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My guess is construction. Schedule seems to revert back to normal 8/2.

The same applies to 88. NYS 7 is perfectly sufficient to handle the load.

I think the 23 is gone for good. The tracks have been paved over in many places. The wire that is still up has to be totally shot by now, so at this point it’s more adding a brand new service than a restoration. The trolley route was also split from its original 20 some mile route into two...

It’s a long story. We keep using them because we had them and every project on the 15 is lurching around a crisis. They should be replaced with the new order in 2030. They are also a lot better than the rolling stock available in the 80’s when SEPTA replaced most of the PCC fleet. The PCC’s are...

Apparently 35005 is a “snack coach.” It was a regular coach converted to offer some sort of cafe service. I had never heard of such a thing before. I personally don’t get the whole business class that isn’t business class business, but if people want to pay, let ‘em. This new Superliner...

This would require NY to work together with VT in a rare collegiality, but perhaps it would be possible to run the Adirondack to Burlington temporarily. It’s far from ideal, but it would maintain service to the two busiest upstate stations and Burlington would have the capability to overnight a...

I was reading the 2021 Vermont Rail plan and I‘d like to draw attention two areas that have developed since its publication. 1. The Burlington extension of the Ethan Allen Express was expected to bring 20,739 additional riders to Vermont by 2040. That seems very likely to be exceeded this year...

I’ll echo that, less than 2 hours seems to be too short to necessitate intercity service. Many people make commutation trips of that length. There’s really no need for cafe service. METRA offers lavatories. METRA will be better able to lengthen trains to meet holiday demand than Amtrak could...

The problem with 65/66/67 carrying baggage is that those trains, I believe, are no longer serviced by the same two sets of equipment 151 flips to 66, 66 to 67, 67 to ?… @Anderson would know for certain. So you end up equipping more trains than originally intended and it gets messy. Of course...

The service seems to still exist. I just did a test booking. It is bookable by entering your originating station to SAF online. A ticket agent or 1-800-USA-RAIL could also help. Another option is changing at ABQ to RailRunner, the local commuter rail option, especially if you are coming from the...

I think the most feasible proposal is the extension of Trains 391/392 to Memphis. That really just becomes a matter of capacity. Those trains already run with extra rolling stock to meet the insane axle count requirement. The downside is coming up with an additional Superliner train set...

Monday 6/19 I had to make a quick business trip out to Downingtown, PA from Philadelphia. Ordinarily, like most cheapskates, I would take SEPTA, but I had to arrive well before the first SEPTA train did, so, arm being badly twisted, I had to take Amtrak (shucks, I hate when I have to take the...

If the Montreal Terminal was switched, would that make the whole pre-checked customs disaster project go any better? I.e is the problem technical at Gare Central, or administrative, not suggesting the two are mutually exclusive?

I think this is all illustrative of my point. The question was raised of truncating at Plattsburgh. The average per train originations/terminations in Canada is 91 and change. Per train ridership to St. Lambert is 3, so at least 88 make the crossing. Of course there are heavy days and slow days...

As to New York’s commitment to the line qua Montreal or Upstate New York, I think it’s a question of both. Traffic between Montreal and upstate stations may be necessary for the train to be financially viable. The new RPA stats aren’t helpful to figure out anything about the Adirondack because...

This weekend Friday and Sunday are about sold out PDX-SEA. Saturday is not slow by any means. I know this is shocking information. Time for another coach

I saw a PCC doing testing today on the Route 15. About 10 motormen were aboard. Here’s hoping to a restoration. As a rider, there are a litany of reasons to restore as many of our trolleys as possible. Trolleys are faster, smoother, quieter, and cleaner running. They are better liked by...

It’s all well and good except because of this temporary solution, the permanent repair is scheduled for completion in 2026, so I’m told. Three years of a permanent lane restriction with intermittent further restrictions. I guess that’s good for SEPTA longer term, but they literally just finished...

At the risk of dragging things further off topic: I call nonsense of the whole people don’t use paper schedules thing. SEPTA still prints schedules and, whenever they come out, they set these giant boxes out at the Center City terminals and mobs of people crawl out of the woodwork to get them...

I agree capacity is again a major issue on the Cascades. Friday is totally sold out PDX-SEA; Saturday and Sunday are much the same. Per Wikipedia the new Venture sets will handle about 300 passengers, while the 12 car Talgos can fit 304, so the current difference is probably 75-100, or just...