Amtrak Cancels Some Services Due To Earl

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Amtrak says it's canceling some Virginia passenger train routes because of Hurricane Earl.

Amtrak says the cancellations involve routes between the Tidewater area and Newport News. The changes announced Wednesday run Thursday through Saturday.

On Thursday, Amtrak says trains 67 and 66 will end in Richmond instead of Newport News and Train 95 will end at Washington, D.C. instead of Newport News.

On Friday, Train 66 will start from Richmond instead of Newport News, while Train 94 will originate in Washington, instead of Newport News. Trains 95 and 83 will end their routes in Washington instead of Newport News and Train 78 is canceled.

Saturday, Amtrak says Train 194 will start in Richmond instead of Newport News and Train 82 will originate in Washington instead of Newport News.

http://www.wavy.com/

ALL ABOARD!!! Railroad Tracks Reopen

Railroad tracks near Quantico reopened yesterday afternoon to passenger trains.

Amtrak planned to resume service in the afternoon and run normal train operations today, said Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole.

The only exception today will be Amtrak's Train 92, which runs from Miami to New York. Those passengers will be moved to a different train for equipment reasons, Cole said.

Virginia Railway Express expects commuter train service to resume Monday on its Fredericksburg Line.

Service was cancelled yesterday morning and evening after a CSX freight train carrying coal derailed a half-mile south of the Quantico train station Thursday afternoon, closing all tracks. Five train cars toppled and ripped up the tracks.

In a message to riders yesterday, VRE warned that while its service is likely to operate, travel may be slower in the derailment area.

"There will most likely be speed restrictions imposed on that area until it is deemed safe for trains to operate at full speed," VRE advised riders.

www.fredericksburg.com

Many Amtrak Services Canceled On the East Coast Due To Derailment

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amtrak says several major services along the east coast are canceled, affecting thousands of riders.

The railroad is still shut down south of Quantico, Va., on Friday after a CSX Corp. coal train derailed there a day earlier, blocking all tracks. Virginia Railway Express reports that five train cars fell and ripped up the tracks.

Service may be restored Saturday, but Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said he is unsure when CSX will complete the cleanup.

Major cancellations include Amtrak trains running between Washington and Newport News, Va., and from New York to Miami, Charlotte, N.C., and Savannah, Ga. Auto train service between Lorton, Va. and Sanford, Fla. is also affected.

Virginia Railway Express has canceled Fredericksburg line trains on Friday.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/