Recent content by John Bobinyec

Amtrak's station page for Fullerton currently states that checked baggage service is not available. Can anyone confirm that that is indeed the case? And will there be checked baggage service in Nov/Dec of this year? Thanks, jb

I can see not running 89/90/97/98 over the S-line. The people getting on or off between Savannah and Selma can't be accommodated anyway and the ones for south of Savannah or north of Selma can be accommodated on the Carolinian and the Silver Star. But there is no alternative for the Auto Train...

Today (2/17/2024), The following trains were cancelled: 89/90 south of Washington 97 north of Jacksonville (probably 98 too) 52/53 I believe all this is because of a CSX derailment in South Carolina. So why can't any of these trains run over the S-line through Raleigh? jb

I did mention that the tracks would need to be raised. The box would extend over the tracks and down into the ocean, as a sea wall does. If the tracks were raised, say 10 feet, it should take care of things. And if it doesn't, then an actual tunnel could be installed there for complete...

The SP built snowsheds. How about building a mudshed? Cut into the bluff far enough to have a double track and raise the tracks. Then build a tunnel, or "box" over them. Then let the bluff advance to the ocean as it pleases, finishing the covering of the box. It'll be a short tunnel, but...

Why were 11 and 14 canceled between Seattle and Oakland Jack London Sq. for today? Thanks, jb

Late Night Special On Saturday, 1/13/2024, Amtrak is running Northeast Regional train 1123 from NYP to WAS, departing at 9.35P. I was wondering what this is for, since it seems to be running only one time. Thanks, jb

In Charlotte, the Carolinian is stored overnight on the Office Track, which is just south of the station. It is just long enough to hold the normal consist. So if a car is added, one has to be removed, unless other arrangements are made for overnight storage. jb

I have a suggestion. Never rely on a single source of information. If the text says the train is running late, assume the text is wrong until proven reasonably accurate. jb

Well, Amtrak brought them back for a couple of weeks, but as of 8/31/2023, they seem to be gone completely. There's just a note to go to Twitter to get the NEC delays and nothing about how to get the delays outside the NEC. - Shabby. jb

Just ruminating here about what a completely robust system would look like. If I had my druthers, I would design a twin system. Each central system would be located apart from the other - say Atlanta for one and Cleveland for the other, in the case of NS. That would mitigate problems with...

News Release Issued: Aug 28, 2023 (10:22pm EDT) System outage update ATLANTA, Aug. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) provided an update Monday on a technology outage that impacted rail operations: This morning, Norfolk...

Generally delays due to PTC failures are called "signal failures". However, signal failures are generally local in nature. Today (8/28/2023) it looks like NS is having server failures which is probably shutting down the entire railroad. Amtrak trains affected today are: Piedmonts canceled...

Perhaps a federal Passenger's Bill Of Rights should be imposed rather than leaving things up to whomever happens to be on duty at the time. jb

With the way the landslides, flooding, washouts, fires, and freight interference seems to be going lately, it might behoove Amtrak to start coming up with some contingency plans. jb