WASHINGTON — Amtrak will restore traditional dining-car service for sleeping-car passengers on its western long-distance routes as of June 23, with chef-prepared meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In a Wednesday press release, the passenger railroad promises “a redesigned menu,” new appetizers, and table service with glassware, cutlery and linen tablecloths, with ceramic dishware to […]
News report says debut of new Acelas will be delayed by a year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Debut of Amtrak’s next-generation Acela trains will be delayed by a year because of modifications needed to make the train compatible with Northeast Corridor infrastructure, the Washington Post reports. The first of the 28 new Alstom trainsets had been expected to enter service this year, but the debut is now projected for […]
Problems with lead in water supply sidelines new Siemens cars for Amtrak
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Problems with lead in restroom water supplies have delayed the introduction of new Siemens passenger cars for state-supported Amtrak service in California and the Midwest, but Siemens says it has a solution to the problem. The Sacramento Bee reports the issue was discovered during routine testing last November, according to Caltrans spokesman […]
Digest: Amtrak Capitol Corridor service to increase June 7
Capitol Corridor increases service for the first time since June 2020 California’s Capitol Corridor Amtrak service will increase as of Monday, June 7, with San Jose-Sacramento service going from 16 to 22 trips daily, while Oakland-San Jose service will return to the pre-pandemic level of 14 trips daily. Also, the Richmond Standard reports, Café Car […]
Midwest private-car trips set for summer, fall
The owner of private car Hollywood Beach, a 1956 Seaboard Air Line observation car, is offering three trips open to the public this summer and fall that will feature guides from Midwest Rail Rangers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering onboard educational programs in the Midwest. Trips on tap are: St. Louis-Kansas City, Mo., and return, […]
AAR touts May gains in carload traffic
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic in May saw carload traffic at its highest level in more than 18 months, based on weekly averages, according to the latest press release from the Association of American Railroads. Overall, carload traffic in May 2021 was up 30.4% over the same month in 2020, while intermodal traffic was up […]
Passenger trains at your hotel window
IRVINE, Calif. — The structure used to be a grain elevator served by Santa Fe locals. After the concrete silos outlived their original function, the complex next to the tracks at Irvine’s Sand Canyon Road was converted into a La Quinta Inn and Suites, a great place to watch passenger trains during a stay. There […]
Mark Twain Zephyr outreach, interview, and book-signing tour set for July
TREGO, Wis. — The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad is planning an outreach tour along the original route of the Mark Twain Zephyr in July, visiting communities in western Illinois, eastern Iowa, and Missouri to seek out people who rode or worked on the train, and to provide updates on the progress in restoring the historic […]
Digest: Second Missouri River Runner to resume July 19
Missouri River Runner gets second round trip for remainder of year as of July 19 Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner will restore its second daily round trip as of July 19. State funding and federal coronavirus relief funds will maintain the two-round-trip schedule between St. Louis and Kansas City through the remainder of 2021. “We appreciate […]
San Jose-area light rail system could be shut down for months after shooting
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Light rail service in the San Jose area may be suspended for months as a result of last week’s mass shooting that left 10 Valley Transportation Authority workers, including the shooter, dead. That is the word from an agency spokeswoman, the San Jose Mercury News reports, as VTA determines how to […]
Digest: FBI agent charged in shooting onboard DC Metro train
FBI agent faces attempted murder charge for shooting on Metrorail train An FBI agent has been charged with second-degree attempted murder as a result of a 2020 shooting aboard a DC Metro subway train. The Washington Post reports Eduardo Valdivia, 37, was also charged with first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and use of a firearm in […]
Digest: NJ Transit announces additional commuter rail service
NJ transit adds weekday trains, weekend Gladstone Branch trains, North Jersey Coast shuttles NJ Transit announced it would add 60 trains to its commuter rail schedules as of June 6, including select weekday trains throughout the system, weekend Gladstone Branch trains, and additional Long Branch-Bay Head shuttle trains on the North Jersey Coast Line. Weekday […]