Grade crossing collision, bomb threat, and minor d

[Viewliner]

Click here for the full story

Grade crossing collision, bomb threat, and minor derailment snarl Amtrak
A truck driver was killed Friday when he drove his rig into the path of the New Orleans-bound Amtrak Crescent in Meridian, Miss. No passengers were injured in the 4 p.m. grade crossing collision, but the train’s engineer was taken to a hospital as a precaution, the Meridian Star reported. A Norfolk Southern locomotive replaced the Crescent’s damaged lead unit, and the train departed Meridian after a 4.5-hour delay.

Then on Sunday night near Pittsburgh, the Chicago-bound Capitol Limited stopped in McKeesport, Pa., after a passenger made a bomb threat, The Associated Press reported. All 104 passengers and 15 crew members were evacuated from the train while FBI agents searched the consist. No explosives were found, but two men were arrested. The train arrived 3.5 hours late in Chicago.

Meanwhile, in Florida, the Auto Train ran into trouble as it neared the end of its run Sunday. A locomotive and dining car derailed as the train pulled into the station at Sanford. No one was injured, but passengers had to wait for nearly 10 hours to retrieve their vehicles from the train, Amtrak said.

 

[Amfleet]

Don't forget the Beech Grove disaster.

 

[Viewliner]

How could I

I already made a post in the appropriate topic.

 

[Amfleet]

It was supposed to be humorous. You know just part of the growing black cloud over Amtrak. Ha Ha, Laugh Laugh. B)

 

[Viewliner]

It was supposed to be humorous. You know just part of the growing black cloud over Amtrak. Ha Ha, Laugh Laugh. B)

So add this :lol:

 

[Viewliner]

Anybody know about this?

A man who allegedly made a bomb threat on the westbound Capitol Limited on September 22 is being held in the Allegheny County Jail, in Pittsburgh, on a drug-possession warrant in Georgia. The train, which happened to have Amtrak President David Gunn aboard, was stopped for over two hours 10 miles east of Pittsburgh and evacuated so it could be searched. The man who allegedly made the threat was another passenger, and the U.S. Attorney's office was deciding whether to press charges.

On another Note

The Amtrak station at Meridian, Miss., regained daily agent service today, including checked-baggage service.

Anybody know about this?

The new rail station at Albany-Rensselaer opened September 22, with a ribbon-cutting the following morning. The first-day crowds gave the new station great reviews, especially from those who had just used the old station days before, according to a September 23 article in the Albany Times Union. Amtrak is still using the old station for crew quarters until that can be moved to the new building in October. After that, the old station will be razed, with some of that space being used for additional tracks.

Those Stories and more can be found here at the NARP Hotline

 

[tp49]

If my memroy serves me right the mayor of Meridian, Mississippi (a.k.a. America's Largest Truck Stop) is or was a member of the Amtrak board which would explain the return of staffing and checked baggage service there.

 

[AlanB]

If my memroy serves me right the mayor of Meridian, Mississippi (a.k.a. America's Largest Truck Stop) is or was a member of the Amtrak board which would explain the return of staffing and checked baggage service there.

Forget member of the board, he's Chairman of the board. However your memory is still serving you, since this means that he's still a member of the board.

See how it helps to have friends in high places. :lol:

Interestingly enough he's a Republican just like former Chairman Tommy Thompson (now secretary of Health & Human Services). Two republicans who do see the value of trains and Amtrak, in a sea of republicans who have no use for Amtrak. This was one of the reasons the John Robert Smith was picked, as it was hoped that this would influence the White House and a republican Congress. The other front runner for chairman was Michael Dukakis who is a democrat.