WASHINGTON — Consistent sellouts on Amtrak trains before and after Thanksgiving never get the same media play as TV reporters provide with stand-ups at the airport or on a highway overpass, and 2022 was no exception. The ability to efficiently move masses of travelers is a story that needs to be told. What was different […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Amtrak Auto Train, VIA offer big discounts through Cyber Monday — with exceptions
WASHINGTON AND MONTREAL — U.S. and Canadian national passenger rail operators are joining the Black Friday markdown blitz for travel beginning as early as next week and as late as June 30, 2023, depending upon the route. For both Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, the deals are available only through Monday, Nov. 29, at midnight. […]
Former Amtrak employee and husband plead guilty in COVID unemployment insurance fraud case
LOS ANGELES — A former Amtrak employee and her husband have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for conspiring to steal nearly $1 million in COVID-19-related unemployment insurance benefits, while she also fraudulently obtained more than $63,000 in sickness benefits while working at Amtrak. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced […]
Amtrak, freight railroads say they have a deal on Gulf Coast service (updated)
WASHINGTON — The parties involved in the long-running dispute over Amtrak’s effort to launch Gulf Coast passenger service say they have reached an agreement, but at least initially are offering no details on the nature of that deal In a joint statement Tuesday, Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority say […]
Trains Trackside Trailer
Follow Trains.com videographer Kevin Gilliam as he explores U.S. railroading action from a trackside perspective. And when the opportunity arises, you’ll also find other notable contributors capturing footage of contemporary railroad operations – everything from steam-powered tourist train to Class I heavy haulers to Amtrak Northeast Corridor high speed Acela sets. Of course, you’ll never know […]
Amtrak service returns in western New York; trains elsewhere see issues
BUFFALO, N.Y. — After a two-day hiatus while up to 6 feet of heavy lake-effect snow fell in Buffalo, Amtrak trains were moving again today (Sunday, Nov. 20) through western New York even as many area roads remained impassable. Meanwhile, with the Thanksgiving holiday — and its usual heavy ridership — approaching, operating obstacles cropped […]
Surfliner, Metrolink service not likely to be fully restored until February
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Resumption of Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink commuter rail service along an unstable section of track near San Clemente is now not expected to resume until February, the Orange County Transportation Authority said last week. Passenger service through the section of south Orange County was halted Sept. 30 because of movement […]
CSX selects engineering, consulting firm to oversee Virginia projects
PITTSBURGH — Engineering and consulting firm Michael Baker International will lead program and construction management for projects in the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, CSX Transportation has announced. Some $3.7 billion in design and construction projects between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., are involved. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is the lead state agency in […]
Virginia Amtrak ridership increases
RICHMOND, Va. — Ridership on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Amtrak service grew by 37.6% in September 2022 as compared to pre-pandemic September 2019, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) reported this month. During the month, 105,689 passengers traveled compared to 76,793 during the same month in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. One reason for the […]
Amtrak cancels morning Illinois Zephyr, Carl Sandburg
QUINCY, Ill. — Amtrak has announced the suspension of two Midwest trains. No. 380, the morning Quincy to Chicago Illinois Zephyr, and No. 381, the morning Chicago to Quincy Carl Sandburg have been cancelled through Jan. 16, 2023, reports KHQA-TV. Passengers holding tickets for these trains will receive full refunds or be able to rebook […]
Amtrak adding New York State service
NEW YORK – Amtrak will operate two additional round trips between New York and Albany/Rensselaer, N.Y., beginning Dec. 5. The new departures will bring the total number of weekday round-trip trains to 12, one fewer than Amtrak’s pre-COVID schedule for the route. A new southbound train will depart Albany/Rensselaer at 11:10 a.m. Sunday through Friday, […]
Amtrak extends suspension of Missouri River Runner
ST. LOUIS – Amtrak has extended to Dec. 4 the suspension of one of the Missouri River Rail Runner round trips between St. Louis and Kansas City. The suspension began Oct. 24 and was scheduled to end Nov. 16. An Amtrak spokesman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the suspension is due to continued delays in […]