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Photography has been my hobby since I retired as Amtrak’s company photographer in December 2012. In addition to trains, I shoot events of all kinds. There never fails to be at least one self-deprecating soul who grins at me and says, “Careful, I might break your camera.” Imagine their surprise when I respond, “Someone already […]
Indiana’s Valpo Dummy commuter train could not garner the public support and funding needed to survive into the modern era. In the 1890s, the Pennsylvania Railroad began operating commuter trains between Chicago and Valparaiso, Ind. Over the next century the service remained largely frozen in time, with operations changing relatively little as the trains passed […]
EMMETT, Ark. —Ten cars of a Union Pacific freight train derailed Saturday afternoon, May 25, at Emmett, Ark., about 7 miles northeast of Hope, Ark. The track continued to be blocked Sunday afternoon as crews worked to remove cars and repair the damage, according to spokeswoman Meg Siffring. A second train had derailed a day […]
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has proposed running special Amtrak trains to Green Bay during next year’s NFL Draft. In the last few years, the draft announcements have become big business, drawing thousands of people to host cities. The 90th version of the NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay, home […]
Amtrak and commuter service between New York and Philadelphia was suspended for hours at the height of the evening rush hour on Wednesday after catenary came down in Kearny, N.J. Service between New York and Newark, N.J., was initially suspended at 5:05 p.m., prompting backups that cascaded along the Northeast Corridor. An Amtrak spokesman told […]
WINONA, Minn. — The first westbound trip of Amtrak’s new Borealis wasn’t flawless. A “technical problem” with a credit card reader delayed the café car’s opening. A pesky lock on the platform wheelchair lift’s enclosure at the Sturtevant, Wis., stop contributed to delay, as did the decision to open only one vestibule trap at downtown […]
ST. PAUL, Minn. — It was 43 years in the making, but the Chicago-Twin Cities corridor finally has a second Amtrak passenger train. In ceremonies in Chicago, St. Paul and intermediate points today, Amtrak and state, local, and federal official marked the first run of the Borealis, new daily service between Chicago Union Station and […]
WASHINGTON — Beginning June 1, Amtrak plans to restore a dining car to the New York-New Orleans Crescent. However, initially only sleeping car passengers will be allowed to use it, and the food served will continue to be reheated “flexible” meals. As reported in the Rail Passengers Association’s weekly Hotline email, Amtrak senior leadership confirmed […]
ALBANY, N.Y. — Amtrak and Canadian National Railway have reached agreement on track maintenance in Canada to avoid a repeat of the issues that sidelined Adirondack service last summer, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) announced today (Friday, May 17). Trackwork on the CN portion of the Adirondack route in Canada will be performed during the […]
WASHINGTON — National Park Service volunteers from national or historic parks and monuments along Amtrak routes are again be hosting informative programs aboard trains this summer and fall under the “Trails and Rails” program. The table below shows the segments and days of the week where personnel discuss the historical significance of the route’s points […]
The recent shortage of Amtrak long-distance sleeper cars has hoisted the venerable, but rapidly aging, Superliner equipment into the spotlight again. You can read more about past and present Superliner woes in the article, “Superliner capacity not a new issue”, appearing in the July 2024 issue of Trains magazine. But first, catch a glimpse of […]
KEARNY, N.J. — The Portal North Bridge, the structure replacing the 114-year swing bridge that has long been an issue for Northeast Corridor rail operations, has reached 50% completion, NJ Transit and Amtrak announced on Monday. The current bridge over the Hackensack River and frequently fails to lock back into place after it is opened, […]
