I got an email from the Rail Passenger’s Association today, Hotline #1134. A few of pieces of great news:
- Amtrak’s food options are getting better.
- More hot meals will be available in the lounge car.
- The food packaging will improve; no more “Chinese food boxes”.
- Food service on long-distance routes won’t change.
- Passengers can order meals when booking their tickets
- Special diets will be handled better.
- Menus will be changed in early 2020; the current ones have been around for a couple of years.
- Oven upgrades.
- Amtrak cars have been upgraded. “[T]he new Viewliner sleeper, which appeared somewhat more spacious, much fresher and with better lighting, fixtures, plumbing and storage. We also got a sneak peek at the new linens and prototypes for the new blankets and comforters.”
- There will be a victory party for the failure of Proposition 105 (which would have ended light rail expansion in the Phoenix area): Sunday, September 15th, Renaissance Phoenix Downtown — Pueblo Room, 4:00 pm — 5:30 pm, food and drinks will be provided. (I just got the email today ...)
- Congressional leaders are working to include a temporarily fix to avert $1.2 billion in cuts to the mass transit fund triggered by declining fuel tax revenue.
- Amtrak has updated their App.
- Positive Train Control systems are operable on 87% of the required rail network according to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) with only 16 months left before the implementation deadline. Amtrak is leading the way with 99.8% of its route-miles covered by PTC.
- RailNation:California in Sacramento, Friday, October 18 — Monday, October 21.