jis@mtgzz.UUCP (11/20/86)
Following is a summary of Amtrak schedule changes effective 26th October, and other news items as reported in the October/November issue of the Passenger Train Journal: (i) The Broadway Limited and the Capitol Limited are now two separate trains between Pittsburgh and Chicago. This change was caused by the unprecedented growth in head-end traffic on these two trains. This gives Fort Wayne, Canton, Crestline, Lima two trains a day in each direction instead of one. (ii) The running time of the Cardinal between Chicago and New York has been cut drastically by eliminating hours of dwell time at Cincinnati and Indianapolis. (iii) Two more Metroliners (10am and 11am) have been added between Washington DC and New York in either direction. (iv) A new Metroliner has been added between Philadelphia and New York leaving Philadelphia at 7:10 am. and leaving New York at 7pm. (v) Seattle-Portland-Salt Lake City Pioneer has been reduced to a three times a week service through April 4. However, Mount Rainier between Seattle and Portland remains a daily service. (vi) The New York - Miami/Tampa Silver Star has been re-routed between Petersburg and Ralaigh due to downgrading of the CSX/SBD/SAL main between those two points. (vii) The All-Aboard America fares have been reduced to $150, $200 and $250 for one, two and three zones respectively (from $159, $239, and $299), and the one-way plus $7 return fare has been returned through June 30 1987. The one-way plus $7 return fare has a blackout period during Thanksgiving and Christmas. (My comment: The All-Aboard America fare seems to be effectively blacked out around Christmas from New York and Chicago because all four trains (three daily and one three times a week) from the East Coast to Chicago seem to have almost all of their All Aboard America fare seats sold out around that time. (viii) Southwest Chief amenities (movies, route guides, hospitality hours, complimentary snacks) have been expanded to the Coast Starlight (Seattle-LA), Empire Builder (Chicago-Seattle/Portland), and California Zephyr (San Francisco-Chicago). Jishnu Mukerji mtgzz!jis