A southbound Canadian National container train passes through Sussex, Wis., in 2015. TRAINS: Brian Schmidt MONTREAL – Canadian National executives don’t expect the coronavirus pandemic to alter global supply chains and return manufacturing to North America from China and elsewhere in Asia. CSX Transportation and Union Pacific executives last week said they expected the global […]
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A southbound Amtrak Hiawatha races through Lake Forest, Ill., on Feb. 2, 2020. Amtrak will replace the lone remaining Hiawatha round trip with buses as of Friday. TRAINS: David Lassen Wednesday afternoon rail news: — As of Friday, April 24, Amtrak will replace the remaining daily Hiawatha round trip between Chicago and Milwaukee with Thruway […]
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CHICAGO — Amtrak will introduce its pre-packaged “Flexible Dining” program on western long-distance trains beginning Friday, April 17, in response to the sharply reduced ridership resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. With the introduction of the program on trains west of Chicago and New Orleans, only the Lorton, Va.-Sanford, Fla., Auto Train will retain full dining […]
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A Sounder South commuter train arrives in Tacoma, Wash., in June 2018. Sound Transit will further reduce Sounder South service as of Wednesday. TRAINS: David Lassen Tuesday morning virus-related rail news: — Sound Transit has halted almost all construction because of the COVID-19 outbreak, stalling work on three light rail expansion projects. The Seattle Times […]
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Amtrak has begun another round of service cuts as ridership declines continue because of the coronavirus. The latest changes, all effective Monday, April 6: — The Downeaster will reduce operations to one round trip a day, in keeping with Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ executive order that no one will use public transportation except for an […]
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— One crewman suffered a foot injury when nine auto racks of Amtrak’s northbound Auto Train derailed Thursday afternoon near DeLand, Fla. None of the train’s passenger cars derailed and no passengers were injured, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, which attributed the derailment to “a problem with the track.” The passenger portion of the […]
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A southbound Amtrak Cascades train stops at the station at Olympia-Lacey, Wash., in June 2018. The Cascades service has trimmed another round trip from its schedule and closed the volunteer-staffed Olympia-Lacey station. TRAINS: David Lassen A Friday morning update on cuts to rail service related to the coronavirus pandemic: — As of Thursday, Amtrak Cascades […]
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An LA Metro light rail train boards at LA Union Station. Metro has trimmed service with California under a “shelter in place” order. TRAINS: David Lassen A Saturday update on rail service changes and other responses to the COVID-19 virus. Because of the rapidly evolving situation, check with local service providers or Amtrak.com for the […]
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A Metra train passes through Elmwood Park, Ill., on March 13, 2020. Metra will cut weekday service by about half as of Monday. TRAINS: David Lassen Friday news on coronavirus-related changes in rail service: — Chicago’s Metra will cut service by about half beginning on Monday, March 23. There will be changes on every line […]
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Lincoln Service train 302 speeds through Odell, Ill., on a 110-mph test segment in November 2016. It is one of the two Lincoln Service round trips cancelled as of Saturday. Bob Johnston CHICAGO — Beginning Saturday, March 21, Amtrak service on three Illinois routes out of Chicago will be reduced beginning Saturday, March 21. The […]
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Amtrak’s Auto Train prepares to leave Lorton, Va., on January 29, 2020. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — As Amtrak reduces frequencies in the Northeast and consults with its state partners about reductions on regional corridors, the country’s coronavirus situation is leading to atypical traffic on the Auto Train route, and having at least a temporary impact […]
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A Saturday update on rail developments stemming from the coronavirus pandemic: — Amtrak will introduce significant cuts to Northeast Corridor service effective Monday, March 16, operating on its Saturday schedule seven days a week through at least March 29, the company has announced. As an example of the degree of cuts involved, the regular weekday […]
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