American Rescue Plan Restores Full Amtrak Long-Distance Services Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Close to $2 billion in funding for Amtrak is among the elements in President “Amtrak Joe” Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan bill, approved by Congress on March 10, and which is expected to be signed into law by the 46th President shortly.
The $1.7 billion in Amtrak COVID-19 recovery funding will enable Amtrak to fully restore daily service on 12 long-distance routes, following pandemic-related schedule reductions in 2020. Amtrak said it “will sustain and restore operations and recall the more-than 1,200 furloughed employees through the remainder of FY21 and into FY22. All destinations and scheduled departure/arrival times served by the long-distance network will be maintained … providing customers significantly more departures for the upcoming summer travel season.”
Things looking brighter at Amtrak after passage of stimulus package.
Amtrak/Jason Berg
As part of its COVID-19 recovery efforts, Amtrak announces full restoration of daily service for 12 long distance routes following pandemic-related schedule reductions in 2020.
Providing customers significantly more departures for the upcoming summer travel season, the new schedule has been updated on all Amtrak reservation systems, including Amtrak.com and the Amtrak app.
Due to COVID relief funding, Amtrak will sustain and restore operations and recall the more than 1,200 furloughed employees through the remainder of FY21 and into FY22. The funding is pending President Biden’s signature on the final bill. [
Amtrak to pay for repairs at train stops along Gulf Coast route
Updated Mar 05, 2021;
Posted Mar 05, 2021
The Excelsior Band plays as Mobile, Ala., residents welcome the Amtrak inspection train as it travels from New Orleans, La., to Bay St. Louis and eventually on to Florida on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (file photo)
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Amtrak will pay for the repairs and upgrades needed at the train stops along the Gulf Coast route ahead of returning passenger rail to the line in early 2022.
The announcement, occurring Friday during a Southern Rail Commission meeting, is dependent on Federal Railroad Administration approval and work could be underway in the coming months. The objective, according to Amtrak, is to repair the platforms that have long been in place along the rail route connecting Mobile to New Orleans.
New Orleans-Mobile Amtrak Service in Development Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Amtrak has confirmed its intention to begin service between New Orleans, La., and Mobile, Ala., in 2022. But a stakeholder agreement has not yet been reached.
There is a good deal of controversy swirling around proposed new intercity passenger rail service between New Orleans, La., and Mobile, Ala., involving Amtrak, two Class I railroads, a multi-state agency and a major Alabama port.
Though Amtrak confirmed its intention to begin the service in 2022, an actual start date is far from being finalized. The plan calls for Amtrak to operate two daily round-trips currently dubbed
Amtrak official: Gulf Coast service starting in 2022
Updated Feb 23, 2021;
Posted Feb 23, 2021
The Mobile City Council voted 6-1 on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, in support of a resolution that commits future funds for the operations of Amtrak service along the Gulf Coast. The resolution including contingencies that include the outcome of a six-month study on how passenger trains might affect freight rail. In this picture (from left to right): Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari, Wiley Blankenship of the Southern Rail Commission and Stephen McNair of the Southern Rail Commission, speak to members of the local media following the vote. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).