Amtrak in Illinois is receiving a good bundle of stimulus cash: $80 million, actually. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin made the announcement yesterday, saying the money was part of the state of Illinois' $1.3 billion stimulus package. The cash will be used for station upgrades, handicap accessibility, and increased security. $90 million will be distributed across the country - including Illinois - to refurbish train cars as well. [NBC 5]
Last October, we took a look at the possibility of Chicago becoming the center of a nine-state high-speed Amtrak network. With the passage of President Obama's stimulus package, though, this could be much closer to reality. Among the bill's provisions is $8 billion for high-speed transit lines, now seemingly up for grabs. It hasn't yet been decided how much money will be spent and where, but there's already controversy over which proposed line will get the money and even over one of the lines itself, one GOP'ers have taken to calling "The Sin Express," which would connect San Diego to Anaheim and then Las Vegas.
After yesterday's derailment that snarled train traffic at Union Station, Amtrak is dealing with another derailment, this time further down state. The train, Lincoln train No. 302 traveling from St. Louis to Chicago, was involved in an accident with a vehicle. The accident damaged the train and derailed it, but no injuries were reported onboard. Other trains on the route have been canceled and passengers will instead be transported by bus.
Just in time for rush hour! An Amtrak train has derailed at Union Station, blocking three Metra routes: the BNSF to Aurora, the Heritage Corridor to Joliet, and the Southwest train to Manhattan. Damn, the BNSF is having a tough day. The blockage is bad enough it could force a closure of Union Station. Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said: "At this point in time we are waiting to hear from Amtrak the extent of the derailment, how long it will be for them to move that train and restore the switches. Right now nothing is coming in, nothing is going out and we are waiting to see how Amtrak proceeds with their investigation of thi. Right now nothing is going in. Nothing is going out."
Got your Inaugural Road Trip plans finalized yet? While some of us are preparing to pile into the ol' Honda, hauling ass down to DC, and crashing on a park bench somewhere, a much more old-world trek in the lap of luxury could be yours for the low, low price of $2,599 per person. American Rail Excursions, based in Sauk Village, will be hitching their vintage railcars to an outbound Amtrak train and hauling you to our nation's capital with breakfast, dinner and drinks included, as well as private double-occupancy bedrooms, private bathrooms, and lodging for the full span of the six-day trip. It sounds like a good deal if you don't mind sleeping in the equivalent of bunkbeds, sitting on a railroad siding in DC's Union Station.
Another fantastic skyline shot from rjseg1
Amtrak experienced a “very minor” derailment earlier this morning in the South Loop. [How one can have a ‘very minor’ derailment, we’re not sure; either you’re on the tracks or you’re not. Is it like a ‘minor flesh wound?]
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a bill, the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act, that President Bush says he'll sign [though the margin of yeas to nays - 74 to 24 including yeas from both Illinois Senators Obama and Durbin - made the bill veto-proof] that will send $13.1 billion in funding to Amtrak over the next five years. Part of the funding could go to creating a nine-state high-speed rail network throughout the Midwest, composed of 3,000 miles of track, of which Chicago would serve as the hub.
American Airlines is going to "test" in-flight internet access starting tomorrow on some flights from LA to New York, and while the testing phase is free, the airline plans to charge for access down the road, so get ready to pony up between $9.95 to $12.95 if you 1. fly American and 2. can't go a few hours without internet. [AP]
Investigations are still ongoing in Friday's Amtrak crash, but preliminary reports indicate that the train was going 25 mph faster than it was supposed to be. (The video is a lot less exciting than we were hoping for.) The Amtrak train's engineer told investigators he realized the speed limit was 15 mph in that stretch of track but accelerated to 40 mph anyway, National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Robert Sumwalt told reporters Sunday. The...
Train update: "Fire Commissioner Ray Orozco said five people were in serious to critical condition and at least 30 people suffered less serious injuries. That number could rise to 50, he said." The NTSB is investigating. Storm watch this weekend. Cold, icy, rainy, blerg. RIP, Evel Knievel. America's Legendary Daredevil was 69. Check it out: local steampunk wedding. Congrats! Here's our favorite part of this Freakonomics interview with Sin in the Second City author Karen...
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