Carbondale Waiting Room Closed for Some Trains

The waiting room of the Amtrak station in Carbondale, Illinois, has been closed temporarily for Trains 391 (southbound Saluki) and 392 (northbound Illini) until further notice.

Amtrak said in a service advisory that trains will continue to stop at the station and passengers will have access to platforms.

Passengers traveling on Trains 391 and 392 will not have access to the inside of the station or restrooms during this time.

The waiting room will be available for other trains, including the City of New Orleans in both directions and the northbound Saluki and southbound Illini.

Pittsburgh Station Elevator Out of Service Through October

The elevator at the Amtrak station is out of service through Oct. 1.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said a new elevator is being installed with work having started on July 14.

Until October passengers will reach boarding platforms via stairways inside the station.

Passengers needing assistance in reaching the boarding area are urged to contact a customer service representative at the ticket office.

Shuttle Operating to Elk Station

A shuttle service has been established to the Amtrak station in Elko, Nevada.

Elko County’s public transportation system, Get My Ride, has partnered with Amtrak to provide the shuttle, which uses an ADA accessible mini bus to shuttle passengers who parked on the opposite side of the station for each arrival of the California Zephyr.

The Elko County Get My Ride team will monitor train status of Nos. 5 and 6.

In a service advisory, Amtrak urged passengers to allow extra time to board their train if they are parking on the opposite side of the station.

Rounding the Curve in Mendota

Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr comes around a curve on host railroad BNSF and is about to pass the station in Mendota, Illinois.

Mendota is not a stop for Trains 5 and 6 so it will just slip right by. Train 5 has a consist of three sleepers, dining car, Sightseer Lounge, two coaches and a Viewliner baggage car. On the point are the customary two P42DC locomotives.

The image was made on July 14, 2021.

One Morning at Chicago Union Station

It is Sept. 9. 1995, on the north side of Chicago Union Station. A Hiawatha Service train sits adjacent to the equipment to be used later today for the outbound Empire Builder.

At the time, Hiawatha Service trains were using former Metroliner cab cars. This equipment also was common at the time on the Chicago-Detroit route.

Note the mismatching liveries on the Superliner equipment on the Empire Builder. Amtrak was moving into a new look for its rolling stock and the old and new continued to mix for a while.

Temporary Changes at 3 Amtrak Stations

Temporary changes have affected operations at three Amtrak stations.

In Eugene, Oregon, the Amtrak Thruway stop for the University of Oregon has temporarily moved due to events taking place in the current location.

The temporary stop is on Alder and East 18th Street at the Clinical Services Building.

In McComb, Mississippi, the waiting room of the Amtrak station has temporarily closed due to fire damage.

Amtrak’s City of New Orleans will continue to stop at the station and passengers will have access to boarding platforms.

There will be no public access to the inside of the station or restrooms during this time. Trains will board on the north end of the platform by the parking lot.

At the station in Santa Ana, California, elevators will be out of service between June 28 and July 1 due to maintenance work.

Affected are pedestrian bridge elevators 1 and 2. The boarding platform will be accessible by stairs or along Santa Ana Boulevard.

Passengers requiring an elevator may also board at the local stations of Irvine or Anaheim.

Man Charged in Connection With Amtrak Depot Fire in Mississippi

A Mississippi man has been charged with arson in connection with a fire that damaged the Amtrak station in McComb, Mississippi.

Markez Belmont Smith, 20, of McComb was taken into custody earlier this week.

The fire caused extensive damage to the more than a century old depot, but local officials believe the basic structure can be salvaged.

McComb is served by Amtrak’s City of New Orleans, which operates between Chicago and its namesake city.

The station was built in 1901 by the Illinois Central Railroad.

Fire Damages Mississippi Amtrak Station

A former Illinois Central Railroad Station in Mississippi that is still used by Amtrak was damaged by fire this week.

The fire in the station in McComb occurred in the north end of the depot where a local history museum has its offices and archives.

News reports indicated the station, which was built in 1901, was on fire when the southbound City of New Orleans arrived for its station stop.

McComb fire chief Gary McKenzie estimated 90 percent of the museum’s artifacts were located in the building’s south end and could be saved. McKenzie expressed confidence that the depot’s basic structure could be salvaged.

The station had been renovated in 1998 and has housed a museum since 2001.

Stairway Project to Affect Fullerton Station

A stairway replacement project at the Amtrak station in Fullerton, California, will result in passengers having to use an elevator to cross the tracks for the next several months.

The project, which is being undertaken by the Orange County Transportation Authority, in coordination with Metrolink, involves replacement of the stairs to the pedestrian walkway over the tracks at the Fullerton Transportation Center.

Work was expected to begin with the staircase on the platform north of the tracks, then move to the south.

Elevators will be operational between 4 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily. The project is expected to be completed by late 2021.

Palm Springs Station Temporarily Closed

Damage caused by sandstorms has led to the temporary closing of the Amtrak station in Palm Springs, California.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said the storms caused sand drifts near the station, which resulted in unsafe conditions.

The advisory said Amtrak is working with host railroad Union Pacific to repair the station area as soon as possible.

Palm Springs is served by the tri-weekly New Orleans-Los Angeles Sunset Limited.