Reduced Sounder service to continue until further notice

Commuter train led by cab car on bridge

SEATTLE — Reduction of Sounder commuter rail service will continue until further notice, Sound Transit has announced. Two of the four round trips on the N Line between Seattle and Everett have been suspended, as have two of the 13 round trips on the S line between Seattle and Tacoma/Lakewood. The revised schedules are available […]

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Amtrak’s Empire Builder again cancelled

Amtrak logo.

CHICAGO — Departures of the Empire Builder have been cancelled in both directions today (Sunday, Feb. 16), for a second straight day, according to Amtrak’s website. No information on either cancellation was provided on the website or the Amtrak Alerts social media feed. However, the westbound Builder that was due in Portland at 11:17 a.m. […]

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Major storm hits NS operations in southeast

Weather map showing storm along entire U.S. East Coast.

A deadly storm that that has brought significant flooding and other damage to at least five southeastern states has hit Norfolk Southern operations. CSX has also been impacted, although details are not currently available. An NS advisory of midday today informed intermodal customers that the route between Portsmouth, Ohio, and Bluefield, W.Va., is currently impassable, […]

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News Wire recommended reading: Inside the B&P Tunnel

Brickwork inside railroad tunnel

The latest in the occasional series of articles recommended by Trains News Wire opens with a recent story from the Baltimore Banner looking at the B&P Tunnel, Amtrak’s efforts to maintain the 152-year-old bore, the plans to replace it, and the threats to the tunnel project. Also recommended: A Governing magazine opinion piece looks at […]

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Empire Builder again cancelled because of weather

Passenger train in snow

CHICAGO — Amtrak has cancelled Empire Builder departures in both directions scheduled for today (Feb. 15, 2025), as well as the eastbound Borealis and one westbound Wolverine. Two Northeast Corridor trains have also been cancelled. The reasons for the cancellations differ. According to posts on the Amtrak Alerts feed on X.com, the Empire Builder slated […]

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Amtrak independence at stake, status of approved FRA infrastructure grants uncertain: Analysis

Train of two locomotives and one passenger car stopped on siding

WASHINGTON — Historically, passenger rail funding has had legislative champions from each party in the House and Senate that successfully counteracted executive branch funding cuts. When President Donald Trump called for deep reductions aimed at Amtrak’s long-distance network during his first term, those budget proposals were eventually rebuffed in bipartisan transportation spending deals. But this […]

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Amtrak again makes Forbes list of best large employers

Passenger train passing fall foliage

As it has been for all 10 years the list has existed, Amtrak is among companies named as one of America’s best large employers by Forbes magazine. The list of 701 companies with more than 5,000 employees, along with an accompanying list of the 498 best midsize employers — those with 1,000 to 5,000 workers […]

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Arctic blast hinders operations on BNSF’s Northern Transcon

FORT WORTH, Texas — Extreme cold has hobbled BNSF Railway’s operations on its Northern Transcon in North Dakota and Montana. “The extreme cold affecting the Northern Transcon route through Montana and North Dakota, with temperatures plunging over 20 degrees below zero in some areas overnight, has hindered normal train operations,” BNSF said in a customer […]

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Amtrak employee pleads guilty in health-care fraud case

U.S. Department of Justice seal

NEWARK, N.J. — An Amtrak employee in New Jersey has become the latest to plead guilty to participation in a health-care fraud scheme that led more than $11 million in fraudulent claims against the passenger carrier’s insurance. Anthony Saloka, 44, of Elizabeth, N.J., pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Feb. 11, to conspiracy to commit health care […]

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Amtrak adds to list of weather cancellations

Passenger train at station at night.

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has expanded its list of train cancellations because of approaching winter storms, adding one train to the list for today (Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025) and planned cancellations and increasing the list for Wednesday, Feb. 12, from seven to 14. The original group of cancellations was announced Monday at 4:20 p.m. ET [see […]

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