What Penn Station’s $6 Billion Makeover Means for NYC
For decades, New York City’s Pennsylvania Station has been an eyesore. The Western Hemisphere’s busiest transit hub, it’s a deflating gateway to the the Big Apple for tourists and a daily ordeal for commuters from Long Island and New Jersey. Now it’s poised to get an expensive makeover. That is, if government officials, neighborhood activists, investors and real estate developers can agree on how to carry out a $6 billion renovation that, while a step down from a plan originally put forward by f
washingtonpost.comAmtrak temporarily closing second Washtenaw County railroad crossing
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - The second in a series of temporary Amtrak closures at Washtenaw County railroad crossings is slated to begin on Wednesday. The Superior Road railroad crossing, between Huron River Drive and Geddes Road north of Ypsilanti, is slated to close to all traffic beginning on July 20, and lasting for approximately four days, according to a notice from the Washtenaw County Road Commission. Read more: Amtrak temporarily closing railroad crossing in Washtenaw CountyThe passenger rail service’s Wolverine route passes through Ypsilanti on its way west to Ann Arbor. The Road Commission has posted a detour around the Superior Road crossing, located in Superior Township across the Huron River from Trinity Health St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor. It routes vehicles along North Huron River Drive, Leforge Road and Geddes Road.
mlive.comAmtrak temporarily closing railroad crossing in Washtenaw County
YPSILANTI, MI - Amtrak is temporarily closing an Ypsilanti rail crossing near Depot Town for improvements. The crossing is slated to reopen on Monday, July 18, officials said. Drivers should seek an alternate route during the construction, which will involve installing new railroad ties, rock and asphalt at the crossing, according to Ypsilanti Communications Manager Tom Koch. The passenger rail service’s Wolverine route passes through Ypsilanti on its way west to Ann Arbor. More from The Ann Arbor News:Ann Arbor tells feds it’s willing to scale back $171M vision for new train stationAfter train crash, Ann Arbor weighs need for pedestrian underpassLibrary of Things offers unique items that can be checked out in YpsilantiYpsilanti appoints new city council member for brief term, filling vacancy
mlive.comAmtrak sues the owners of the truck struck in a fatal derailment in Missouri, alleging the driver knew it wasn't safe to cross the tracks when he did
Amtrak is suing MS Contracting after a train struck one of its dump trucks in a collision that killed the truck's driver and three passengers.
news.yahoo.comWidow of truck driver killed in Amtrak collision files wrongful death suit
The suit says the crossing has "impaired 'sight triangles,'" an "excessively small crossing angle," and other impairments, including "sloped approaches, brush, trees and vegetation blocking a full view of oncoming trains in some quadrants."
news.yahoo.com2 dead after trying to beat train while fleeing drag racing scene
DETROIT – A man and woman, both in their 20s, are dead after they tried to beat an Amtrak train while fleeing a drag racing scene in Detroit, FOX 2 Detroit reports. Detroit police officers were clearing a drag racing and drifting scene nearby and vehicles were fleeing in every direction; this was one of those vehicles. A Wixom man and Novi woman were in the vehicle, and both died as a result of the impact with the train. White said his department will continue “relentless” enforcement against drag racing and drifting in the city. READ MORE:Mother charged with murder, torture in death of 3-year-old son found in freezerDispute between neighbors leads to fatal shooting as man, woman drive awayNorthern Michigan church reduced to charred studs in overnight fireMaintenance worker finds man, woman dead in Northern Michigan apartment complex
mlive.comChicago-bound Amtrak train collides with dump truck in Missouri
Three people were killed and others were injured when a passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago with about 243 passengers and 12 crew members struck a dump truck and derailed in a remote, rural area of Missouri on June 27, 2022, officials said.
chicagotribune.com3 dead, others hurt when cross-country Amtrak train hits truck, derails
The Kansas City Star said the number could top 50. At least eight medical helicopters were responding from around the state, Matt Daugherty, Lifeflight Eagle director of business development, told The Kansas City Star. In this photo provided by Dax McDonald, debris sits near railroad tracks after an Amtrak passenger train derailed near Mendon, Mo., on Monday, June 27, 2022. The Highway Patrol said seven cars derailed. Mendon, with a population of about 160, is about 84 miles northeast of Kansas City.
mlive.comEntire Amtrak Train ‘Topples Over’ in Missouri Derailment
Facebook/Rob NightingaleAn Amtrak train that derailed in Missouri on Monday appeared to be a “mass casualty event,” a passenger told The Daily Beast as he was being shuttled away from the scene on a school bus provided by authorities.Reached by phone, Ron Goulet of Flagstaff, Arizona, said he was uninjured and that the train, which was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, derailed after it hit a truck.“They’ve got every rescue helicopter and crew here from every direction,” a shaken Goulet sai
news.yahoo.comPedestrian struck and killed by Amtrak train in Kalamazoo
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A person was struck and killed by an Amtrak train Wednesday in Kalamazoo, causing nearly a four-hour delay for train passengers. Marc Magliari, an Amtrak spokesperson, said a person was on the tracks about 6:30 p.m., not far west of the Kalamazoo station, when the collision happened. Police said it happened in the area of North Westnedge Avenue and West Kalamazoo Avenue. Because of the police investigation following the crash, as well as a need to bring in a new train crew, the train was delayed almost four hours. Those involved trains headed for East Lansing and Port Huron and a second train bound for Pontiac.
mlive.comAfter train crash, Ann Arbor weighs need for pedestrian underpass
ANN ARBOR, MI — In the aftermath of an Amtrak train striking two pedestrians on the railroad tracks in Ann Arbor last week, local officials and residents are once again discussing the need for an Arboretum-Gallup underpass connection. “We need to give pedestrians a safe connection through that area,” said City Council Member Jen Eyer, D-4th Ward. “It’s desperately needed.”A spot in Nichols Arboretum where pedestrians many years ago carved out a path for an illegal crossing over the railroad tracks in Ann Arbor on June 8, 2022. Kayakers pass under a railroad bridge next to Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor on June 8, 2022.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor NewsPolice said last week the pedestrians hit by the train were recovering and expected to survive. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:What’s new for Washtenaw County’s Border-to-Border Trail?
mlive.comAmtrak train strikes pair of pedestrians in Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR, MI - Two pedestrians were struck by an Amtrak train Sunday evening, with one suffering critical injuries, officials said. The collision occurred around 7 p.m., June 5 on the railroad bridge directly south of Mitchell Field, according to the Ann Arbor Fire Department. One suffered critical injuries, while the other suffered what was deemed serious injuries, officials said. Both are recovering from their injuries, the Ann Arbor Police Department said on Monday, June 6. “This was a near double fatal incident,” Ann Arbor Fire Department officials said in a Facebook message.
mlive.comJimmy Buffett building Margaritaville Poconos resort
“Changes in Latitude” for Margaritaville Hotels and Resorts will include bringing its first resort village to the Poconos by 2024 and a new Amtrak station, a $1.3 billion project for the region. The project will bring more and better-paying jobs, while honoring the memory of Pocono Manor and in large measure rebuild it, Cartwright said. Built in 1902 by Quakers, the landmark Pocono Manor was getting ready to close for renovation when it had a devastating fire in November 2019. In Margaritaville, we are known for our sense of escapism and look forward to bringing our vacation lifestyle to the area with the first Margaritaville Resort Village,” said Jim Wiseman, president of development at Margaritaville. “This transformation of Pocono Manor into a Margaritaville resort village propels us toward a goal of bringing more people to the Poconos for work and play,” Cartwright said.
mlive.comAnn Arbor tells feds it’s willing to scale back $171M vision for new train station
ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor officials are again lobbying the federal government to support a new Amtrak train station in the city, now suggesting it could cost considerably less than the $171 million estimate that caused feds to balk. Trains could stop at both the Fuller Road commuter platform and the Amtrak station on Depot Street, she said. The railroad tracks and passenger waiting area outside Ann Arbor's Amtrak station on Depot Street on April 19, 2020. The Depot Street site also provides strong connections to bicycle and pedestrian facilities, he said. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:Ann Arbor puts $30K toward designing new pedestrian path by Michigan MedicineAnn Arbor Fire Department drives increase in city OT costs, chief cites pandemicOrganizers unveil plans for 50th anniversary of Ann Arbor Hash BashAnn Arbor human rights group calls for transparency in police traffic stops23 sidewalk projects on Ann Arbor’s construction list this year
mlive.comTrain strikes pedestrian in Kalamazoo County
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Investigators are at the scene of a train vs. pedestrian crash in Kalamazoo County. Kalamazoo County Undersheriff James Van Dyken confirmed to MLive that the train hit a person. Police were still investigating, he said shortly after 2 p.m.An Amtrak train was stopped on the tracks at that location. Amtrak posted on Twitter at 11:56 a.m. Friday that Wolverine Train 350 is currently stopped due to a “trespasser incident” west of Kalamazoo. Wolverine Train 350 is currently stopped due to a trespasser incident west of Kalamazoo (KAL).
mlive.comAmtrak engineer acquitted in 2015 derailment that killed 8
A jury cleared an Amtrak engineer Friday of all charges stemming from a derailment that left eight people dead and hundreds injured in Philadelphia in 2015, concluding that his operation of the train at more than twice the speed limit on a curve didn't constitute criminal negligence. The jury took just over an hour to acquit Brandon Bostian, 38, of causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment — one count for each injury and death. Amtrak had earlier settled civil litigation over the crash for $265 million.
news.yahoo.comReport: Train going 40 mph at time of conductor's fatal fall
The preliminary investigation into the death of an Amtrak conductor who fell from a train in Rhode Island last month found that the train was traveling about 40 mph (64 kph) at the time, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday. As the train was preparing to depart on its route to Washington, D.C., the assistant conductor radioed the conductor but did not receive a response, the report said. The assistant conductor began searching the interior of the train and found an open door in a passenger car.
news.yahoo.comI tried a luxury bus startup on a trip from NYC to DC and compared it with Amtrak on the way back. Even though it was slower, I liked the bus more.
I'm a big fan of Amtrak, but my train journey couldn't compare to the Jet's excessive luxuries, like its complimentary alcohol and strong WiFi.
news.yahoo.comAmtrak cancels routes in Michigan before snowstorm hits
Amtrak canceled train services Wednesday and Thursday as large amounts of snow are expected. Routes are canceled Feb. 2 and 3, because of predicted winter storm and to keep customers and employees safe, Amtrak said in a news release. On Feb. 2 the Pere Marquette train 370 between Chicago and Grand Rapids and the Wolverine Service trains 354 and 355 between Chicago and Pontiac are canceled. Snow is expected to fall throughout Wednesday and Thursday, with especially large amounts falling across Southern Michigan. More from MLive:Over 5 million Michiganders just added to Winter Storm WarningWhen the snowstorm starts: Timeline on the heavy snowWinter says, ‘Not yet.’ Snowstorm delays Woody the Woodchuck’s Groundhog Day prediction
mlive.comAmtrak looking to add Detroit to Toronto train route as part of service expansion
Travelers from Michigan may soon have another way to get to Canada as Amtrak plans to add a service route that would take passengers from Detroit to Toronto with a stop in Windsor, Ontario as well. As part of the merger proposal, CP has committed to working with Amtrak to expand offerings, which includes adding the Detroit to Toronto route. The route from Detroit to Toronto would travel through the Detroit River Tunnel between Michigan and Ontario to Windsor and then out to Toronto. However, there is no timetable for when the route would be made available to the public. Along with that route, Amtrak is also increase the frequency of trains running between Chicago and Milwaukee, along with expanding that service route to include a stop in St. Paul, Minnesota.
mlive.comMorning Briefing April 1, 2021: Amtrack pitches new train route from Detroit to Toronto, Opening Day looks different for Detroit in COVID era
Amtrak’s “Connect US” map includes a newly proposed service route from Detroit to Toronto, and from Detroit to Toledo. It also includes enhanced services (more trains) from Detroit to Chicago, Grand Rapids to Chicago and Port Huron to Chicago. Opening Day in Detroit will look much different this year compared to other years due to the pandemic. It’s the first time Michigan has reported 6,000 cases in a single day since Dec. 5. On Tuesday, the state reported 665,948 total cases and 16,082 deaths.
Amtrak pitches new, improved train routes including Detroit to Toronto
Amtrak’s “Connect US” map includes a newly proposed service route from Detroit to Toronto, and from Detroit to Toledo. It also includes enhanced services (more trains) from Detroit to Chicago, Grand Rapids to Chicago and Port Huron to Chicago. It claims traveling on Amtrak rail is up to 83% more energy efficient than driving and up to 73% more energy efficient than flying. Detroit to Toronto not in service since 1971Amtrak has been seeking to bring back a Detroit to Toronto corridor for years -- such service between Detroit and Toronto ended in 1971. AdThe current “direct” rail service between Detroit and Toronto actually starts just across the river in Windsor, Ontario.
In a leaky underwater rail tunnel, workers race against time
Amtrak workers perform tunnel repairs to a partially flooded train track bed, Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Weehawken, N.J. With a new rail tunnel into New York years away at best, Amtrak is embarking on an aggressive and expensive program to fix a 110-year-old tunnel in the interim. On a recent Saturday morning, workers used heavy machinery to clear away chunks of the tunnel floor after rails and wooden ties had been removed. “If we had a new tunnel we wouldn’t be spending anything on it,” Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia said. On a broader scale, it must keep the tunnel operating reliably for years until a new tunnel is built and the old one can be closed for a complete overhaul. Against that backdrop, a funding dispute between local lawmakers and the administration for former President Donald Trump stalled the new tunnel project for four years.
Buttigieg to quarantine after security agent gets COVID-19
WASHINGTON – Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will quarantine for 14 days after a member of his security detail tested positive Monday for the coronavirus. The agent had been “in close contact” with Buttigieg, including Monday morning prior to the agent’s positive result, the Transportation Department said in a statement. Following contact tracing protocols, the department said it determined that one other person in the security detail had also been in “close contact” with the agent and will also quarantine for 14 days. Ad“We will continue to prioritize safety as the foundation of everything we do,” Buttigieg told department employees in an email message last week. “We know it’s the appropriate measure for international travel, people traveling into the U.S.,” partly because of the threat of virus variants from other countries, Buttigieg told CNN.
'A long two days': Major storm pummels Northeast with snow
Although the heaviest parts of the storm had moved through the metropolitan area by Monday evening, lighter snow showers were expected to continue virtually all day Tuesday, forecaster James Tomasini said. “We’re looking at a long two days here,” New York Gov. Across the Northeast, many coronavirus vaccination sites closed Monday. AdHundreds of flights and many trains and were canceled, and aboveground New York City subway service stopped at 2 p.m. In recent days, a storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest, with some areas getting the most snow in several years.
Unions: Passenger rails need better security, no-ride list
FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2021 file photo, The Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge overlooks the newly-completed Moynihan Train Hall in New York. Two major railroad workers unions have asked the Department of Homeland Security to beef up security on Amtrak and other passenger rail lines, including by creating a no-ride list akin to the no-fly list that prevents people identified as risks from boarding planes. – Two major railroad workers unions have asked the Department of Homeland Security to beef up security on Amtrak and other passenger lines, including by creating a no-ride list akin to the no-fly list that prevents people identified as risks from boarding planes. Ferguson, of SMART-TD, acknowledged there would be a cost to creating a no-ride list, but he said it should be minimal considering that officials would simply be sharing the existing no-fly list with railroads. The unions also asked the Federal Railroad Administration to require more security, but that agency declined to intervene Thursday because the Department of Homeland Security has jurisdiction over such matters.
Michigan man sentenced in scheme to defraud Amtrak while in possession of firearms, explosives and narcotics
Newby was sentenced by United States District Judge Gershwin Drain. According to court records, from March 2018 through January 2019, Newby fraudulently obtained credit card information for more than 1,100 credit card holders. Newby used the stolen credit card information to purchase Amtrak tickets online. After purchasing the tickets, Newby would then cancel the Amtrak tickets and receive vouchers for the value of those tickets from Amtrak. Newby then advertised and sold the Amtrak vouchers to unwitting buyers on eBay at a fraction of the cost.
NYC begins registering travelers at COVID-19 checkpoints
Mayor Bill de Blasio is asking travelers from 34 states, including Florida where COVID-19 infection rates are high, to quarantine for 14 days after arriving in the city. Authorities said this week a fifth of all new coronavirus cases in New York City have been from travelers entering the city from other states. Despite the specter of fines, the checkpoints are more educational than punitive, and officials acknowledged the effort relies on voluntary compliance. The campaign was criticized for sowing confusion and raising questions about how travelers' personal information would be retained. He said officials have made more than 86,000 phone calls and sent more than 20,000 text messages to travelers entering New York City from states with high coronavirus infection rates.
26-year-old driver killed in Wayne train crash
WAYNE, Mich. – A 26-year-old man was killed in a crash at Venoy Road south of Michigan Avenue around 11:57 p.m. Saturday, Wayne police say. According to a representative from Amtrak, Train 354 struck the victim’s vehicle while it was on the tracks west of the Dearborn station. There were no reported injuries to the crew or 89 passengers. The passengers were taken to their destination by bus. Authorities are still investigating the crash.
Brother of MSU basketball player Cassius Winston dies
The brother of Michigan State University basketball star Cassius Winston died Saturday night after getting hit by a train in Albion, sources confirm. Zachary Winston, 19, was reportedly struck by an Amtrak train shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday night. He was a University of Detroit Jesuit High graduate and Albion College basketball player. As of now it is uncertain whether Cassius Winston will play in the team’s game against Binghamton Sunday night. Police are still investigating the incident.
Amtrak announces nonstop service between DC and New York
(CNN) - Train travel between New York City and Washington is now faster than ever. On Thursday, Amtrak announced that starting in September it will offer a new direct route between Washington Union Station (WAS) and New York Penn Station (NYP). "The new Acela Nonstop service will have you halfway to your New York City or DC destination in the time it would take you to board a flight," Amtrak President & CEO Richard Anderson said in a statement. "This new service will offer an ideal solution for travelers who want to save time and travel between city center DC and New York." Riders can expect to travel for two hours and 35 minutes instead of four hours with the direct service.