News Wire Digest Second Section for Monday, Feb. 10 NEWSWIRE

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Five men have filed suit over this January 2018 accident involving a chartered Amtrak train for Republican members of Congress. Rep. Jeff Denham, via Twitter Still more news for your Monday morning: — Four people who were aboard a special Amtrak train that hit a trash truck in a fatal 2018 accident have sued the […]

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News Wire Digest for Monday, Feb. 10 NEWSWIRE

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Catching up on weekend rail news: — Protesters continued to block Canadian National rail lines near Belleville, Ontario, disrupting Canadian National and VIA Rail Canada. The National Post reports that VIA cancelled 18 trains on Sunday and said service will not resume “until the issue is resolved.” The indigenous group blocking the tracks is demonstrating […]

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Amtrak inspector: Acupuncturist bilked railroad health insurance for millions of dollars NEWSWIRE

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LOS ANGELES — An acupuncturist was sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison on February 4, and was ordered to pay more than $2.68 million in restitution to Amtrak after defrauding the railroad’s health care plan for approximately $3.8 million in acupuncture treatments and other services that were either medically unnecessary or never provided. […]

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Mobile city council votes to support Amtrak service

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MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile City Council has pledged its financial support to returning Amtrak service to the Gulf Coast, voting 6-1 to support the Southern Rail Commission’s grant application for the New Orleans-Mobile service, WKRG-TV reports. With the vote, the council pledges up to $3 million toward operating expenses over the first three years […]

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News Wire Digest for Tuesday, Feb. 4 NEWSWIRE

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A look at Tuesday morning rail news: — Problems with overhead wires led to about five hours of significant delays for trains in and out of New York’s Penn Station on Monday, WABC-TV reports, beginning about 4:30 p.m. Amtrak and NJ Transit trains were delayed for up to two hours. Schedules finally returned to normal […]

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News Wire Digest for Friday, Jan. 31 NEWSWIRE

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NJ Transit trains meet in Elizabeth, N.J., in August 2019. A highly critical state auditor’s report says the commuter railroad is at risk of missing the deadline for positive train control implementation, among other issues. TRAINS: David Lassen Friday morning rail news of note: — A state auditor’s report says NJ Transit is at risk […]

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News Wire Digest for Wednesday, Jan. 29 NEWSWIRE

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BNSF has completed the process of removing these locomotives, which derailed in a Jan. 1 accident, from an Idaho River. Idaho State Police A morning look at notable rail news: — BNSF Railway has completed the process of removing two locomotives from the Kootenai River in Idaho following a Jan. 1 derailment, KHQ TV reports. […]

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Amtrak tests Charger locomotives on ‘Empire Builder’ route NEWSWIRE

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Charger locomotive No. 4627 leads an Amtrak test train through Wauwatosa, Wis., on Tuesday afternoon. Amtrak is testing the locomotives for use in long-distance service. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — People along Amtrak’s Empire Builder route are getting a preview of the future of long-distance passenger service this week as the railroad runs a test […]

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Amtrak to begin offering bus-only tickets in California NEWSWIRE

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STOCKTON, Calif. — Amtrak will begin offering bus-only tickets on some routes in California, following approval of the plan by the agency which oversees San Joaquin train service. KGET-TV reports the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority voted at a Friday meeting to allow the passenger railroad to sell bus-only tickets on its Bakersfield-Oxnard-Santa Barbara and […]

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Illinois members of Congress call on Amtrak to meet accessibility needs NEWSWIRE

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The official portrait of U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth Sen. Tammy Duckworth WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and two other members of the Illinois congressional delegation have sent Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson a letter expressing their unhappiness over the recent incident in which passengers using wheelchairs were quoted a price of $25,000 to travel from […]

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Mississippi cities urge Mobile, Ala., to support Amtrak service

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MOBILE, Ala. — A group of Mississippi cities that would be served by revived Amtrak service along the Gulf Coast are urging the Mobile City Council to join in supporting the effort to begin New Orleans-Mobile passenger operations. The Mobile council is scheduled to vote today whether to pledge its financial support for the proposed […]

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Funding shortfall leaves Missouri owing Amtrak $6.5 million NEWSWIRE

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Passengers board a Missouri River Runner at Kirkwood, Mo., in 2014. The state of Missouri owes Amtrak more than $6 million in unpaid bills for the train’s operation. Bob Johnston JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The state of Missouri owes Amtrak more than $6 million for operation of the state-supported Missouri River Runner, a debt which […]

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