PITTSBURGH — As of Tuesday, Oct. 1, Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian offers checked baggage service, having added a baggage car to its consist. In addition, space to transport up to six bicycles will be available. The Pennsylvanian operates daily, leaving New York Penn Station westbound at 10:52 a.m. and arriving at Pittsburgh at 7:59 p.m. The eastbound […]
A three-hour-late Amtrak train No. 20, the Crescent, arrives at New York’s Penn Station on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with dining car Nashville. Monday night saw the end of meals prepared by chefs and served by waitstaff on the Crescent and three other routes in the eastern U.S. Ralph Spielman Sights like this — meals prepared […]
NJ Transit trains meet at the Elizabeth, N.J., station on Aug. 6, 2019. The New Jersey Senate has formed a committee to investigate the transit agency’s service issues. TRAINS: David Lassen TRENTON, N.J. — The president of the New Jersey Senate has announced creation of a select committee to investigate NJ Transit service, soon after […]
SECAUCUS, N.J. — The U.S. Coast Guard has made permanent its ban on opening Amtrak’s troublesome Portal Bridge during rush hour. A six-month trial period, banning the opening of the more-than-century-old bridge over the Hackensack River during peak periods on the Northeast Corridor, began in March. [See “Coast Guard will no longer allow rush-hour openings […]
CHICAGO — A groundbreaking ceremony Monday marked the planned construction of a new, long-delayed station on Metra’s Rock Island District. The station near 79th Street and Lowe Avenue in the Auburn Park neighborhood was originally planned in 2009, but state funding was held up and eventually cut in 2017. That funding was restored earlier this […]
PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, has leased nearly a half-dozen railcars from Maryland Transit Authority’s MARC Train service to accommodate anticipated ridership increases on its regional rail network because of long-term construction projects on Interstate 95. According to a recent statement from SEPTA, the agency was to begin using five MARC railcars […]
Tickets for the 2020 season of the Winter Park Express, shown at Denver Union Station, are now on sale. Service has expanded to include all Fridays during its January-through-March run. Justin Franz DENVER — Amtrak and Winter Park Resort will again operate weekend ski train round trips from Denver Union Station to a platform located […]
Boston & Maine 4-6-2 3664 on train 241 to Portsmouth, N.H., paces E7 3811 on train 147 to Portland, Maine, at Somerville, Mass., on Aug. 8, 1946. Albert G. Hale The history and major events of B&M For 150 years the Boston & Maine Railroad was an integral part of northern New England, beginning with […]
A Metra Electric express train passes the 111th Street/Pullman station. Several Chicago-area civic organizations are urging support for a plan to increase service and reduce fares on Metra lines serving the South Side. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — A group of Chicago-area civic organization have urged Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will purchase 80 more bilevel commuter coaches from Hyundai-Rotem, the agency announced last week. Boston.com reports the cars will begin to arrive in September 2022 and will eventually replace 62 single-level coaches overdue for retirement. The new cars will increase daily capacity by more than 14,000 seats, and […]
MODESTO, Calif. — Modesto and neighboring communities have begun station preparations for the launch of Altamont Corridor Express commuter service in their area, which could come as early as 2021. Manteca, Ripon, Modesto, and Ceres will be served by the first phase of construction a southern branch of ACE service extending from Stockton; that branch […]
SAINT-DENIS, France — France’s state-owned rail company, SNCF, and its Belgium counterpart, SNCB, have proposed a merger of the Eurostar and Thalys high speed rail companies to create one operator that would serve five countries. The proposal, labelled “Green Speed,” was announced Friday. The combined company would serve England, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. […]
