Amtrak

Amtrak Restoring Partial Coast Starlight Service

February 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

OAKLAND – Amtrak is restoring service on a portion of the route of the Coast Starlight, beginning Feb. 6. Following discussions with the Union Pacific Railroad, service on the route was suspended between Los Angeles and Seattle on Jan. 19, due to massive mudslides over the railroad north of Chemult, Ore. All railroad traffic through that area has been suspended and is not expected to resume for many weeks. The first northbound departure of this version of the Coast Starlight, Train 14, will leave Los Angeles on Feb. 6 at 10:15 a.m., making all regularly-scheduled stops and arriving in Sacramento

Coast Starlight Suspended Due to Massive Mudslides

January 23, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHEMULT, Ore. — Following mudslides over railroad tracks north of Chemult, Ore., on Jan. 19, Amtrak Coast Starlight service will be disrupted Jan. 24 through Jan. 31. No alternate transportation is provided. Union Pacific Railroad has suspended all railroad traffic through the area. The northbound Coast Starlight (Train 14) is canceled from Los Angeles to Seattle from Jan. 24 through Jan. 31. The southbound Coast Starlight (Train 11) is canceled from Seattle to Los Angeles from Jan. 25 through Feb. 1. These dates may be extended. Although the Coast Starlight is canceled in its entirety between Los Angeles and Seattle

Amtrak and Labor Organizations Sign Tentative Agreement, Averting a Strike

January 18, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak and representatives of nine labor organizations today signed an agreement, avoiding a strike that would have brought to a halt the nation’s passenger railroad and dozens of other railroads that use Amtrak’s rail network. The nine unions were legally free to strike starting Jan. 30, 2008. The National Mediation Board had released the parties from mediation on Nov. 1, and a Presidential Emergency Board handed down recommended settlement terms Dec. 30. Details of the tentative pact were not immediately released to the public. The agreement will be sent to the affected union members for their ratification vote

Bush Urges Amtrak, Unions ‘To Work in Good Faith’

January 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — President Bush has received the report and recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board and is urging both Amtrak and several unions “to work in good faith to resolve their dispute, taking into account the Emergency Board’s recommendations.” In November, Bush established a Presidential Emergency Board, hoping to keep the employees of nine Amtrak unions from striking. The unions represent more than 6,000 of Amtrak’s non-operating employees who have been working on contracts that expired in 1999. “The President urges the parties to continue to work in good faith to resolve their dispute, taking into account the Emergency Board’s

Amtrak Releases Feasibility Study of State-Supported Rail Service to Illinois Quad Cities

January 7, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Amtrak has completed a report requested by the Illinois Department of Transportation (Ill. DOT) that evaluates possible passenger train routes between Illinois Quad Cities (Moline-Rock Island) and Chicago. This “Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service, Quad Cities-Chicago” is also in response to a January 2007 town meeting in Rock Island, hosted by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who was joined by Amtrak and Ill. DOT representatives, labor officials and leaders from Illinois and Iowa. In the report, the approximate cost of upgrading the railroad infrastructure to accommodate passenger train speeds is $14-to-23 million, over the shortest, fastest and

Amtrak Introduces New Menus for Overnight Trains

December 20, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Nearly all of the national network of Amtrak overnight trains offer a new and improved menu in the Dining Cars, effective this month. This includes the return of such items as prepared-to-order steaks, wine by the glass and premium ice cream, as well as improved variety and quality of menu options at each meal. The new menu was developed by Amtrak Executive Chefs with input from passengers, employees and others. Amtrak rotates its menu options with three different cycles that vary depending on direction of travel and particular route. “We are confident that these new menus will make the dining

Amtrak Partners with Carbonfund.org to Offer Passengers Carbon Offsets for Rail Travel

December 18, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Amtrak passengers can now travel even greener. Through a new partnership between the railroad and Carbonfund.org, passengers can offset the carbon emissions footprint generated by their individual rail travel by making a contribution to Carbonfund.org. Selections start at only $3.00, a contribution which offsets 2,500 miles of Amtrak travel, or almost three round trips between Washington and Boston. All contributions are tax deductible and may be made online. “By choosing to travel by rail, Amtrak passengers are already a step ahead because the carbon footprint generated by their trip is smaller than that of most other modes of transportation,”

New York, Amtrak Resolve Empire Coridor High-Speed Rail Project Dispute

December 13, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW YORK — Amtrak and the state of New York have agreed to settle a federal lawsuit over their plan to run high-speed trains between New York City and Albany, the state’s capitol. Under the terms of the settlement, Amtrak will pay New York state $20 million. In addition, New York and Amtrak will jointly invest $10 million in infrastructure improvement projects on the so-called Albany to New York City Empire Corridor, which was approved by the New York State Senate High-Speed Rail Task Force. “This settlement now allows both Amtrak and the State of New York to concentrate on

Ridership Rises Significantly on Caltrans/Amtrak San Joaquins Trains

December 11, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ridership on the tax-payer funded Amtrak San Joaquins Corridor service exceeded all expectations during the month of November with a dramatic jump of 13.1 percent, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced. In all, 78,577 passengers rode the line last month, compared to 69,450 in November 2006. Under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, rail funding for Caltrans’ intercity passenger rail program has grown to $79 million annually, making it the largest state-supported program in the nation. “This is great news for the traveling public,” Caltrans Director Will Kempton said. “Not only are we able to relieve traffic

Weather Continues to Cause Problems for Amtrak

December 4, 2007 Railfanning.org News Wire

Due to extreme weather in the Pacific Northwest resulting in downed trees, mudslides and the closure of Interstate 5 in the Olympia, Wash., and Chehalis, Wash., area, Amtrak Cascades service between Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia, will be cancelled Tuesday (Dec. 4). There with be no alternate transportation. Other Amtrak services will also be affected. Train service on the Amtrak Cascades service (between Portland and Vancouver) will be cancelled on Tuesday (Dec. 4) with no alternate transportation. Normal train service will operate between Eugene, Ore., and Portland. The Coast Starlight will terminate at Eugene with alternate transportation only between