Wisconsin, Illinois still want more ‘Hiawatha’ trips NEWSWIRE

Northbound Amtrak Hiawatha No. 333 passes Tower A20 in Glenview, Ill., on May 18, 2019. This is where Canadian Pacific trains enter and leave the Chicago-Milwaukee main line via the tracks at right to reach the railroad’s Bensenville Yard. Bob Johnston A southbound Hiawatha passes Metra’s Glen of North Glenview station in January 2019. Plans […]

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‘Trails and Rails’ program sets 2019 routes NEWSWIRE

Trails and Rails volunteer Andy Selden describes wildlife along the Mississippi River on the ‘Empire Builder’ in 2014. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON – Amtrak’s decision to no longer furnish meals or lodging for “Trails and Rails” program volunteers continues to curtail commentary on rail routes that used to have it. However, a new five-year agreement between […]

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KCS, UP clear a path through Houston NEWSWIRE

A southbound Kansas City Southern merchandise train with a distributed power unit on the tail end passes the joint customs inspection station in Laredo, Texas, as it crosses the International Railway Bridge over the Rio Grande in November 2017. Bill Stephens BOSTON — Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific have worked together to improve the […]

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Illinois DOT bows to opposition on sidings for Hiawatha expansion

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Bowing to opposition from the communities of Glenview and Lake Forest, the Illinois Department of Transportation will no longer support plans for two sidings that are part of a plan to increase Amtrak Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee. Patch.com reports that acting IDOT Secretary Omer Osman said in a letter, released […]

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NTSB to release ‘Amtrak Cascades’ accident report May 21 NEWSWIRE

Amtrak’s Freighthouse Square station in Tacoma is awaiting the return of trains to the Point Defiance Bypass. The release of the NTSB’s report on a 2017 derailment could hasten that process. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will release its report on the December 2017 derailment of an Amtrak Cascades passenger […]

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Penn Station work to continue in summer 2019 NEWSWIRE

An NJT train tiptoes through “A” Interlocking’s work zone on the west end of Penn Station on June 20, 2017. This summer “JO” Interlocking on the east end of the station will be rebuilt.   Bob Johnston NEW YORK — Continued infrastructure work at New York’s Penn Station will lead to changes in service this […]

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