WASHINGTON — Twitter wars are common enough between people of opposing political views, some celebrities, or various social-media influencers. But between Amtrak and one of its host railroads? A Wall Street Journal report (behind a paywall) notes that Amtrak and Norfolk Southern have been trading letters about an Amtrak tweet last month in which the […]
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
‘California Zephyr,’ Missouri trains disrupted by floods
CHICAGO—Flooding in eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northwest Missouri has caused delays, truncations and outright cancellations to the Chicago-Emeryville, Calif., California Zephyr and two state-sponsored Missouri River Runner round-trips between St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo. Today’s eastbound Zephyr is cancelled entirely out of California; Amtrak has blocked sales east of Denver until at least […]
Coast Guard will no longer allow rush-hour openings of key Northeast Corridor bridge NEWSWIRE
Responding to requests from Amtrak, NJ Transit, and New Jersey officials, the Coast Guard will no longer allow opening of the Portal Bridge during rush-hour periods. Russell Sullivan SECAUCUS, N.J. — The U.S. Coast Guard has changed rules regarding the opening of New Jersey’s troublesome Portal Bridge, reducing the risk of disrupted Northeast Corridor service […]
Hudson Tunnel project receives low federal rating, blocking funding eligibility NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The proposal to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River has once again received a low rating from federal regulators that makes it ineligible for a key source of U.S. government funding, the Associated Press reports. The Federal Transit Administration has rated the new tunnel between New York and New Jersey […]
Amtrak inspector general: company has trouble identifying employee drug, alcohol issues NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has difficulty in identifying and addressing issues of drug and alcohol use among its employees, “a longstanding challenge for the company,” Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General says in a new report. The report issued Wednesday summarizes the following issues with the company’s program for employees in “safety-sensitive positions:” — Testing requirements were […]
Locomotive horns blow for Boardman funeral NEWSWIRE
ROME, N.Y. – Locomotive horns blew at 11:01 a.m. on Friday in Rome and across the Amtrak network to honor former President and CEO Joe Boardman who died March 7 following complications of a stroke. A moment of silence was held at 11 a.m., followed by the sounding of a former F40PH locomotive horn mounted […]
Milwaukee streetcar plans to open two extensions by Democratic convention, eyes a third NEWSWIRE
A Milwaukee streetcar makes its way through downtown on the system’s opening weekend in November 2018. The system, “The Hop,” expects to have two extensions open by the time of the Democratic National Convention in July 2020, and is considering a third. TRAINS: David Lassen MILWAUKEE — The first extension of Milwaukee’s streetcar, The Hop, […]
NTSB to meet May 21 on fatal ‘Amtrak Cascades’ derailment NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a board meeting May 21, 2019, at 1 p.m. to determine the probable cause of the fatal Dec. 18, 2017, Amtrak Cascades accident near DuPont, Wash. Three passengers were killed and 65 others including passengers, crew, and occupants of highway vehicles were injured when Amtrak train No. […]
Amtrak, state add weekend trips for Michigan flower festival NEWSWIRE
HOLLAND, Mich. – See five million blooming tulips, not brake lights and toll booths, this May 4 and 11 when Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation offer additional service between Chicago and Holland for the annual Tulip Time Festival. These trains on the daily Pere Marquette route, sponsored by MDOT, will run on two […]
California awards grant for temporary Amtrak stop in Indio for music festivals NEWSWIRE
Indio, Calif. Google Maps PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Funding has been awarded to establish passenger rail service for two high-profile California music festivals. The Desert Sun newspaper reports that the California State Transportation Agency granted $5.9 million to fund temporary Amtrak service to Indio, Calif., to benefit those attending the Coachella Valley Music and Arts […]
DC METRO commutes interrupted for Bald Eagle rescue on Wednesday NEWSWIRE
WMATA via Twitter WASHINGTON — The rapid transit line in the nation’s capital was brought to a stand-still thanks to an unconventional, yet patriotic, rescue mission. Crews rescued an injured Bald Eagle found lying along the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority rail line Wednesday afternoon. According to Metro’s Twitter account, the eagle was found near […]
NJ Transit board approves new maintenance, storage facility NEWSWIRE
A site plan for NJ Transit’s new maintenance and storage facility in New Brunswick, N.J. Courtesy NJ Transit A conceptual image of NJ Transit’s new service and inspection facility in New Brunswick, N.J. Courtesy NJ Transit NEWARK, N.J. — To Amtrak operating crews, it’s a 4.5-mile-long, underutilized freight yard complex; to commuters and regional travelers, it’s […]