WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing next week on three nominees for Amtrak’s board of directors, as well as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board. The hearing will be Wednesday, June 21, at 10 a.m. ET, the committee chair, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), announced. It will […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Summer travel by Amtrak: tips and challenges
Summer rail travel tips and challenges Amtrak has a problem and it’s too much travel demand for the equipment assigned on its long distance-routes. This translates to a difficult summer for U.S. travelers seeking to ride the rails. In addition, since the company utilizes inventory “yield management” — in which fares rise as seats or […]
Trains LIVE — Railroad artist J Craig Thorpe
Trains LIVE — Railroad artist J Craig Thorpe — 6-14-2023 — Take a look at a railroad painting. What do you see? A train? A scenic setting? History? An image you’d really like to hang on your living room wall? That is what meets the eye. What if in looking at this painting you could […]
Rapido Trains HO scale RTL Turboliner
The Rapido Trains HO scale RTL Turboliner paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout recently. Join Model Railroader editor Eric White and senior editor Cody Grivno as they take a look at the features on this ready-to-run model and take it for a tour of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. How […]
Rapido Trains HO scale RTL Turboliner
The Rapido Trains HO scale RTL Turboliner paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout recently. Join Model Railroader editor Eric White and senior editor Cody Grivno as they take a look at the features on this ready-to-run model and take it for a tour of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. How […]
Transit agency declares emergency over Orange County landslide
ORANGE, Calif. — The Orange County Transportation Authority board has declared an emergency as a result of ongoing landslide issues in San Clemente, Calif., a move the board says will allow agency CEO Darrell E. Johnson to take steps to protect the rail line below the unstable hillside. That will likely mean design and construction […]
Amtrak sets new schedules for 110-mph Lincoln Service operations
CHICAGO — New schedules for Amtrak’s Lincoln Service trains will take effect June 26, and are expected to shave approximately 15 minutes off current travel times to reflect 110-mph operation on portions of the Chicago-St. Louis route. The new schedules — not yet available on Amtrak’s website as of 7 p.m. today (June 12), but […]
Slide disruptions lead to cuts in Surfliner service
ORANGE, Calif. — Pacific Surfliner service will see some service reductions effective Monday, June 12, during the latest of a series of landslide-related interruptions in service through the San Clemente, Calif., area. “Considering the recent closure and state intercity rail budget constraints, we must implement cost-cutting measures to preserve as much service as possible while […]
Hearing on Madison Square Garden sees sharp disagreement, no decision
NEW YORK — A representative for Madison Square Garden argued at a Wednesday hearing that a recent report by Penn Station’s rail operators saying the arena and station are “not compatible” is a negotiating ploy by the rail agencies as the arena seeks a permit to continue operations. The six-hour hearing before New York City’s […]
BNSF derailment in Arizona leads to Southwest Chief cancellations
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Twenty-three cars of a BNSF Railway train carrying new vehicles derailed east of Williams, Ariz., Thursday night, leading to cancellation of Amtrak Southwest Chief service through the area today, KAFF Radio reports. The derailment involving a 167-car train occurred about 11:20 p.m., according to Coconino County Emergency Management. A BNSF representative told […]
Pacific Surfliner operating plans updated for remainder of week
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Operating plans for Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner have been updated to reflect the ongoing service disruption from debris at the site of an earlier landslide in San Clemente. A new schedule, for service through Sunday, June 11, is now available here. It includes cancellation of four trains, four trains that originate or […]
Gardner’s bonuses, Amtrak’s lack of profitability attacked at House hearing: Analysis
WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner was repeatedly asked to defend his near-$500,000 annual salary, and the company’s practice of giving out six-figure performance bonuses in light of the company’s reliance on more than $1 million in annual taxpayer support during today’s hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. But there were numerous other […]