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It’s by no means the final word - the senate will weigh in and based on recent history their numbers will be better. So we’ll just have to see.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-118hrpt584/pdf/CRPT-118hrpt584.pdf Committee comments on the recommendations. Interesting private car blurb that was likely snuck in there by a rep that knows a private car owner. While I am not in principle against the idea of looking to make sure...

According to the spec they’re calling for the premium coach cars to have the skylight windows also with an optional add to have them in standard coaches too - so if the coaches get “sightseer” windows it would be less of an issue of needing to go to another car for the sightseeing view. Its far...

The other aspect of this is locomotives. Siemens is certainly going to be a contender given they supplied the power for the corridor sets but we’ll see what happens. If they bid the locomotives and cars together it certainly gives Siemens a competitive advantage. But I’d think they’d separate it...

I think we don’t know enough about the capitol - star combination and its duration to really speculate on that. We also don’t know yet what Amtrak is going to do for single level equipment. A decision about the Viewliner Is is the big factor in how they will go. They do have an option that they...

This is the first time I’ve seen this. https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/menus/routes/Acela-Cart-Service-Menu.pdf

Good question! I’d think so as they use the same Point of sale as the cafe.

It was in the latter part of the pandemic when they had to drop trains back to 5 days a week after restoring them to daily from 3 days a week. When they started to ramp back up to daily operation if memory serves the first phase which happened in the spring was they did a run through of the...

This analysis is interesting but ultimately the pros and cons are supported by no more evidence than what many of us have already done on Amtrak’s booking site. For example while we would hope the entire run would be traditional dining given it’s currently on the Star, there is absolutely no...

The talk in the NEC commission planning documents is the New Haven - Springfield and valley Flyer Amtrak services will shift more towards through trains rather than locals. An eventual goal is hourly through train service between Springfield and New York. Some of these through trains will...

It’s also very possible they will revert to normal ops when the tunnel work is done. Though I hope they’d consider keeping the cap on single level equipment

This is only the Star from what it appears. The Meteor will continue to go to NYP.

I think I am going to purchase premium on the Alaska flight - thanks for the info!

I am flying for the first time since 2008 in October to the west coast. I normally prefer doing Amtrak and don’t like flying but I can’t afford to use the required time off this particular trip and really want to go. I am doing Alaska out and JetBlue back. What is your take on seat comfort with...

It's certainly not as drastic as last year especially considering the house it's coming from - though still problematic and in need of attention and letters to reps to improve.

Chief still gets done at ABQ I believe as well. So those trains are in a bit better shape than others window wise usually.

There is a fairly substantial project going on on the Springfield line at the moment which is curtailing some of the daytime service. It is very possible there may be some shutdown days in the mix to complete more disruptive portions of the work.

And right now the 66 train sits in New York basically all night with passengers on board and departs as an early morning (5:30 AM) train. So it’s getting a bit of early New York area to Boston area traffic. So one couldn’t really use the current schedule as a direct comparison to how Borealis...

I think over time more crew members are supposed to be getting the mobile devices that the conductors have which provides more access to information on delays and what not.

The House proposed THUD appropriations for FY25 is out. Includes a 12% cut to both the NEC and National Network accounts. Also zeroes out the FedState partnership grant program. Absolutely all rail programs include a cut except for, unsurprisingly, CRISI, which funds primarily short line...