Emergency repairs halt Surfliner, Metrolink service in south Orange County, Calif.

Blue and silver locomotive and passenger train at platform in front of skyscrapers

LOS ANGELES — Amtrak and Metrolink service has been suspended in south Orange County for emergency track work to stabilize right-of-way in the San Clemente, Calif., area. The Pacific Surfliner website says no trains will operate south of Irvine. Calif., between today and Sunday. As of Monday, Sept. 20, train service will resume on a […]

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Amtrak, developer reach agreement on restoration and update of Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station

Philadelphia_Interior_Goldman

PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak has reached agreement with developer Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia on a lease and development agreement for restoration and renovation of its main station in Philadelphia, the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station. Under the agreement, Plenary will refurbish and improve the nearly century-old building, finance the improvements, and maintain the station for […]

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The aftermath: Sept. 13, 2001, at Chicago Union Station

Crowd of people boarding passenger car

CHICAGO — Travelers all over the U.S. had been stranded for two days after the September 11 attacks, when all air traffic was abruptly grounded. Many Amtrak trains had also been stopped that day as a precaution. While people who had been on the road assumed flights might soon resume, continuing security concerns and the […]

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California Zephyr: Amtrak’s legendary passenger train

Stainless steel round-end dome-observation car

California Zephyr introduction California Zephyr journeys are scenic and today’s Zephyr in many ways still reprises the advertising slogan of its originators after the “Silver Lady” made its maiden run in March 1949: “The most talked-about train in America.” The Zephyr operates daily between Chicago and Emeryville, Calif., just across the bay from San Francisco. […]

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House bill would require Amtrak, air passengers to show proof of vaccination or negative test result

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) has introduced a bill that would require airline and Amtrak passengers to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result in order to travel. The Washington Post reports that the Safe Travel Act introduced by Beyer, chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee on […]

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CSX says it will iron out wrinkles related to Pan Am acquisition

Head shot of man with glasses in dark suit coat

CHICAGO — CSX Transportation is willing to part with its stake in Pan Am Southern if that would alleviate competitive concerns surrounding its proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. “It was our position from day one, if they wanted us to step out of the Pan Am Southern, we were glad to […]

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‘City of New Orleans’ service to remain suspended south of Jackson, Miss.

Amtrak logo.

NEW ORLEANS — Amtrak’s City of New Orleans continues to operate over only a portion of its route as Canadian National crews continue to repair damage in the wake of Hurricane Ida. An Amtrak advisory notes that effective with the Wednesday, Sept. 8, southbound departure from Chicago, the train will operate to Jackson, Miss., with […]

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Amtrak New York-Albany service, Metro-North Hudson Line operations to resume Tuesday

Freight train and work train meet

NEW YORK — The last Amtrak and Metro-North services which had been shut down by the remnants of Hurricane Ida will return to action Tuesday — while all of New York’s subways are already back in action Work by Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers south of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Amtrak crews north to Rensselaer is allowing […]

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Amtrak’s New York tunnels withstand Ida’s deluge

Train in rain

NEW YORK — Despite more than 7 inches of rain that shut down New York’s subway system late Wednesday, the Amtrak tunnels connecting the Northeast Corridor to Manhattan survived tropical storm Ida without the debilitating damage that occurred as a result of 2012’s Superstorm Sandy. But other damage and power outages caused cancellation of all […]

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Remnants of Ida cause major rail disruptions (updated)

Rail signal rising above large area of water

Rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida is causing major havoc with travelers in the Northeast, with Amtrak service halted between Philadelphia and Boston, major disruptions to New York subways and commuter rail service, and NJ Transit cancelling almost all rail service. Amtrak has now cancelled all Northeast Corridor service between Washington and Boston for […]

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Amtrak to continue New Orleans cancellations through at least Sept. 3

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NEW ORLEANS — With track damage still being assessed and electric power to activate highway grade crossings out over much of the region, Amtrak has cancelled the City of New Orleans to Chicago and Crescent to New York scheduled to arrive or depart New Orleans through at least Friday, Sept. 3.  Those trains will continue […]

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Amtrak asks federal regulators to impose conditions on CSX-Pan Am merger (updated)

Passenger train passing through trees

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has urged federal regulators to impose conditions on CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways that would protect current and potential expansions of passenger service in New England. The CSX-Pan Am merger is the first before the Surface Transportation Board in which passenger trains account for the majority of traffic on […]

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