Amtrak restores daily service for 12 long-distance routes

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Amtrak restores daily service for 12 long-distance routes

BY LIZ CAREY | MARCH 12, 2021 | FEATURED

Before President Joe Biden signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, Amtrak announced that it will restore 12 long-distance daily routes between May 24 and June 7.

The bill, which includes $1.7 billion in emergency funding for Amtrak, requires that Amtrak return daily service to long-distance routes within 90 days of the bill’s passage, as well as requiring Amtrak to bring back furloughed railroad workers.

{snip}

The returning routes include the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco, the Capitol Limited from Washington DC to Chicago, the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles, and the City of New Orleans from Chicago to New Orleans. ... Amtrak said it would continue to operate the Auto Train daily, and the Cardinal and Sunset Limited trains tri-weekly.

Restoring the schedule will allow the company to invest in long-distance service, the company said, which will include things like new sleeping care, upgraded bedding, towels and linens in private rooms on the Auto Train, and fully refreshed Amfleet II cars for Coach class routes along the East Coast with new seating cushions, carpet, curtains and LED reading lights.

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[Wicked Blue]

1. They need to fix the tracks on the Capitol Limited route

The train takes 7 hours from Rockville MD to Pittsburgh because the trains have to go about 30-35 mph along some of the way. By car it's just under 4 hours.

[TheRealNorth]

2. I agree

If they want to truly make rail competitive, we need high speed rail. Of course, that also means infrastructure investments to make it safe.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Too bad they don't name all of the routes in the article.

Four of twelve. I wonder what the other eight are.