AMES, Iowa - A study conducted by Amtrak on behalf of the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) concerning the feasibility of passenger rail service from the Quad Cities to Iowa City on a route originating at Chicago was released during a news conference in Iowa City.
Annual ridership on the full route is estimated at […]

WASHINGTON - Amtrak passengers can celebrate the first annual National Train Day by traveling by train and taking a friend along for free with Amtrak’s Buy One Get One Free offer. This special offer is for one free companion ticket with the purchase of one full-fare adult ticket and is available for sale April 4th […]

NEWARK, N.J. — Trains along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor came to a standstill because of electrical problems, authorities said.
“It was done as a precautionary measure. None of the trains lost power,” The Associated Press quoted Amtrak Spokesman Cliff Cole as saying.
The voltage in the overhead wires dropped from 12,000 volts to 9,000 volts, though an exact […]

Due to a BNSF freight train derailment on Monday, March 17, north of Seattle, the railroad is temporarily closed in the area. As a result, all train service is currently suspended between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.
Trains #510 and #517, between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. are cancelled with alternate transportation provided. Trains #513 and #516 are […]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Saying his administration is “committed to providing Ohio’s urban areas with the tools they need to create jobs and attract investments to make their communities vibrant centers of commerce,” Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has written a letter to Amtrak President & CEO Alex Kummant asking the nation’s passenger rail corporation to identify […]

WASHINGTON - To raise awareness of the vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system, Amtrak announced that it will celebrate its first annual National Train Day during six weeks of celebrations culminating on May 10.
“With ridership growing to record levels, we continue to see a strong demand for rail travel as a link […]

CHICAGO – A Cook County, Ill., jury returned a $2.5 million verdict against Amtrak for not maintaining a safe work environment in an engine at Chicago’s Union Station, a Chicago law firm said.
A 59-year-old engineer’s back injury required two operations and a claimed inability to return to work. Amtrak argued that the engineer had planned […]

WASHINGTON - Amtrak, in partnership with the A. Philip Randolph Museum, hosted a ceremony Feb. 25 at Washington Union Station to honor the contributions of the legendary Pullman Porters to the nation’s railroads.
Amtrak employees gathered to give heartfelt thanks in person to three Pullman Porters who proudly served as far back as the mid-1940s.& Honored […]

WASHINGTON – Amtrak 30th Street Station in Philadelphia will celebrate Black History Month on February 29, in the North Arcade reception area at the station. The celebration will take place from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The day will feature an array of talented African American entertainers showcasing poetry, spoken word, dramatic presentations, instrumental performances, individual […]

OAKLAND - Amtrak is adding Thruway motorcoach service on a portion of the disrupted Los Angeles-Seattle Coast Starlight route, beginning Feb. 29.
The Thruway motorcoach service will connect the Coast Starlight route segment between Sacramento and Portland, Ore., making connections with the Coast Starlight train at Sacramento and other Amtrak train service at Portland. The Thruway […]