The change was at least 20 years ago. I imagine they stopped doing that account of the expense and time of switching and there really wasn't a benefit. Part of that time they were hauling express cars WAS-ATL and they dropped those off also.
The track configuration at and near the station...
My understanding is that NS requires two. There are grades both ways in North Carolina and Alabama. 19 and 20 have always run with two. The consist that has been running for the past 3 or 4 months is only about one car less than before the pandemic.
The National Park Service and Amtrak have a program called Trails and Rails on certain routes mainly in the summer time in which trained volunteers ride trains, engage passengers and provide presentations and dialog about things along the route. The program is suspended right now account of...
I do know that Crescent 19/20 tends to have an extra coach on weekends during the summer and when big things are going on in NOLA. It departs NYP on Thursday evening.
Not gonna happen unless somebody comes up with the money. The station they use was built as a suburban station when it was almost in the country. There has been talk of a replacement station 5 or 6 miles north, but again, where is the money?
Can't think of anything much more convenient than 2 blocks away. The nearest MARTA station with long term parking is either Lindbergh or Brookhaven, both about 3 or 4 miles away.