in Hinsdale, Ill., on July 7, 2018. Amtrak’s operating loss decreased in fiscal 2018. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson said his company posted “the best performance in Amtrak history” after the passenger railroad announced an operating loss of $168 million in fiscal […]
Amtrak to close California reservation center, eliminating 550 jobs NEWSWIRE
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Amtrak will close its Southern California reservation call center, eliminating 550 jobs, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. The closure was announced in a Wednesday email to employees. Operations will end on Jan. 18, with sale of the building to follow. The message to employees said operations would be consolidated with those at Amtrak’s […]
‘Southwest Chief’ featured on 2019 Amtrak calendar NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON – Maybe Amtrak loves the Southwest Chief after all. Despite the recent dust-up over creating a “bus bridge” between Kansas and New Mexico, the passenger railroad is featuring the train on its 2019 wall calendar. The calendar photo shows a nine-car westbound No. 3 passing red rock mesas at Mesita, N.M., on the Laguna […]
Report finds flaws in Amtrak background checks for employees, contractors NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has addressed some flaws in conducting background checks as part of its hiring process, but some issues remain, according to a report by Amtrak Office of Inspector General. Most notably, according to the report issued Nov. 1, reviews of applicants’ education and employment histories are insufficient, and the company does not ensure […]