Landslide halts Sounder and Amtrak service north of Seattle. A slide blocked both tracks of the BNSF main line. The slide occurred between Edmonds and Mukilteo at about 7:50 a.m. on Thursday, April 2. Passenger movements through the area are suspended for 48 hours under BNSF safety protocols.
The Amtrak UP track-usage pact took effect April 1. It allows Amtrak to use a 5-mile section of UP-owned track. The segment starts near Avondale, Louisiana. Announced yesterday, the agreement reroutes the Sunset Limited onto Union Pacific infrastructure.
Lewistown Station renovations will begin next week in Pennsylvania. Amtrak is starting work at a stop served daily by the Pennsylvanian. The route is financed primarily through funds made available by PennDOT. Also, the project is aimed at improving access. It is also meant to improve the customer experience at Lewistown Station (LEW).
Securing full funding for Amtrak rail programs for fiscal year 2027 is the priority for 116 House members. In addition, this bipartisan coalition aims to maintain the investment levels originally set by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Their goal is to keep the national rail network reliable for all commuters nationwide.
NJ TRANSIT service delays have eased after Amtrak signal issues, as reported by Moovit. Rail service into and out of Penn Station New York is back to normal. Officials said delays reached up to 20 minutes. The signal problems east of the station were resolved. Service is now running on or close to schedule.
Amtrak Keystone Service cancellation notices reached passengers on Friday morning. The affected trips ran between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. The railroad cited “impassable rail” conditions between Lancaster and Philadelphia.
The NTSB Amtrak accident investigation continued earlier this week. Progressive Railroading reported on the preliminary report into the Feb. 23 collision in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In that collision, an Amtrak roadway worker was fatally struck by an Amtrak snow-patrol train.
A brush fire along tracks disrupted service on the Northeast Corridor Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, the blaze was burning on Amtrak property. At the same time, dry conditions kept it going. Also, crews worked to contain it.
Amtrak Mardi Gras service has seen stronger-than-expected demand in its first seven months. As reported by WWL Louisiana, the route carries more than 10,000 passengers a month. It runs between New Orleans and Mobile. Also, passengers told the outlet the onboard experience has been positive.
Alstom NextGen Acela helped place the rail manufacturer on Fast Company’s 2026 transportation companies list. Also, the Fast Company ranking covered the world’s most innovative transportation companies for 2026. The transportation category had 15 entries. Alstom ranked fourth. It was the only rail-related firm on the list.
The Empire Builder staffing shift is changing how Amtrak handles onboard crews. Seattle is losing its crew base. Those jobs are being consolidated in Chicago. Also, it could affect seniority, layovers, hotel stays, and day-to-day assignments at King Street Station.
New York Penn Station redevelopment is moving forward. Amtrak and US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy outlined the latest progress. Also, they said a joint venture led by AECOM has been selected. It was selected to manage the project. LiRo-Hill is working with AECOM in that joint venture. Meanwhile, NJ TRANSIT has joined as a key partner.
