|
Index to recent news postings Rail Travel News is a twice-monthly print publication, published since
Dec 10, 1970.
Many more
items have been added at
New! Browse more railroad books |
SOME NEW ORLEANS SERVICE WILL RESUME
OCTOBER 9
City of New Orleans to Memphis and Chicago and Crescent to Atlanta and New York resume service WASHINGTON - The first passenger rail service from New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina suspended all operations will begin Sunday, Oct. 9, with the departures of the City of New Orleans to Memphis and Chicago and the Crescent to Atlanta and New York, Amtrak announced today. Passengers may make reservations now at Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL or starting Saturday at the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal at 1001 Loyola Ave. The New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, Amtrak facilities and the rail lines owned by the CN Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway leading into the city sustained extensive damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina. “We are proud to restore our operations to and from New Orleans to both serve passengers and to help New Orleans rebuild,” said William L. Crosbie, Amtrak Senior Vice President for Operations. “We are looking forward to a steady growth in passengers to and from New Orleans as the city and the surrounding parishes make repairs and more businesses join us in reopening.” The first train to depart New Orleans on Oct. 9 will be the Crescent at 7:20 a.m., en route to Meridian, Miss., Birmingham, Ala., Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Washington, New York City and other destinations. At 1:45 p.m., the City of New Orleans will depart en route to Jackson, Miss., Memphis, Tenn., Carbondale, Ill., Chicago and other destinations. The southbound City of New Orleans and Crescent will arrive from Chicago and New York later that afternoon and evening. In FY 2004 (Oct. 2003-Sept. 2004), 161,449 passengers were ticketed to or from New Orleans, one of only two locations in the central U.S. where Amtrak trains connect between the east and west. Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Aug. 28, all of the eastern and western train connections have been made in Chicago while service along the gulf coast was disrupted. At this time, taxis and other public transportation are not yet available within New Orleans and many other services are very limited. Service that had been provided to New Orleans on a three-days-weekly
schedule by the Sunset Limited (trains 1 & 2) to Orlando and Los Angeles
is not yet restored. Plans for service to the west, via Beaumont
and Houston, will be announced at a later date. Service to the east,
via Biloxi and Mobile, will not be possible until 2006 at the earliest
because of the extreme nature of the damage done to tracks, bridges and
other infrastructure owned by CSX Transportation.
AMTRAK FARE INCREASES ARE ON AGAIN Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund government entities through Nov 18. This includes Amtrak, which will be funded at a lower level than the previous year--the amount voted by the House, or $1.176 billion, a 2.5% decrease. Congress may take up the transportaton funding bill again the week of Oct 17. NARP said the main aim of rail advocates then is to maintain the $1.45 billion funding level set by the Senate and remove restrictive language about food and other amenities. AMTRAK TO DELAY FARE INCREASE (Sep 16) The upgraded Berkeley CA Amtrak stop was ceremonially opened on Saturday, Sep 17. AMTRAK TO RAISE FARES SEP 20 AMTRAK PRESIDENT UPDATES EMPLOYEES ON GULF COAST SITUATION AMTRAK SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE GULF COAST EVACUATION IN TODAY'S TRANSPORTATION MONOCULTURE By Robert W. Rynerson EFFECTS OF HURRICANE KATRINA UPON LOUISIANA (Aug 29) AMTRAK LAUNCHES UPGRADED EMPIRE BUILDER STARLIGHT TO EMPIRE BUILDER CONNECTION ENDED DOWNEASTER FUNDING IS ASSURED PIONEER ROUTE REINSTATEMENT REQUESTED IN LOTT BILL LOTT-LAUTENBERG BILL PROVISIONS IMPORTANT FOR PASSENGER RAIL SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES LOTT-LAUTENBERG AMTRAK AUTHORIZATION BILL SENATE COMMITTEE TO ACT ON AMTRAK AUTHORIZATION TODAY NARP applauds their bill SENATE COMMITTEE ADDS $50 MILLION TO AMTRAK FUNDING CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR TO BE HIT WITH DETOURS IN LATE SUMMER AND FALL CALIFORNIA TRAINS REACH MORE RIDERSHIP RECORDS SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE OKAYS $1.4 BILLION FOR AMTRAK DOT WANTS TO CUT OUT SLEEPING CAR, DINER, LOUNGE AND CHECKED BAGGAGE SERVICE ON AMTRAK TO SAVE MONEY. NARP RELEASES REBUTTAL TO PROPOSAL: HOUSE VOTE SAVES AMTRAK FUNDING SUMMER SOLSTICE IN BERLIN 1971 HOUSE COMMITTEE FAILS TO INCREASE AMTRAK FUNDS
|
Subscribe today! For new subscribers Renewing subscribers To subscribe by US Mail Request sample copy Please make a donation to help support this web site. Any amount, large or small, is appreciated. Thank you! Browse train station posters Click here
DOT'S MINETA HARASSING AMTRAK &
AMTRAK'S REPLY TO THE MINETA LETTER
Join or donate to the
National Association of Railroad Passengers.
|
