Traditional dining cars make last runs on eastern Amtrak routes (corrected) NEWSWIRE

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A three-hour-late Amtrak train No. 20, the Crescent, arrives at New York’s Penn Station on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with dining car Nashville. Monday night saw the end of meals prepared by chefs and served by waitstaff on the Crescent and three other routes in the eastern U.S. Ralph Spielman Sights like this — meals prepared […]

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Coast Guard to make permanent ban on rush-hour openings of Portal Bridge

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SECAUCUS, N.J. — The U.S. Coast Guard has made permanent its ban on opening Amtrak’s troublesome Portal Bridge during rush hour. A six-month trial period, banning the opening of the more-than-century-old bridge over the Hackensack River during peak periods on the Northeast Corridor, began in March. [See “Coast Guard will no longer allow rush-hour openings […]

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‘Winter Park Express’ tickets go on sale NEWSWIRE

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Tickets for the 2020 season of the Winter Park Express, shown at Denver Union Station, are now on sale. Service has expanded to include all Fridays during its January-through-March run. Justin Franz DENVER — Amtrak and Winter Park Resort will again operate weekend ski train round trips from Denver Union Station to a platform located […]

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Non-stop Acela launches between NYC and Washington NEWSWIRE

NEW YORK — The resumption of weekday Express Acela service to Washington on Monday saw southbound train 2401 leave New York’s Pennsylvania Station at 6:35 a.m. on a two hour and thirty-five minute schedule: it heralded another effort to provide non-stop service, which had been operated sporadically over the last 50 years, by both Penn […]

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Amtrak discussions at the head-end of private passenger car owners meeting this week in New Mexico NEWSWIRE

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller greets AAPRCO members before touring the private cars at the Albuquerque Transportation Center.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller greets AAPRCO members before touring the private cars at the Albuquerque Transportation Center. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Amtrak was at the head end of topics discussed this week in Albuquerque for the American Association of Private Rail Car Owners’ 42nd annual convention. The convention opened on Tuesday with members of the Southwest […]

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In rare public appearance, Amtrak’s Anderson delivers familiar themes NEWSWIRE

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Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson discusses his vision for the passenger railroad during a Thursday appearance at a travel industry conference in New York. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK — Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson made a rare public appearance Thursday at the Skift Global 2019 Travel Industry Conference, voicing many of the themes that have […]

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Amtrak opens new locomotive shop in Seattle’s Sodo district NEWSWIRE

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SEATTLE — Amtrak has begun maintaining and repairing locomotives at a recently opened, $32 million service station in Seattle, just south of King Street Station. The 330-foot-long, 55-foot-high repair shop will work on locomotives used on Amtrak’s Cascades service, the Empire Builder, and Coast Starlight, as well as locomotives used on Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter […]

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Analysis: ‘Evolving’ menu on tap for all Amtrak eastern overnighters NEWSWIRE

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New dining options with trays on display in the dining car ‘Tallahassee,’ boxed meal examples are in the background. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON – When the New York-Miami Silver Meteor and New York-New Orleans Crescent become the last single-level long-distance trains to offer cooked onboard dining car meals to both sleeping car and coach passengers on […]

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Jury awards millions of dollars in damages to passengers injured in 2017 Cascades wreck NEWSWIRE

This overall view shows cars off both sides of the tracks at the Interstate 5 bridge near DuPont, Wash., in December 2017.

This overall view shows cars off both sides of the tracks at the Interstate 5 bridge near DuPont, Wash., in December 2017. Steve Carter SEATTLE — A federal-court jury in Tacoma, Wash., has awarded $16.75 million in damages to two of the victims and the spouse of one of them for injuries sustained in the […]

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Local government insists on full safety recommendation implementation before Point Defiance Bypass re-opened to passengers NEWSWIRE

SEATTLE — The Pierce County Council has passed a resolution calling on Amtrak, the Washington State Department of Transportation, Sound Transit, and other agencies not to reopen the ill-fated Point Defiance Bypass line to passenger service until the full menu of recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board is put in place. WSDOT and Amtrak […]

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Amtrak announces service offerings for daily nonstop Acela trains between New York and Washington NEWSWIRE

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WASHINGTON — Amtrak today announced the unique amenities exclusive to its Acela Nonstop, which begins its inaugural trip on Monday, Sept. 23, including: complimentary coffee, tea water, and a light snack, “at seat” cashless cart service offering a limited menu of snacks and beverages and onboard phone charging kits for sale. Offering non-stop service between New […]

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Amtrak adds booking features to updated app NEWSWIRE

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WASHINGTON — Amtrak has released an updated version of its smartphone app, saying the new version offers more services and makes booking faster and easier. New features include: — The ability to save information on up to three credit cards for quick checkout. — The ability to book on the app using Amtrak Guest Rewards points. […]

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