WASHINGTON — Monday’s first day of a Surface Transportation Board hearing on Amtrak’s request to initiate service between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., moved so slowly that some attorneys speculated that the four days this week allotted for the hearing may not be enough. In almost eight hours, the hearing barely progressed past opening statements […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Options exist to ease Amtrak capacity issues: Special Report
Second of two parts. Part 1 is available here. CHICAGO — Amtrak’s ability to meet increasing customer demand has been hampered by a shortage of equipment on both short-haul and long-haul trains. State-supported trains in California and the Midwest are still awaiting the Siemens Venture cars, even though the first cars were delivered in 2020. […]
STB denies mediation request in Amtrak Gulf Coast case
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has turned down a request to order mediation in the Amtrak Gulf Coast case. CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority/Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks had requested mediation, which Amtrak had opposed. In the decision released today (Friday, April 1), the board says it “unfortunate” that […]
Siemens equipment delays aggravate Amtrak capacity issues: Special report
First of two parts CHICAGO — Delayed deliveries of new Siemens-built Venture rolling stock for Midwest and California routes have added to a cascading lack of equipment at a time of surging travel demand — a problem felt beyond the areas where the new equipment will operate, and extending into the long-distance fleet. Cars in the […]
News photos: Amtrak releases images of interiors for new Acelas
PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak has released images of the interiors for the new Acela trainsets currently under construction or in testing, and now not expected to debut until 2023. “Between the sleek design of their interiors, state-of-the-art technology, and sustainable amenities, and innovative safety features, our new Acela trains will help revolutionize American train travel,” Amtrak […]
Amtrak to install automated car inspection equipment on Northeast Corridor
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duos Technologies Group, a firm with products including automated railcar inspection equipment, will provide two of its Railcar Inspection Portals to Amtrak for use on the Northeast Corridor. Duos CEO Charles Parker Ferry announced the contract for the portals, to be placed in Secaucus, N.J., during a Wednesday earnings call with investors […]
Norfolk Southern earns two sustainability awards
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has received two awards for its achievements in sustainability, the company announced Thursday. NS was recognized with the Responsible Care Energy Efficiency Award for locomotive fuel efficiency from the American Chemistry Council and the 2022 Green Bond of the Year Award from Environmental Finance. The Chemistry Council award recognizes efforts including […]
Biden budget includes more funds for passenger rail, transit projects
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s fiscal 2023 budget recommendations call for a significant boost over previous levels of rail funding, on top of amounts already appropriated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. But like all Executive Branch budgets, they are only suggestions meant to guide Congress’ spending priorities. The Federal Railroad Administration’s budget request is $4.66 […]
Coast Guard to communicate with STB, rather than parties in Gulf Coast dispute
WASHINGTON — A U.S. Coast Guard official asked to meet with the parties involved in the Amtrak Gulf Coast dispute says the service branch will deal directly with federal regulators, the parties have informed the Surface Transportation Board. In a joint filing Monday by Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority […]
CSX, NS ask regulators to order mediation in Amtrak Gulf Coast case (updated)
WASHINGTON — The three parties opposing Amtrak’s effort to launch Gulf Coast passenger service have asked the Surface Transportation Board to require mediation in the case, set for a hearing before the board in April. Amtrak has filed a response opposing the request. In a Friday, March 25, joint filing, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and […]
Moynihan Train Hall in New York City
Moynihan Train Hall in New York City is the main hall and gathering space for travelers riding trains to and from the underground Penn Station nearby. From its hall and corridors, passengers can wait for Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor, long-distance trains terminating in New York, as well as Long Island Rail Road and […]
Zephyr passenger cars last trip — a 2017 journey
Zephyr passenger cars last trip — Looking beyond a sea of Amtrak Phase IV, the stainless-steel design and neon lights spell out California Zephyr on the tail end of Amtrak’s westbound No. 5 of the same name at Chicago Union Station. It’s a scene reminiscent of the 1950s with the same equipment that carried the […]