Prince, W.Va., loses Amtrak station agent NEWSWIRE

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An empty coal train rolls by the 1946-built Prince, W.Va., station while three passengers wait for the arrival of Amtrak Cardinal No. 51 in Prince in February 2012. Chase Gunnoe PRINCE, W.Va. — A popular train station among railroad enthusiasts in southern West Virginia will no longer be staffed by an Amtrak ticket agent, the […]

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Amtrak: National Train Day is done NEWSWIRE

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WASHINGTON — After eight years, Amtrak is pulling the plug on one of its more successful promotions: National Train Day. In an e-mail to Trains Correspondent Bob Johnston, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says: “Since its inception, Amtrak Train Days/National Train Day has been a popular program, allowing us to celebrate the value that Amtrak brings […]

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UPDATE: Amtrak expands pets program to more routes NEWSWIRE

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WASHINGTON — Travelers who wish to take small dogs or cats in carry-on cases with them aboard Amtrak trains are getting more choices starting Feb. 16, when they will be welcomed on long-distance train coaches for trips up to seven hours. The following Saturday, a pilot program scheduled through June 12 will begin on weekend […]

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Cardinal adds business class NEWSWIRE

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Cardinal heads west near Swoop, Va., east of Staunton, in April, 2013 Bob Johnston WASHINGTON—Starting this month, Amtrak will begin offering business class on the triweekly Chicago-Washington-New York Cardinal. The decision to do so was made recently, so it is not reflected in the new “Winter Spring 2016” timetable effective Monday, Jan. 11. The launch, […]

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‘Piedmont’ cab ride video

View from a locomotive cab at bridge overpasses and railroad track.

Ride along with Trains Magazine passenger correspondent Bob Johnston on Amtrak’s northbound Piedmont, train No. 73, between Cary and Durham, N.C. This September 2015 trip features a look at corridor improvements funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. NCDOT Rail Division Manager of Design and Construction Jason Orthner answers questions while engineer Fred Gibson […]

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‘Piedmont’ cab ride video

View from a locomotive cab at bridge overpasses and railroad track.

Ride along with Trains Magazine passenger correspondent Bob Johnston on Amtrak’s northbound Piedmont, train No. 73, between Cary and Durham, N.C. This September 2015 trip features a look at corridor improvements funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. NCDOT Rail Division Manager of Design and Construction Jason Orthner answers questions while engineer Fred Gibson […]

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Amtrak engine catches fire in Milwaukee, media react NEWSWIRE

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Camera men with the local ABC and NBC affiliates capture some B-roll footage of the scene. Brian Schmidt MILWAUKEE, Wis. — With helicopter cameras swirling above and reporters swarming on the street, Milwaukee-area media are reacting en masse to an Amtrak locomotive fire in a prominent downtown area. Local media say city fire crews reported to […]

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Amtrak to open IT office near Atlanta NEWSWIRE

ATLANTA – Amtrak will open an information technology office in metropolitan Atlanta later this summer. The new office will be located at Concourse Office Park in Sandy Springs, Ga. Workers there will support Amtrak operations nationwide. Amtrak officials say the railroad will employ as many as 200 more people in the office in five years. […]

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