Most Florida, Georgia Service Restored

Amtrak resumed partial operation on Sunday of services that had been cancelled to Florida and Georgia due to Hurricane Ian.

The Auto Train between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, resumed operating over the length of its route as did the New York-Savannah, Georgia, Palmetto.

The Silver Star for now is operating only between New York and Jacksonville, Florida.

Passengers traveling to Orlando and Tampa were to be accommodated on a bus.

The first southbound Silver Star departed New York on Sunday. The first northbound Star is to leave Jacksonville on Monday.

The service advisory did not say when service between Jacksonville and Miami would be restored.

Service Cancellations Continue Today Due to Ian

Amtrak services to Florida and Georgia that had earlier this week been cancelled due to Hurricane Ian will remain largely sidelined today (Oct. 1).

In a service advisory Amtrak said the Auto Train and Silver Star are cancelled on Saturday over the length of their routes.

The Palmetto will operate between New York and Washington, but is cancelled between Washington and Savannah, Georgia.

Palmetto Suspended due to Hurricane Ian

Amtrak has suspended operations of the New-York Savannah, Georgia, Palmetto due to Hurricane Ian.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said No. 89 did not operate south of Washington on Thursday and will do so again today. Service south of Washington is suspended.

Earlier in the week, Amtrak had announced that the Auto Train and Silver Star would be suspended through Friday over the entirety of their routes.

The service advisory, which was posted on Thursday morning, did not indicated which of these trains might resume operating on Saturday.

CSX Track Work to Affect Palmetto

Track work being performed by host railroad CSX will affect Amtrak’s New York-Savannah, Georgia, Palmetto during early to mid-September.

Between Sept. 6-9 and 12-15 Train 89 will operate normally from New York to Dillon, South Carolina, and then on an adjusted schedule between Dillon and Savannah.

It will depart Dillon at 6:09 p.m., 60 minutes later than normal, operating on this later schedule from Dillon to Savannah.

On the same dates, Train 90 will depart Savannah at 6:35 a.m., 60 minutes earlier than normal, operating on this earlier schedule from Savannah to Richmond Staples Mill station.

From Richmond, No. 90 will depart at 4:11 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than normal. It will depart Washington at its normal scheduled departure time of 7:57 p.m.

Palmetto Disrupted by CSX Track Work

CSX track work is affecting operations of Amtrak’s Palmetto on weekdays through May 20.

Trains 89 and 90 are canceled on Monday through Thursday with no alternative transportation being provided.

An Amtrak service advisory said passengers should book alternative travel dates or use other Amtrak trains.

On Fridays, Train 89 will operate on an adjusted schedule between Washington and Savannah, Georgia, departing Washington at 10:45 a.m., 45 minutes later than normal.

It will then depart Richmond Staples Mill station at 3:19 p.m., three hours later than normal.

South of Richmond No. 89 will depart all stations between Fayetteville and Savannah 210 minutes later than normal on the affected dates.

Train 90 will depart Savannah at 6:15 a.m., 80 minutes earlier than normal. It will depart Richmond Staples Mill at 4:01 p.m., 40 minutes earlier than normal.

Train 90 will depart Washington at the normal scheduled departure time of 7:10 p.m.

Trains 89 and 90 will operate normally on Saturday and Sunday.

Palmetto Running Later SB

CSX track work is disrupting operation of Amtrak’s southbound Palmetto on weekdays through March 3.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said that starting Feb. 22 Train 89 would operate on a modified schedule to accommodate the maintenance work.

No. 89 will depart Philadelphia at 8 a.m., 20 minutes later than normal; will depart Washington at 10:45 a.m., 45 minutes later than normal; will depart Richmond  (Staples Mills station)  at 2:49 p.m., 150 minutes later than normal; and will operate at all stations between Dillon, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, 171 minutes later than normal.

The northbound Palmetto will operate on its normal schedule during the time period.

Amtrak Cancels Trains Due to Snowstorm

Amtrak announced Friday afternoon widespread service cancellations ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the Northeast today and dump up to two feet of snow in some areas.

Although most of the cancellations involve Eastern corridor services, some long-distance trains are affected, including the Lake Shore Limited.

Nos. 48 and 448 did not depart Chicago on Friday night. Combined with a scheduled cancellation of the Capitol Limited, this meant that no Amtrak trains for the East Coast departed Chicago on Friday.

Through late March, the Capitol is scheduled to skip departing Chicago and Washington on Fridays and Saturdays.

Amtrak’s website shows the Lake Shore still scheduled to leave Chicago Saturday night.

However, the westbound Lake Shore Limited from New York and Boston on Saturday has been cancelled, meaning there will be no Amtrak service from the East Coast to Chicago leaving today.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said the northbound New York-Charlotte Carolinian will terminate in Washington on Saturday. The southbound Carolinian will originate in Washington on Sunday.

The same plan is in effect for the New York-Savannah, Georgia Palmetto.

The New York-Pittsburgh Pennsylvania is thus far unaffected by the service cuts, but Keystone Service between New York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, via Philadelphia, will be limited. No Keystone trains will operate between Philadelphia and New York.

The Vermonter will be canceled Saturday the length of its route.

Empire Corridor service will be limited between New York and Albany-Rensselaer, New York, but the Maple Leaf and other trains to Niagara Falls, New York, are still scheduled to operate.

All service between New York and Boston, as well as the shuttle trains between Springfield, Massachusetts, and New Haven, Connecticut, are canceled on Saturday.

Also canceled are all Acela trains between Washington and New York. Four Northeast Regional trains, including two that operate into Virginia, have been scrubbed. Downeaster service between Boston and Maine will be limited.

On Sunday Northeast Regional Nos. 150 and 160 (Boston-New York) are cancelled as is Downeaster No. 690.

Northeast Regional No. 195 (Boston-Richmond, Virginia) will originate in New York as will No. 195 (Boston-Newport News, Virginia).

Track Work Leads to Palmetto Cancellations

Track work being performed by CSX has led Amtrak to cancel the Palmetto in both directions on Jan. 26 and 27.

In a service advisory, Amtrak said no alternative transportation is being offered. Trains 89 and 90 operate daily between New York and Savannah, Georgia.

In an unrelated development, Amtrak also said the elevator in the station in New Carrollton, Maryland, is temporarily out of service.

The advisory said the elevators is expected to be out of service for five weeks due to construction taking place at the station.

The elevators connects the station waiting area with the boarding platforms.

New Carrollton is located on the Northeast Corridor 10 miles north of Washington Union Station.

Silver Star Consists Expanded

In suspending the New York-Miami Silver Meteor starting Jan. 24 Amtrak said it would increase capacity as needed on two other trains operating in the corridor.

Trains magazine reported on its website that the New York-Miami Silver Star has been assigned additional coaches and Viewliner sleeping cars.

The Star is now operating with up to five sleeping cars. It normally ran with two. The Meteor, however, typically ran with more cars, including three sleeping cars.

In its report, Trains said the Meteor typically has more cars than its counterpart because the Meteor has more connecting traffic from western and northern cities.

The schedule of the Silver Star, is not conducive to as much connecting business.

The Trains report noted that the additional capacity that has been added to the Silver Star is in contrast with continued less than normal capacity on many other long distance trains.

The Silver Star and Silver Meteor follow different routes through North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia between Selma, North Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.

The Palmetto, uses the same route as the Silver Meteor and is also continuing to operate daily between New York and Savannah.

The story can be viewed at https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/seeking-the-pricing-capacity-sweet-spot-on-two-florida-trains-analysis/

Siemens to Build New Cars for Amtrak

Amtrak will contract with Siemens for new equipment that will be assigned to service in the Northeast Corridor, on some state-supported trains and for the New York-Savannah, Georgia, Palmetto.

The passenger carrier said Siemens was chosen as the “preferred bidder” to build 83 intercity trainsets.

Siemens is already constructing new Venture cars to be used for Midwest and California corridor services.

Amtrak said it chose Siemens as part of a competitive procurement process that began in January 2019.

The new equipment will feature dual power in some cases and will replace Amfleet I and Metroliner cab cars.

The equipment is also expected to replace existing equipment used in Cascades Service in the Pacific Northwest.

Siemens and Amtrak are talking about a contract for construction and long-term service that both parties hope to sign this summer.

The contract would also include technical support, spares and material supply.

An Amtrak spokeswoman said the carrier would not release any other information about the equipment order beyond what was reported in a news release.