amtrak

COLLISION IMPACTS AMTRAK AND METRO-NORTH RAIL SERVICE

A collision between two Metro-North Railroad commuter trains in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Friday, May 17 continued to have an impact on both Metro-North and Amtrak service the following week. Amtrak’s Acela Express and Northeast Regional trains between New York Penn Station and Boston were suspended completely for several days. So was Metro-North service from New York to New Haven, Connecticut. Metro-North offered alternate transportation for passengers traveling between New Haven and Grand Central Terminal via a train-bus-train connection. The extensive damage to the rails and overhead wires was to be repaired and inspected before full service restored. (TravelMole.com, 5/20/2013)

Posted in Industry News, New York City, Train, US | Tagged Acela Express, amtrak, Metro-North

AIR TRAFFIC HASSLES DRIVE TRAVELERS TO AMTRAK’S ACELA

Amtrak is dominating commercial travel in the Washington-New York-Boston corridor this summer and its trains are packed. High fares, slow airport security and frequent flight delays–along with Amtrak’s high-speed Acela trains, online ticketing and workstation amenities–have eaten away at the Delta and US Airways shuttles’ previously leading share of passengers. Amtrak claims that 75 percent of New York-Washington travelers now go by train, up from a third prior to 2001, and 54 percent on the New York-Boston route use the train. Amtrak claims an on-time rate in excess of 90%. (The New York Times, August 15)

Posted in Railroad, Train | Tagged Acela, amtrak

RAIL NEWS

Amtrak issued its new strategic plan for reorganization to improve financial performance and customer service. Four business divisions will be established with clear fiscal accountability; Northeast Corridor Services, Long Distance Services, State Supported Services and Commuter Services. (TravelPulse.com, May 12)

The high-speed rail operator, Eurostar, seeks to compete with airlines and expand train service between London and Paris to include a network of cities across Western Europe such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Cologne, Lyon, Geneva and Marseille. (Airwise.com, May 14)

Posted in Train | Tagged amtrak

AMTRAK ON PACE TO BREAK NEW RIDERSHIP RECORD

amtrak

Amtrak says ridership was up 4.3% during the first half of fiscal 2010 with a record 13.6 million passengers. That’s about 100,000 more riders than the 13.5 million in the first half of fiscal 2008. That fiscal year turned out to be the highest ridership in Amtrak’s history when 28.7 million passengers boarded trains. President and CEO Joseph Boardman cited an improving economy and high fuel prices as factors in ridership growth. Amtrak says it saw growth in its Northeast Corridor, particularly its high-speed Acela Express service, as well as long-distance routes including service between Chicago and New Orleans, and New Orleans and Los Angeles. (USAToday.com, April 5)

Posted in Railroad | Tagged amtrak

NEW FEES & FREEBIES

Amtrak offers free Wi-Fi

The U.S. State Department will increase the fees charged for passport and visa services. A new passport for adults will cost $135 up from $100, for minors $105 up from $85. Fees for passport renewals will also go up. For more information check, regulations.gov . . . . President Obama has signed into law the Travel Promotion Act, citing the travel industry as an economic stimulant promoting the U.S. as an attractive tourist destination . . . Soon, visitors from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program will pay a $10 fee every other year, when they register online to support this program. (CNN.com, Mar. 5) . . . Amtrak offers free Wi-Fi on all 20 Acela Express trains operating between Boston and Washington, DC to first and business class riders. (BTNOnline.com, March 5) . . . Sprint is sponsoring a free “MiFi” lounge in JFK’s Terminal 8. MiFi is a wireless Internet hotspot on a cellular data network. (USAToday.com, March 8)

Posted in Train | Tagged amtrak, JFK, Passport Fee, Sprint, U.S. State Department, Visa Waiver Program

FREE WI-FI ACCESS ROLLS FROM AIRPORTS TO TRAINS

FREE WI-FI

Google’s free Wi-Fi internet access, which has been available since November for holiday travelers at 32 airports nationwide, ends Friday, Jan. 15. Some airports will continue free service such as Seattle/Tacoma Airport. Houston Intercontinental is giving travelers the first 45 minutes free. Otherwise, the airport will charge $7.95 for one-day. In the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak’s Acela trains will soon be equipped with Wi-Fi Internet access. Installation should be completed by March and will be offered to riders for free initially. (USAToday.com, Jan. 12)

Posted in Airline News | Tagged amtrak, amtrak's acela, free, free wi-fi, google, holiday, seattle, tacoma airport