New coach designs for the Northeastern routes were unveiled. A much-needed upgrade.
These trains will be found on routes such as the Northeast Corridor, Adirondack, Carolinian, Downeaster, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Maple Leaf, New Haven/Springfield Service (Amtrak Hartford Line and Valley Flyer), Pennsylvanian, Vermonter and Virginia Services.
These look fantastic, will be nice to start seeing the new trainsets come online, will feel like the NEC is entering the 21st century…even if its just a minor step forward in the grand scheme of things
This is the second-busiest Amtrak corridor in the country, connecting two huge cities, San Diego and Los Angeles. But it’s been partially out of service (with the gap covered by bus) since September 30, 2022 due to movement of the tracks in connection with coastal erosion. Much of the route goes right next to the Pacific Ocean. Now they’ve been doing stabilization works and will reinstate weekend through-train service next month, but weekday full service won’t fully resume until end of March. That’s a full half year of disrupted service!
Also, there’s been storm-related damage near Santa Barbara, and full service there won’t resume for another three weeks.
This is just the beginning.
More stuff relating to new trains
Amtrak is doing track work on the Hell Gate Line.
Amtrak train 66, the overnight train from Roanoke to Boston, and train 67, the overnight train from Boston to Newport News, will apparently not run between NY and Boston due to the partial track outage. Those service changes will begin April 3.
Amtrak will expand from a two-track railroad to a four-track railroad in most locations between New Rochelle and Hell Gate Bridge.
The Hell Gate Bridge has room for four tracks, I wonder if they’re going to re-add the 4th track and perhaps give it a new coat of paint.
Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel replacement project to start this friday.