Tuesday morning updates on rail service changes because of the COVID-19 outbreak: •Amtrak’s San Joaquins will suspend three round trips as of Thursday, March 26, close some stations, and suspend cafe car service. Four round trips will continue to operate. The trains eliminated — Nos. 701, 702, 703, 704, 714, and 717 — are those […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
News Wire Digest Second Section for Tuesday, March 24 NEWSWIRE
•Ten major transit agencies are requesting $25 billion in federal aid to offset financial losses because of the coronavirus pandemic, as they begin to dip into emergency cash reserves to continue operation. The Washington Post reports that the agencies, led by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, sent a letter to congressional leaders with the request, […]
Amtrak CEO tells employees of ridership drops, pay cuts, other plans NEWSWIRE
Washington-bound Acela Express No. 2159 flies through the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Mansfield, Mass., station at over 100 mph in June 2017. Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson told employees that one day last week, Acela ridership was down 99% from the same day a year earlier. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — At a weekly “town hall” telephone […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Monday, March 23 NEWSWIRE
A TEXRail train passes the station at Grapevine, Texas. TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express service is being reduced as of today. Lance Lassen A roundup of Monday morning rail news: — Amtrak has suspended all Acela Express service on the Northeast Corridor, reflecting a dramatic drop in usage for America’s only high speed rail service. […]
Unions ask railroad, FRA to increase virus protection NEWSWIRE
Labor unions representing rail and transit workers have asked the Federal Railroad Administration for two emergency orders to address the dangers in their work environments amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The orders, requested March 20, are requested for Class I railroads and for Amtrak and passenger operators. “Currently, the railroads have made very little effort […]
$10k is needed to rewheel America’s last Baldwin NEWSWIRE
Western Maryland Scenic is within $10,000 of rewheeling the last Baldwin locomotive built for domestic use. Tishia Boggs CUMBERLAND, Md. – With donations to steam America’s last Baldwin from Trains readers topping $71,000, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad said Sunday it is within $10,000 of wheeling 2-6-6-2 No. 1309. “On behalf of the Western Maryland Scenic […]
News Wire Digest Second Section for Saturday, March 21 NEWSWIRE
More Saturday morning rail news: — The American Public Transportation Association has increased its request for emergency funding for public transit agencies to $16 billion from $12.875 billion, reflecting an estimated $14 billion in funding losses and $2 billion in direct costs including upgraded cleaning. “Without these funds,” APTA CEO Paul P. Skoutelas said in […]
News Wire Digest Third Section for Satiurday, March 21 NEWSWIRE
Dr. Josef Theurer Plasser & Theurer — Plasser & Theurer founder Dr. Josef Theurer has died, the track maintenance equipment firm has announced. Theurer, 91, died March 19. A holder of more than 1,000 patents, Theurer and Franz Plasser founded the company, which developed machinery to replace much of the manual labor in track maintenance, […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Saturday, March 21 (updated) NEWSWIRE
An LA Metro light rail train boards at LA Union Station. Metro has trimmed service with California under a “shelter in place” order. TRAINS: David Lassen A Saturday update on rail service changes and other responses to the COVID-19 virus. Because of the rapidly evolving situation, check with local service providers or Amtrak.com for the […]
Model Railroader, March 2020
[…]
Trains, March 2020
[…]
California rail agencies respond to shelter-in-place order NEWSWIRE
San Diego’s Coaster commuter trains will cut from 11 to six daily round trips on Monday. TRAINS: David Lassen California intercity, commuter, and transit rail operations have begun adjusting to the state’s shelter-in-place order issued Thursday night by Gov. Gavin Newsom as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. More changes can be expected. Here’s what […]
