United Rail Passenger Alliance

Volume 5 Number 16

1. Here’s a follow-up to the saga of commuter rail in Central Florida, as reported in the previous This Week at Amtrak. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 15

1. New commuter rail in Central Florida went down on Friday in the Florida Senate, but it may not be out. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 14

1. Mayday! Mayday! Yes, it’s May Day, and Amtrak is having its 37th anniversary of operations, and it still needs all the help it can get. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 13

1. Amtrak has of late been wooing various parts of these united states trying to drum up new business for the corporation. Instead of looking to expand the most profitable parts of Amtrak’s business — the long distance train network — Amtrak is seeking to have more states and commonwealths simply hand it money from the various state treasuries to run local and regional passenger trains. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 12

1. As everyone knows by now, it’s the silly season, when politics are in the air, and presidential campaigns are in full swing. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 11

1. IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE ABOUT THE SUNSET LIMITED. The moment may be close at hand. Reports from various reliable sources have indicated the Sunset Limited may be back in Florida, perhaps as early at the first of June. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 10

1. NEWS FLASH! Three cheers for the Union Pacific Railroad; Amtrak’s reservations web site is showing sleeping car space available on the full route of the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, effective April 1, 2008. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 9

1. Amtrak’s well respected Inspector General, Fred Weiderhold, Jr., needs to act swiftly and decisively. A mess has been dropped in Mr. Weiderhold’s lap that isn’t pretty, and it may involve fraud and other criminal acts. Mr. Weiderhold is the only one who can get to the bottom of this and clean up what has become an unholy confusion where reputations are on the line. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 8

1. This came floating over the This Week at Amtrak transom from an Amtrak employee, and it’s too important to ignore. This message clearly demonstrates how very dedicated so many Amtrak workers are to their jobs and good passenger service, but are unable to perform because their own company — which demands much from them — will not provide them with the right tools and environment to do their jobs. Read more…

Volume 5 Number 7

COAST STARLIGHT LATE UPDATE: The Los Angeles Times reported at 10 P.M. EST February 19, 2008: Amtrak officials said they will provide coach service between Sacramento and Portland, Oregon, starting February 29th. From Portland, riders can connect with the Cascades service to Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Only coach-class service is available, with no dining service provided.

Read more…