There really needs to be a sad face emoji on this forum. The orange one ambushes everything he wants to kill or privatize, so of course Amtrak is on his hit list.
The deployment of the new Acela trains might not be that far off (itâs already late, Spring passed, weâre in Summer now). Someone on reddit posted a picture (see below) from Philadelphiaâs 30th Street Station, where a banner announcing the arrival of the new Acela trains is on display.
However, at some point after the post was made, others are reporting that the banner is no longer visible and moved out of sight.
= sad face emoji -
Hereâs an update regarding the East River tunnel rehabiliation project.
Not really an update but more of a gripe over the fact that passengers on the Chicago-bound Lake Shore Limited need to travel backwards between Pennsylvania Station and Rensselaer.
What would be really interesting is an update on whether Amtrak intends on introducing its new Acela this year. But at least they have some new enchiladas for the first-class customers:
Whatâs more, Amtrak appears to have suspend rail service between Rensselaer and Springfield, MA. It may be due to a sinkhole that needs to be repaired.
People will always have something to complain about. I donât know how these critics wanted the LIRR/Amtrak to renovate the tubes but the current approach at least lets some service run. Shutting two out of four tubes at least lets some service run. Trains can exit Penn using one tube and enter using the other, much like the Hudson tunnels.
Always an eye roll moment for me when these articles refer to Amtrak as a âmoney-losing service.â
If thatâs their concern then certainly we should be critical of the billions that are lost on roadway maintenance every year.
Basically every public transit operation is a âmoney losingâ service. Transit is a public service and not indended to make money or be âprofitableâ. If it is profitable, then great, but it shouldnât be profit driven.
Roads such as the interstate highways are also money losing and siphon billions from state and federal coffers and nobody bats an eye.
Also, a proper East River Tunnel update:
https://www.railway.supply/en/amtrak-completes-major-phase-in-east-river-tunnel-project/
Amtrak Announces Workforce Cuts and Ends High-Speed Rail Funding
16.07.2025
Amtrak will cut 10% of jobs and end funding for new high-speed rail projects as part of a major cost-cutting plan to align with federal priorities. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
https://www.railway.supply/en/amtrak-announces-workforce-cuts-and-ends-high-speed-rail-funding/
Such tragic news. I can assume this will also impact future NEC improvements that arenât fully funded yet and high speed service expansion. âFederal Prioritiesâ means gutting transit and trains and dumping the cash into highway expansions instead.
update on the deep hole in upstate NY
trains will be suspended until January 2026
Bill aims to prioritize rail freight, untangle congestion - FreightWaves
WASHINGTON â A bill stripping government-backed preference given to Amtrak passenger service over track shared with freight railroads has been reintroduced in Congress as a way to alleviate congestion near ports and rail yards.
The Freights First Act was introduced in 2022 by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R, S.D., but died before making it out of committee. It was resurrected on Friday by U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, R, Mo.
âThe backbone of Americaâs economy is a strong and reliable supply chain,â Burlison said in a press release.
âWhen freight rail is forced to wait for passenger trains near critical infrastructure, our entire economy suffers. My Freights First Act removes this barrier and ensures goods arrive on time and without costly delays.â
Federal law in place since Amtrak was created gives passenger service preference over freight railroads on shared tracks, âbut often creates unnecessary bottlenecks near ports and major rail yards,â Burlisonâs office asserted.
For five years after the bill is enacted, âintercity and commuter rail passenger transportation provided by or for Amtrak shall not have preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing if such rail line, junction, or crossing is located within 50 miles of a port or rail yard,â according to text in the 2022 bill. A copy of the latest bill was not immediately available.
Even if signed into law, this new bill will not lead to any changes for Amtrak customers compared to the current situation, as the existing rule that gives Amtrak preference over freight railroads on shared infrastructure is never enforced.
While it doesnât change the status quo, it sets a major precedent that passenger rail is not important, and itâd require repealing, which may be difficult depending on who is in Congress (or the President can just executive order it out) if a future president puts measures in to enforce the existing bill where Amtrak has priority.
Another issue is that a number of major destinations and routes Amtrak runs on are often near ports, especially on the West and East coasts and there are many rail yards so basically Amtrak is in a lose-lose situation.
Breaking news -
what do you think of this breaking news, @stache ?
More relevant. I donât need to hear about every hot dog stand that opens in Grand Central.