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https://wwww.septa.org/procurement/bids/expression-of-interest-septa-silverliner-vi-procurement/ It’s seems SEPTA is finally preparing to retire its venerable Silverliner IV fleet. Documents suggest a desire for single level EMU’s, which I think is right given how the RRD is in certain ways...

I figured I’d start a new thread for a new fiscal year. Fiscal 2024 looks like it will be marked by a transition from ridership recovery to ridership growth. This has already been seen in pockets of the country, but may become a national trend this year. Given the number of fully recovered...

12/2/23 A quick day trip up and down the NEC from Philadelphia to Washington aboard Trains 155 and 158. Weather was gray and overcast with considerable fog along the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Rain thankfully held off. Day began with a punctual SEPTA RRD connection. Train was very busy. Our...

Old story, recorded for future reference. A quick up and down on the NEC from PHL to WAS and back. Day was cool and overcast, but not as bad as possible in mid-December. Eight passengers this run, four making their first AMTRAK trip. ShareFares is a favorite program of mine. Fares were a steal...

I think this question is tangential to the thread on Andy Buford and Penn Station expansion: Was Midtown Direct a mistake? I think it was. In the biggest cities across the world, it seems plainly understood that multiple terminals are necessary to effectively manage passenger and train volumes...

Amtrak has taken another swing at getting funding for the Saint Charles Airline connection, Heritage to Rock Island conversion for downstate IL trains, CUS renovations (which I am not sure are totally essential. How they use it is what causes congestion, not the building itself.) This proposal...

This evening, around 19:30 between TRE and PHL I spotted a train traveling westbound, four cars pulled by and ACS-64, two were food service, one was a Metroliner, labeled as such on the side, the fourth was another Amfleet. Could it be a hospital train? Or is it more likely a revenue special. I...

WMATA recently released its proposals for expansions by 2040. All seem to focus on resolving the so called “Roslyn problem,” that is that trans-Potomac capacity is a serious problem, especially through the tunnel that carries the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines from Foggy Bottom to Roslyn. It...

I was reading the 2021 Vermont Rail plan and I‘d like to draw attention two areas that have developed since its publication. 1. The Burlington extension of the Ethan Allen Express was expected to bring 20,739 additional riders to Vermont by 2040. That seems very likely to be exceeded this year...

Monday 6/19 I had to make a quick business trip out to Downingtown, PA from Philadelphia. Ordinarily, like most cheapskates, I would take SEPTA, but I had to arrive well before the first SEPTA train did, so, arm being badly twisted, I had to take Amtrak (shucks, I hate when I have to take the...

My second big loop trip began May 22, from PHL. The plan was to take 84>49>5>14>28 to Whitefish, Montana. Enjoy a few days and then return 8/28>48>657. I’ll probably post in a couple chunks. This was a lot of time in coach for me to digest and recollect on. General notes: a great trip, weather...

A cut and dry trip up and down the ex-PRR Northeast Corridor. Weather was lovely in the morning, a bit overcast/rainy in the afternoon. 12 total passengers in coach. No one's first train trip this round. ShareFares provided a much better deal than Group Sales was able to offer. Train 152 was...

The FAA, due to extreme staff shortages at some of the largest US airports, is “encouraging” airlines to cut about 10% of flights out of New York. Washington D.C. is also affected. Presumably short haul flights will go away disproportionately. Will AMTRAK be able to capitalize on this? Or will...

It’s rare that I bash a public transportation system for attempting an extension, but this one deserves it. With cost estimates of $3,000,000,000 and climbing for a 4 mile extension that MIGHT have seen 7,500 riders per day, the Federal Transportation Administration has rightly elected not to...

Made my first trip today. Ridership seemed about on par with SEPTA for midday on a Saturday, 100ish each way. Found the fare to be reasonable at $10.75 each way. Punctual in both direction. Crew was nice, but one conductor took a call on his cell phone during the trip (NJT’s unequivocal...

This hasn’t gotten a ton of attention, but Southbound service out of NYP still ends at around 8:00 most nights (I think Saturday still has later.) This seems really early and fouls connections from the Canada trains. Does anybody have any idea when those late night runs might be restored?

I’m hoping to use this thread to track and discuss the ongoing ridership recovery. The October 2022 Monthly Report shows some really good signs for ridership. The following eighteen routes have ridership above their October 2019 levels: Ethan Allen 7,800 from 4,300 Vermonter 9,600 from 9,500...