An artist’s rendering of what an Acela Express first class interior will look like in trainsets set to debut in 2021. Amtrak WASHINGTON — Amtrak today revealed the interiors on its new Acela Express fleet, which will redefine the customer experience on Amtrak’s premium Northeast Corridor service. The new trains, scheduled to enter service on […]
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WASHINGTON — In the latest step for better service for Northeast Corridor passengers, Amtrak officials said in late July that they’ll spend $370 million on new maintenance-of-way equipment over an estimated three-year period. This capital expenditure will accelerate maintenance work, doubling Amtrak engineering work on the Boston to Washington line upon full implementation of the […]
In mid-July, Amtrak announced it had added a hot-meal option to the pre-packaged lunch and dinner service on the Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited, where it replaced full dining-car service. The original form of that service, as sampled on the Lake Shore, was examined in “Amtrak debuts cold ‘contemporary’ meals” [“Passenger, September 2018 Trains] […]
A SunRail train heads north from downtown Orlando. SunRail opens a four-station extension to its route today. TRAINS: David Lassen ORLANDO, Fla. — SunRail, the Orlando-area commuter rail system, will open its four-station, 17.2-mile “Southern Extension” today, expanding the system to 48.9 miles and 16 stations. The four new stations are Poinciana, Kissimmee, Tupperware, and […]
A Southwest Chief route inspection train prepares to leave Newton, Kan. on Aug 4, 2016. Two photos, Bob Johnston The southbound Saluki is more than an hour late passing through Farina, Ill., north of Centralia, Ill., on May 5, 2018. WASHINGTON – Amtrak management’s refusal to provide a $3 million match that would unlock a […]
Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson Amtrak WASHINGTON — Members of the Amtrak Service Workers Council, a coalition of unions representing Amtrak’s on board service employees, say they are frustrated with changes being made at the nation’s passenger railroad. Last week, the council, which includes members represented by Transport Workers Union of America, UNITE-HERE, and the Transportation […]
WASHINGTON — A Federal appeals court ruling Friday will allow Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration to revive on-time performance metrics, Politico is reporting. The 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is the latest ruling in a long-running court battle that has already seen the matter go […]
CHICAGO — After receiving only one response to its request for proposals for new coach cars, Metra said Wednesday it will issue a new RFP that it hopes will be more competitive and attract different, more modern designs. “I think we’ve had about 70 years of service from this design,” Metra Chairman Norm Carlson said […]
Amtrak is adding a hot-meal option to the boxed lunch and dinner choices it offers on the Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — Amtrak is adding a hot-meal choice to lunch and dinner food service for sleeping-car passengers on the Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited. Beginning this week, slow-braised beef […]
Steve Carter WASHINGTON – Investigators in a two-day hearing covering two recent fatal Amtrak derailments are questioning the safety of Talgo trains involved in one of the derailments. The equipment operates under a Federal Railroad Administration waiver. The derailment in December 2017 killed three and injured more than 60. It occurred on the first Amtrak […]
A Siemens Charger locomotive leads an Amtrak Cascades train over the Chambers Bay bridge in Steilacoom, Wash., on June 26, 2018. The agency which operates the San Diego-area Coaster commuter trains is buying five new Chargers. TRAINS: David Lassen OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The North County Transit District, which operates Coaster commuter trains in the San […]
