Amtrak seeks control of Washington Union Station

People standing in line in hallway of railroad station

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is trying to gain control of Washington Union Station, the southern terminus for most of its Northeast Corridor operations, saying the move is necessary to expand and modernize the second-busiest station on the passenger operator’s network. The Washington Post reports Amtrak has moved to use eminent domain to gain control the facility, […]

Read More…

Amtrak unveils new locomotive paint scheme (corrected)

Locomotive with red, dark blue, and medium blue paint scheme

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has unveiled the new paint scheme to be worn by the remainder of its fleet of Siemens ALC42 locomotives, a two-tone blue design with a splash of red and white trim. The “Phase VII” scheme — the seventh standard design in Amtrak’s 50-year history — debuts on Charger No. 309, the 10th […]

Read More…

Spring blizzard causes ‘Empire Builder’ cancellations

Locomotives on passenger train caked with snow on

CHICAGO — Due to forecast blizzard conditions in North Dakota and Montana this week, Amtrak has terminated its Empire Builder service between St. Paul and Spokane, Wash. The eastbound Empire Builder from Seattle ran with its full set of equipment on April 11 and 12 from Seattle to Spokane, where it terminated. On the same […]

Read More…

CDC extends TSA mask mandate for travel by two weeks

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) federal mask mandate for travel on all rail systems, airplanes, in airports, and on buses will be extended through May 3, 15 days after it had been set to expire amid a new coronavirus surge fueled by the BA.2 variant. The two-week extension is from an order by […]

Read More…

Amtrak, PennDOT to add Keystone Service

blue and silver passenger train passes brick tower

PHILADELPHIA – Beginning April 25, Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will operate additional Keystone Service trains between New York, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg, Pa. Two new weekday trains will be added, and all pre-pandemic weekend service will be restored. “After a long period of reduced schedules, PennDOT is pleased that Amtrak has been able […]

Read More…

STB Gulf Coast hearing scrutinizes details of traffic modeling: Analysis

Trains on three tracks as seen from bridge

WASHINGTON — Last week’s fourth day of testimony at the Surface Transportation Board’s hearing on Amtrak Gulf Coast service focused on two questions: — “Where did the data used for traffic modeling come from?” — “What constitutes a train that can cause ‘unreasonable impairment’ to freight operations” if two passenger round trips are introduced between […]

Read More…

Alstom explains latest delay for new Acela deployment (updated)

HORNELL, N.Y. — Testing of Amtrak’s next-generation Acela trainsets on the Northeast Corridor has shown that further modifications will be necessary, pushing back the date the equipment will be placed in service because additional testing will be necessary. Amtrak revealed last week at a Philadelphia media event that the first of the 28 nine-unit trainsets […]

Read More…

Capital Corridor agency files suit over Oakland ballpark

Illustration showing baseball stadium and other buildings

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Capital Corridor Joint Powers Authority, the agency overseeing state-supported Amtrak service between San Jose and Auburn, Calif., has filed its own suit over the plans for a new Oakland Athletics ballpark. The suit joins one previously filed by Union Pacific [see “Union Pacific files suit over Oakland ballpark plan,” Trains News […]

Read More…

Report cautions Amtrak of challenges with funding windfall

Logo of Amtrak Office of Inspector General

WASHINGTON — The unprecedented funding windfall available to Amtrak under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will challenge the company’s ability to manage projects related to the new funds while continuing to oversee current operations, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General says in a new report. The challenges will come in four areas, the report […]

Read More…