‘Adirondack’ tickets now on sale for service beginning April 3

NEW YORK — Following intense pressure from New York politicians, Amtrak has started selling tickets for travel on the New York-Montreal Adirondack, which will resume operation April 3 northbound and April 4 southbound. Ticket sales began Monday, March 20. It is the last route to be reinstated following widespread suspensions that took place in March […]

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UP’s Coast Line again shut down by storm damage

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — For the second time this winter, Amtrak has been forced to halt Coast Starlight service for an extended period in the wake of weather-related damages to Union Pacific’s Coast Line. Following a fierce winter storm that made landfall on Friday, March 10, a 74-year-old earthen levee along the Pajaro River in Monterey […]

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Amtrak launches Silver Star traditional dining ‘pilot’

WASHINGTON — Beginning with the northbound Silver Star of today (Wednesday, March 15), and the southbound train on Friday, March 17, Amtrak is returning full dining car meals to the Star’s Viewliner II diner. It will be the train’s first such food service since “traditional dining” was replaced by “flexible” meals in a bowl on […]

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Storm in Northeast leads to Amtrak cancellations, schedule changes (updated)

  WASHINGTON — Citing “forecasted severe weather conditions,” Amtrak has announced these cancellations and schedule changes in the northeast beginning later today (Tuesday, March 14). The Amtrak Downeaster website indicates that northbound train No. 689, scheduled to depart Boston at 10:30 p.m., and southbound train No. 688, scheduled to depart Brunswick, Maine, at 5:45 p.m., […]

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BNSF reopens San Joaquin Valley route

WASCO, Calif. — BNSF has reopened its main line on the Bakersfield Subdivision in the San Joaquin Valley, the railroad reports in a service update to customers. The route, closed since approximately 1:30 p.m. PST on Saturday because of a washout, was reopened at 12:07 a.m. PDT today (Monday, March 13). There was no immediate […]

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Amtrak to resume Adirondack service in April, U.S. senators say

ALBANY, N.Y. — Amtrak’s long-idle New York-Montreal Adirondack service — the only train still not running after being suspended by the passenger operator at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — will resume operation in April, according to New York’s two U.S. senators. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand made the announcement Friday afternoon, […]

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Amtrak seeks expansion of Crescent section to Dallas-Ft. Worth

NEW ORLEANS — Amtrak will apply for a federal grant that, if approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, would pay for 80% of a study of track and station improvements necessary to extend a section of the New York-New Orleans Crescent between Meridian, Miss., and Fort Worth, Texas. Nicole Bucich, Amtrak’s vice president of network […]

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Amtrak Cascades day trip to Portland, Oregon

An Amtrak Cascades day trip to Portland, Oregon is a great way to visit Portland, from Seattle in Washington State. Three daily southbound departures from Seattle provide access to Portland. For the purpose of this day trip review, this article recommends southbound Cascades train No. 503 departing from Seattle’s King Street Station each day at […]

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Amtrak Missouri River Runner day trip to Springfield, Illinois

Exploring Illinois’ vast history and the interconnectedness of the state and railroads, there are fewer options better than an Amtrak Missouri River Runner day trip from iconic Chicago Union Station, the capital of American railroading, to the state’s capital city of Springfield and return. Each day, the Missouri River Runner departs from Union Station, located […]

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Amtrak Cascades day trip from Portland to Seattle

An Amtrak Cascades day trip from Portland to Seattle is a great way to travel. There are currently three daily departures from Portland that provide access to Seattle, plus Amtrak’s Coast Starlight. For the purpose of this getaway, we recommend northbound Cascades No. 500, which is scheduled to depart Portland Union Station at 8:05 a.m. […]

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