Chuck Weinstock <Weinstock@TL-20B.ARPA> (11/29/84)
The Eagle will operate daily from Chicago to San Antonio during the Christmas season. Southbound daily operation will start on 12/16, and end on 1/6. Northbound daily operation will be from 12/18 to 1/8. The Sunset will remain tri-weekly during the season. ALERT: Amtrak is raising most of its basic rail fares by 2% effective December 1. Reservations confirmed prior to December 1 will be honored at the old rate, and a number of individual trains will see no increase. Buy your tickets early. The Amtrak Board was scheduled to meet this morning. -------
Weinstock@TL-20B.ARPA (12/18/84)
Amtrak is about to purchase the Delpro rail car maintenance facility in Bear, Deleware. The facility will be used to repair and store track maintenance equipment and will replace facilities in Bristol and Cornwell Heights, PA. Amtrak has about 2,000 pieces of equipment to maintain the cooridor. The cost of the new facility will be 6.5 million, and the facility should be operational by March, 1985. The Gulf Coast Limited from Mobile to New Orleans will be discontinued on January 6 unless further state funds are forthcoming. Although ridership was much higher than initially expected, the 403(b) operation still requires state subsidy. Similarly, the North Star from St. Paul to Duluth will be discontinued on January 6 unless Minnesota provides additional funding. On a related subject, the Friday departuers of the North Star operate on a new schedule designed to atract passengers traveling to skiing destinations. The train leaves St. Paul at 6:00pm (as opposed to 8:00am), arriving at Duluth at 9:35pm (11:35am). Returning on Fridays the train leaves at 10:30pm (6:00pm) arriving at 2:00am (9:30pm). -------