Amtrak

Fire rescue crews responded to a fiery crash involving a car and an Amtrak train in Oakland Park on Saturday evening. The accident occurred near Powerline and Prospect roads, prompting authorities to block grade crossings and detour traffic. First responders assessed the passengers and crew at the scene, reporting that no one was hurt.

An independent ticket challenges Illinois' two-party system, and Carolyn Schofield discussed her decision to run for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Other stories include news that the ComEd Four are headed for a possible retrial, alongside Bridgeport residents questioning the White Sox-Amtrak connection.

A $140 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration will fund upgrades to 41 Amtrak Charger locomotives for passenger trains. This investment supports Wisconsin rail service connecting it to Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. The funding was secured through a joint application involving state agencies across Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington.

The construction of Norfolk's Resort Casino, a $750M project on more than six acres between Harbor Park and the Amtrak station in Norfolk, Va., is progressing rapidly. A General Manager stated that despite being over a year past breaking ground and already reaching six stories, the building remains 'on time and on budget.'

Virginia secured $17 million in federal funding from the Department of Transportation to improve transportation infrastructure in Staunton and Chesterfield County and modernize Amtrak services across the commonwealth. The funds will support making Staunton Station safer and more accessible with a $15 million grant, while $2 million will upgrade two railroad crossings in Chesterfield County by adding overpasses or underpasses.

Amtrak reopened an East River tunnel that was heavily damaged during Superstorm Sandy after 15 months of reconstruction using $1.3 billion in federal funds. Although celebrating the phase one completion, MTA chairman Janno Lieber raised concerns about the timeline and suggested Amtrak could have improved its process. Despite the criticism, Amtrak emphasized that their complete rebuild was a necessary investment.

Amtrak has reopened the East River Tunnel line. This tunnel carries more than 450 daily trains for Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road, and NJ Transit. It underwent a year-long overhaul after sustaining damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Amtrak's Sunnyside train yard in Queens is noted for its proximity to Long Island City high-rises. Mamdani stated that the sprawling proposed housing development remains a topic of conversation. This project initially generated enthusiasm but was followed by silence.

Amtrak has suspended its train service between Seattle and Portland indefinitely following a warehouse fire. Due to this disruption, buses are currently replacing several lines of train travel in the region.

A 62-year-old man was hospitalized after his car stalled on train tracks in Morrison County and he was struck by debris from an Amtrak train collision. He escaped his car before the train hit but was injured and flown to St. Cloud Hospital. Law enforcement is investigating the incident.

AirTrain service to Newark Airport is suspended Monday through Friday between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m., disrupting travelers using NJ Transit or Amtrak. The service will operate normally on weekends.

A Business Insider reporter spent 128 hours on overnight Amtrak trains, traveling 5,000 miles and identifying eight major mistakes, including not checking WiFi access, selecting the wrong bunk, and missing lounge access. The article details lessons learned, such as joining Amtrak's rewards program and upgrading accommodations for longer trips.

A traveler paid $180 for a business-class seat on a 9-hour Amtrak ride from Rochester to New York City but concluded the upgrade was not worth the cost. They rode coach to Rochester and business class on the return trip, finding the business-class experience lacking for the price.

A Business Insider reporter compared a $400 Amtrak roomette for a 15-hour trip from Colorado to Utah with a $450 first-class seat for a 3-hour ride from Washington, DC, to NYC. The cheaper roomette offered a private 23-square-foot space with beds, meals, and amenities, while the pricier first-class seat provided a comfortable seat and similar perks but at a higher cost.

The Trump administration is seeking to rename Penn Station in honor of President Donald Trump. Secretary Sean Duffy requested Congress to allow Amtrak to rename the station, and federal officials have lobbied for the change. Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested openness to the idea.

Sextortion scammers are using email addresses from ShinyHunters data leaks to craft threatening emails demanding $2,000 in Bitcoin, falsely claiming to have recorded victims via webcam. The scammers impersonate ShinyHunters, but the group denies involvement, and no evidence supports the claims. Data breaches from companies like Amtrak, Hallmark, and ADT are being exploited in the campaign.

Sean Duffy urges Congress to direct Amtrak to rename New York Penn Station during its $8 billion overhaul. The request is part of a letter to Senate committee leaders as transportation funding reauthorization approaches expiration on Sept. 30.

The U.S. Transportation Secretary requested Congress to direct Amtrak to rename New York Penn Station. The proposed rebuild includes a presidential seal with President Trump's name etched into the wall at an entrance.

A male was hit and killed by a Virginia Railway Express (VRE) train while walking along the tracks in Spotsylvania County late Tuesday night. The incident caused significant delays for Amtrak riders.

A study estimates that adding an Amtrak station stop in downtown Suffolk, Virginia, could result in 24,000 additional annual boardings. The feasibility of returning passenger rail service to the area was evaluated over a year-long period.

Amtrak delays of up to two hours and two canceled trains are reported along the Northeast Corridor due to a signal outage in Washington. The disruption affects service in the region, with delays attributed to the technical issue.

Amtrak's study proposes building a 'super-wide' platform at Penn Station to increase train capacity without demolishing a Midtown block. The Trump administration is pursuing a plan to rebuild Penn Station and explore service improvements ahead of new Hudson River rail tunnel construction.

Westbound I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) in West Philly will close nightly for four days starting July 20 as PennDOT works on the Market Street bridge rehabilitation. The bridge will later close to vehicles until October 2027, with pedestrians and cyclists encouraged to use alternate routes. The $149 million project aims to replace sections of the 94-year-old bridge and is expected to finish in April 2029.

The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) signed a memorandum of understanding with Amtrak to revive passenger rail service between Philadelphia, Phoenixville, Pottstown, and Reading. Formed by Berks, Chester, and Montgomery counties in 2022, SRPRA aims to reconnect communities to the Northeast Corridor, with Amtrak committed to cost estimates and next-phase planning.

The proposed Front Range passenger rail service, now named Colorado Connector (CoCo), aims to connect 12 communities from Pueblo to Fort Collins using existing freight lines. The first phase, expected to start in 2029, will link Denver to Fort Collins with three daily lines, while full service across the Front Range is planned by 2032 if voters approve a sales tax increase. Amtrak will operate initial service, and funding will combine federal grants, state funds, local revenue, and potential voter-approved taxes.

Amtrak is warning of potential train delays in the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest during the Fourth of July weekend due to extreme heat, which may require reduced train speeds between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from July 1 to July 4 to protect rail infrastructure. Passengers are advised to check train status and sign up for delay alerts.

America's 250th anniversary celebrations proceeded amid extreme heat, with President Donald Trump speaking at Mount Rushmore and a ball drop in New York City. Events included military flyovers, speeches by officials, and fireworks, though heat warnings led to cancellations in some areas. Safety concerns over high temperatures prompted adjustments to festivities.

The U.S. celebrates the 250th anniversary of independence with events like fireworks at Mount Rushmore and a Times Square ball drop, but extreme heat has caused cancellations and adjustments to festivities. President Donald Trump will speak at Mount Rushmore and the National Mall, while officials warn of safety risks due to record temperatures.

Andy Byford, with transit experience in multiple cities, is leading Amtrak's plan to rebuild Penn Station as part of the Trump administration's initiative. He has sought support along the East Coast but has not secured a meeting with MTA Chair Janno Lieber.

America's 250th anniversary celebrations are underway amid extreme heat affecting events nationwide. President Donald Trump will speak at Mount Rushmore and the National Mall, while New York City hosts a July Fourth ball drop. Heat warnings have led to event cancellations and safety measures, and political divisions are evident through rival organizations Freedom 250 and America250.

Dangerous heat across the eastern U.S. is disrupting Fourth of July celebrations, leading to event cancellations, reschedulings, and safety measures. Record temperatures and high humidity have forced changes to parades, fireworks, and outdoor activities in cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania.

Extreme heat in the eastern U.S. is disrupting Fourth of July celebrations, with events canceled or rescheduled due to dangerous temperatures and humidity. A heat dome is causing record-breaking conditions, prompting safety measures like cooling centers and energy conservation requests. Philadelphia, Boston, and Pennsylvania communities are among those altering plans.

Extreme heat across the eastern U.S. is disrupting Fourth of July celebrations, with record temperatures and humidity forcing event cancellations, rescheduling, and safety measures like cooling centers. Philadelphia, Boston, and Pennsylvania towns like Lower Windsor Township and Norristown have altered plans, while Amtrak canceled routes and New York officials urged energy conservation.

Amtrak trains may face delays until 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday due to extreme heat in the Northeast, with temperatures in the upper 90s causing potential disruptions between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

A federal judge ruled the Trump administration must fund the Gateway Tunnel rail project, ending a legal dispute over withheld federal funds. The $16 billion project aims to replace a century-old tunnel under the Hudson River critical for Amtrak and New Jersey Transit, with work resuming after frozen funds were reinstated.

The author compared Amtrak's coach and business class on the Ethan Allen Express from New York to Vermont, finding the business class upgrade (which cost an extra $80) underwhelming due to minimal perks like a non-alcoholic drink and slightly better seating, and concluded it wasn't worth the price.

Amtrak and the Trump administration are promoting a Penn Station redesign featuring numerous public benches, contrasting with New York City's trend of removing seating to deter loitering and homelessness.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging the MTA and Amtrak to collaborate on rebuilding Penn Station, following the Trump administration's push for the project. MTA Chair Janno Lieber stated there is no disagreement with Hochul on handling the initiative.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber accused the Trump administration of attempting to deceive the agency over the Penn Station redevelopment plan, citing a lack of MTA involvement since the project was taken over by federal authorities. Lieber criticized the Trump Department of Transportation and Amtrak's selection of a master developer and disputed the need for the MTA to sign a Memorandum of Agreement that would relinquish control over part of the station.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber criticized Amtrak's Penn Station reconstruction plan as 'bizarre' and refused to become a partner. Lieber raised concerns about Amtrak's oversight of the project.