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Canadian National Railway didn't play nice during the two years of track access negotiations with IDOT, so the state switched to the Metra/UP route. Service to Dubuque won't happen until CN is willing to play nice, as they're the only route west of Rockford.

Tadman, do you have any cities in mind other than Chicago? The first that comes to mind is Boston. It's already a two-terminal city for both carriers in town, and it illustrates the point perfectly. Having the downeaster shuffle around the city to South Station just because it can terminate cross-p...

How much of the current rolling stock on the San Joaquin will the Caltrans part of the order replace? Will there be enough new rolling stock in the IDOT part of the order for the proposed Quad Cities and Rockford corridors as well as the existing Midwest corridors? Cars for Rockford/Quad Cities are...

From what I have heard the Siemens cars are going to replace everything on the San Joaquin trains and the bi levels will go to the other CA services. I do have a question, sine Wisconsin North Carolina and Washington have gotten federal grants for new cars , are these to be ad on orders to the exis...

How much of the current rolling stock on the San Joaquin will the Caltrans part of the order replace? Will there be enough new rolling stock in the IDOT part of the order for the proposed Quad Cities and Rockford corridors as well as the existing Midwest corridors?

Thank you. The reason I asked is because I've proposed three changes to long distance consists that would resolve the lack-of-equipment issue in implementing some of the long-time low-hanging fruit in long distance route improvements by using some of the new Viewliners combined with equipment that w...

Does anyone know the number of train sets that are used on each of the long distance trains? I would like to know if Amtrak could be using their equipment more wisely to have a better LD network.

North Carolina (NCDOT) was inquiring in 2017 into the prospect of extending the Carolinian up to New Haven, CT and thus getting it reclassified as a long distance train (750+ miles). Privatization (and a operating as a split route) would be a hindrance to the success it has seen. Re: New Haven, CT,...

In my case, a couple trains that were discontinued before I rode were the Pioneer and Desert Wind, although I was only 2 1/2 years old when they were cut. lol

Always wanted to ride the Cal Zephyr, Olympian Hiawatha, City of San Fran, and Super Chief west, never got the chance. You can still ride one of these routes and parts of two others. The California zephyr still runs on its original route east of Salt Lake City, and west of SLC, it follows the route...

This is fantastic news. No more bridge “slots.” According to an email I received, the state is also buying the ex-C&O from Doswell to Clifton Forge. With the freight roads (except BNSF)besotted with PSR, maybe more line will come into public ownership. This could potentially lead to Virginia im...

None of the crew members I know in the Chicago SU would take a cut in order to remain in passenger service. Maybe those employees would be grandfathered and seconded from UP to Metra, and replaced one by one as they retire or move back to freight. Either way, I don't see where a knife edge approach...

Question: are there any seasonal rushes left that don't happen at the same time all over the country? Mass schools have Feb and April vacations instead of one March Spring Break; do those vacations cause extra traffic on the NEC (doubtful, but maybe one of you knows). Yes, they absolutely do. That ...

Viewdiner #68022 "Richmond" on a Bakersfield-bound San Joaquin today at Martinez. The conductor told me it was being used as an axle count car on BNSF. The rest of the consist was a Charger and four California Cars (a pretty standard SJ consist) plus a Comet. https://upload.wikimedia.org/...

If they’re extending a section to Colorado Springs, why not Denver? (I’m aware of the needed backing move at Denver Union Station; pain in the rear, but what can you do?) If you’re already negotiating with both BNSF and UP, you may as well negotiate for another hundred miles of rights. I agree with...