History of US Passenger Train Inaugurations & Discontinuances
- Details
- Published Date
- Written by Malcolm Kenton
- Category: Fact Sheets
- Hits: 1021
NARP-Compiled History of Passenger Train Inaugurations and Discontinuances in the United States, 1827 to 2005.
1827 B&O chartered
1829 B&O Baltimore-Relay-Ellicott
1830 South Carolina RR at Charleston (to Hamburg/Augusta?)
1831 Aug. 9--Mohawk & Hudson, Albany (Western Ave.)-Schenectady
C&A Bordentown-Hightstown
1832 NJRR (pre-PRR) Jersey City-Newark-Elizabeth
May 1--New York & Harlem RR, to 23rd (horse)
May 14--M&H in Albany (Western Ave. east to river at Gansevoort)
B&O to Point of Rocks
Saratoga & Schenectady (pre-D&H)
C&A Hightstown-South Amboy
1833 NJRR Elizabeth-New Brunswick
Petersburg Railroad, Petersburg-Weldon
1834 Mar.--Allegheny Portage RR (Hollidaysburg-Johnstown)
Apr. 16--B&W Boston-Newton
May 1--NY&H to 85th
Philadelphia & Columbia (pre-PRR)
Philadelphia & Trenton (pre-PRR)
C&A Bordentown-Camden
Sept.--B&P, Boston-Canton
1835 July--B&P, Canton-Providence
Aug. 25--B&O Relay-Washington
1836 Feb. 13--RF&P Richmond-S. Anna (north of Ashland)
B&O to Harpers Ferry
Utica & Schenectady (pre-NYC)
1837 pre-PRR Phila.-Perryville, Havre de Grace-Balto.
RF&P S. Anna-Fredericksburg
Oct. 26--NY&H to 125th
C&A Bordentown-Trenton
Towanda RR, Rochester-Batavia-Attica
1838 pre-PRR Harrisburg-Lancaster
Feb.--MC Detroit-Ypsilanti
Det.&Pont., Detroit-Royal Oak
Western Railroad Worcester-Springfield
Richmond & Petersburg (north bank)
1839 Det.&Pont., Royal Oak-Birmingham
Syracuse & Utica
C&A Trenton-Princeton-New Brunswick
1840 Wilmington & Weldon, Weldon-Wilson-(Wilmington)
1841 Western RR Springfield-State Line (NY)
1842 B&O to Martinsburg
July 4 -- Det.&Pont., Birmingham-Pontiac
Nov. 1--RF&P Fred.-Aquia
Albany & West Stockbridge, Rensselaer-State Line
Auburn & Syracuse
1843 Auburn & Rochester
Attica & Buffalo (these 2 make first ALB-BUF link)
1844 H&NH New Haven-Springfield
1845 Buffalo & Niagara Falls
1846 Mich. Central Ypsilanti-Kalamazoo
Cincinnati & Hamilton (later B&O)
1847 B&O station, Martinsburg
1848 NY&NH station, New Rochelle
Dec. 18--First RR in Chicago (pre-C&NW)
1849 MC Kalamazoo-New Buffalo
Sept. 1--PRR Harrisburg-Lewistown; Lewistown station
Dec. 24--PRR Lewistown-McVeytown
Dec. 31--Hudson River RR, New York (30 St)-Poughkeepsie
1850 June 10--PRR McVeytown-Huntingdon
Sept. 2--pre-CB&Q W. Chi. (C&NW)-Aurora
Sept. 17--PRR Huntingdon-Hollidaysburg (New Portage RR)
Oct. 29--MC New Buffalo-Michigan City
Nov. 20--Milwaukee-Wauwatosa (1st in Wis.)
Buffalo & Rochester, Buffalo-Batavia
1851 Feb. 25--Wauwatosa-Brookfield-Waukesha
Oct. 1--Hudson River RR, Poughkeepsie-Rensselaer
Oct. 4--Mich. So. White Pigeon-Elkhart-South Bend
Oct.--Alex. & Orange, Alex.-Manassas Jct.
1852 LS (predecessor) Buffalo-Erie
Feb. 20--MS&NI South Bend-Porter-Gary-Chicago
First train in Cleveland, B&O from Akron
May 21--MC, Mich. City-Porter-Kensington (Chi. via IC)
Alex. & Orange, Manassas-Culpeper
Dec. 10--1st Phila.-Pitts. thru train (P&C, PRR, NPRR, PRR)
Dec. 24--B&O to Wheeling
1853 July 11--IC Chicago-Kankakee
July--Pacific RR St. Louis-Pacific
Rochester & Syracuse (completes current ALB-BUF route)
1854 Feb. 15--PRR Hollidaysburg-Cresson (Horseshoe)
Alex. & Orange, Culpeper-Gordonsville
Apr. 1--Blue Ridge Railroad, Charlottesville-Waynesboro
May 18--Milwaukee-Milton-Madison route complete
June 24--New Albany&Salem, New Albany-Crawfordsville-Monon-Michigan City
July 24--IC Kankakee-Champaign
Nov. 15--[O&I Crestline-Fort Wayne]
Nov. 22--IC Cairo-Sandoval
1855 Milw. & Watertown, Brookfield-Watertown
Sept. 27--IC Champaign-Centralia
NCRR through Salisbury
1855 PRR Pacific-Jefferson City
1856 Jan.--[O&I Fort Wayne-Columbia City]
July--[DM&T/Mich. So. Detroit-Toledo, parallel MC built 1873]
Completion of NCRR, Morehead-Selma-Raleigh-Greensboro-Charlotte
[PFW&C Columbia City-Plymouth]
1857 M&T (IC) Memphis-Grenada
Portage-New Lisbon
Watertown-Columbus
Northeastern RR Charleston-Florence
Virginia Central Waynesboro-Clifton Forge
Iron Mountain St. Louis-De Soto
1858 Jan. 1--Alexandria & Washington (south shore)
Apr. 2--Iron Mountain De Soto-Pilot Knob
Mar. 31--NOJ&GN (IC) New Orleans-Jackson-Canton
July--PRR Jefferson City-Tipton
Oct.--New Lisbon-La Crosse
MC (IC) Jackson, Tenn.-Holly Spr.
Northwest Virginia (B&O) Grafton-Parkersburg
MS Elkhart-Toledo (replacing Adrian route)
1859 Jan. 1--[PFW&C Plymouth-Valpo-Gary-Chicago]
1860 Jan. 31--MC (IC) Canton-Grenada-Holly Spr.
1861 Jan.--pre-SP open Houston-Orange, soon closes
A&W Va. shore-Washington (over Long Bridge)
1862 St.P&P (pre GN), St. Paul-St. Anthony (No. Minneapolis)
Hamilton-Connersville (C&I Jct.)
1864 San Francisco-San Jose; Oak.-Newark opened by pre-SP cos.
Aug. 1--PRR Independence-Kansas City (not connected to Tipton)
Columbus-Portage
C&A/NJRR Trenton-Princeton Jct.-Monmouth Jct.
1865 Sept. 19--PRR Tipton-Independence
1866 PB&W (pre-PRR) first Susquehanna bridge
Rensselaer-Albany bridge
St.P&P Minneapolis-St. Cloud
1867 Petersburg connection (R&P-Petersburg RR)
July 1--C&O Clifton Forge-Covington
1868 June 19--first CP train Sacramento-Reno
PB&W Baltimore-Bowie-Popes Creek
AT&SF Topeka-Emporia
Several Ohio lines form into Lake Shore
1869 Lake Shore merges with Mich. So. into LS&MS
Mar. 13--SP opens San Jose-Gilroy
May 10--CP-UP meet at Promontory
June 1--pre-SP co. opens Roseville-Marysville
July 31--pre-SP co. opens Algiers (NOL)-Morgan City
Aug. 11--CP Sacramento-Stockton
Dec. 25--pre-SP co. opens Portland-Oregon City
Columbus-Portage (Wis.)
C&O Covington-White Sulphur Springs
Connersville-Indianapolis (Cin. & Indianapolis Jct., later B&O)
Omaha&SW (CB&Q) Omaha-LaPlatte
1870 Jan. 15--Cal P opens Sac.-Vallejo (Altamont opened '69)
Sept. 27--pre-SP Oregon City-Salem
Burl.&Mo. Riv. (CB&Q) Plattsmouth-Oreapolis-Ashland-Lincoln
1871 O&SW LaPlatte-Oreapolis
NP Duluth-Brainerd-Staples-Fargo
1872 July 2--B&P (Balto.)-Bowie-Washington
Alex. & Fred. (B&P-owned), Alexandria-Quantico
July 18--Potomac RR (RF&P-owned) Aquia-Quantico
Sept. 1--pre-SP Marysville-Redding
AT&SF Emporia-Dodge City
CM&StP, Milwaukee-Chicago
Nov. 4--Iron Mountain Pilot Knob-Mo./Ark. line
Dec. 3--pre-SP Salem-Eugene-Roseburg
1873 Jan. 7--Cairo & Fulton Mo./Ark. Line-Newport
Jan. 28--C&O White Sulphur Springs-Huntington
Feb. 7--C&F Newport-North Little Rock
Mar.--pre-SP Houston-Dallas-Denison
May 25--B&O Washington-Point of Rocks
July 1--T&P Longview-Dallas
Aug. 12--SP Gilroy-Soledad
Dec. 21--C&F North Little Rock-Little Rock
Dec. 24--MC (IC) Jackson, Tenn.-East Cairo, Ky.
Dec. 28--T&P Longview-Marshall-Texarkana
NP Tacoma-Kalama (Wash.), to ferry into Oregon
1874 Jan. 15--C&F Little Rock-Texarkana
Nov. 23--B&O Chicago--Willard
1875 July 16--SP Los Angeles-Colton
1876 May 25--SP Colton-Indio
July 19--T&P Dallas-Fort Worth
Sept. 5--SP Tehachapi route complete
Dec. 28--IGN Rockdale-Taylor-Austin
Houston-Orange reopens
AT&SF Dodge-La Junta-Pueblo
La Crosse, Wis.-La Crescent, Minn. (bridge)
1877 Feb. 5--pre-SP Houston-San Antonio
Aug. 10--Raleigh & Augusta Air Line, Raleigh-Hamlet
Sept. 30--SP Indio-Yuma
1878 CP Oakland-Martinez-Tracy
AT&SF La Junta-Trinidad
Burlington-Council Bluffs
ID&C Rensselaer-Monon-Monticello
1879 CP Suisun-Benicia (and train ferry to Port Costa nr. Martinez)
AT&SF Trinidad-Las Vegas
SP--Yuma-Casa Grande
St.P&NP St. Cloud-Little Falls-Brainerd
1880 Feb. 9--AT&SF Las Vegas-Lamy-Santa Fe
Mar.--pre-SP Morgan City-Lafayette
Mar. 20--SP Casa Grande-Tucson
Apr. 10--AT&SF Lamy-Albuquerque
Oct. 18--SP Tucson-Lordsburg
Nov.--AT&SF Albuquerque-Isleta-San Marcial
Dec. 15--SP Lordsburg-Deming
CB&Q Plattsmouth bridge over Missouri River
Milw. short line St. Paul-Minneapolis
1881 C&O Richmond-Newport News
Mar. 8--AT&SF San Marcial-Rincon-Deming
Mar.--A&P (AT&SF) Isleta-Thoreau
May 19--SP Deming-El Paso
June 11--AT&SF Rincon-El Paso
July 1--pre-SP Lafayette-Orange
July 29--IC lines south of Cairo from 5 ft to 4-8.5
Dec. 1--IGN Austin-San Antonio-Laredo
1882 Jan. 1--SP El Paso-Sierra Blanca (T&P jct.)
Jan. 9--C&I Air Line Rensselaer-Dyer
1883 Jan. 12--SP Sierra B-Pecos, pre SP SAS-Pecos
Feb. 5--first San Francisco-New Orleans train
Aug. 9--A&P Thoreau-Needles
1884 May 1--Y&MV (IC) Jackson-Yazoo City
May 4--pre-SP Roseburg-Ashland
Nov. 25--OR&N complete Granger-Portland
1886 W&W, Wilson-Fayetteville
1887 (by 1887) C&O Richmond-Newport News
Aug. 19--SP Saugus-Santa Barbara
Dec. 17--SP Portland-Oakland route done
B&MR (CB&Q) Omaha-Ashland
1888 W&W, Pee Dee-Rowland (state line)
C&O Huntington-Cincinnati
1889 Oct. 29--first IC bridge at Cairo
IC Chicago & New Orleans Limited (renamed Panama Ltd. 1911)
1891 B&O Willard-Akron
Dec. 1--Chicago Grand Central
1892 GN over Marias Pass
W&W, Rowland-Fayetteville, completes Fayetteville cutoff
1893 Jan. 3--completion of GN transcontinental route (in Wash.)
St. Louis Union Station
1894 May 5--SP Soledad-San Luis Obispo
Fall--Sunset Limited
1895 July 1--B&O electrification through Baltimore (4 mi.)
1898 Boston South Station
1899 Oct. 15--Overland Limited Chicago-Oakland
1901 Mar. 31--SP Coast Line opened throughout
1902 Broadway Ltd. (was Pa. Ltd. to 1912)
20th Century
1903 Dec.--PM New Buffalo-Porter
1904 Mar. 20--SP Coast Burbank Jct.-Montalvo
Sept. 2--DNW&P over Rollins Pass
1905 Los Angeles-Salt Lake line complete (at Erie, Nev.)
1906 NYC electrification suburban territory (from Grand Central)
RF&P Alex. bypass
1907 July 24--NYNH&H electrification Woodlawn (Bronx)-New Rochelle
Oct.--NYNH&H electrification New Rochelle-Stamford
1908 Washington Union Station
SP&S Vancouver-Kennewick (Pasco)
NP Kalama-Vancouver-Portland
1909 Western Pacific
May--SP&S Kennewick-Spokane
1910 Nov. 27--Pennsylvania Station, Manhattan
1911 Chicago North Western Terminal
1913 Feb. 2--New Grand Central Terminal
1914 NYNH&H electrification Stamford-New Haven
Kansas City Union Station
Memphis Central Station
1915 PRR electrification Philadelphia-Paoli
1918 NYNH&H electrification New Rochelle-Sunnyside
1922 Apr. 28--first SP Daylight
1925 Jan.--SAL Coleman-West Palm Beach
PRR electrification Manhattan Tr.-Wilmington
new Chicago Union Station
1926 Aug. 7--Natron cut-off, Oregon
1927 Jan.--SAL West Palm Beach-Miami
1928 Feb. 24--Moffat Tunnel
1930 Oct. 15--SP Suisun Bridge
1933 Jan.--First PRR Philadelphia-New York elect. service
Mar. 31--Cincinnati Union Terminal completed
1935 Jan.--PRR electrification Wilmington-Washington
Dec. 15--Huey Long Bridge, New Orleans
1936 Syracuse grade separations
1938 Apr.--PRR electrification Paoli-Harrisburg
1947 Apr. 27--IC daytime City of New Orleans
1950 Toledo Central Union Terminal
1952 Feb. 11--new IC bridge at Cairo
1953 Delmar-Cape Charles, last PRR train
1954 May 1--New Orleans Union Station (site of old one)
Maryland & Pennsylvania, last train
1955 Overland route switches from CNW to Milw
Buffalo-Pittsburgh, last B&O train
Aug. 6--last SP Rogue River Ashland-Eugene (-Portland)
1956 Cedar Rapids-Omaha, last CNW train
Madison-Watertown, last Milw train (aft. 10/55, bef. 6/57)
1957 Baltimore-Hagerstown, last WM train
Apr. 27--Baltimore-Jersey City, last B&O train
May 18--Syracuse-Auburn, last NYC train
June 27--Dallas-Houston, last SP train
1959 Nov. 29--E. St. Louis-Pine Bluff, last Cotton Belt train
1961 Jan.--Cincinnati-Louisville, last B&O train
July--Grafton-Wheeling-Willard, last B&O train
Aberdeen-Montana, last Milw train
1962 Williams-Phoenix, last Santa Fe train
Syracuse downtown station closed, tracks used for highway
1963 Jan.--Youngstown-Cleveland, last B&O train
June--Milwaukee-Wyeville-Minneapolis, last CNW train
June--Madison-Wyeville-Rochester, last CNW train
Oct. 28--demolition begins at Penn Station
1964 Cleveland-Chicago, last NKP train
1965 Jan. 3--last B&M Dover-Portland
Memphis-Little Rock, last MP train
Chicago-Minneapolis, last Soo train
Chicago-Madison, last CNW train
1966 C&NW/CMStP&P Milwaukee station
Pueblo-Glenwood, last D&RGW train
1967 Davenport-Kansas City-El Paso, last CRIP train
St. Louis-Springfield-Oklahoma city, last Frisco train
Kansas City-Springfield-Memphis, last Frisco train
Atlanta-Mobile, last Crescent
Broadway combined with General
June 30--last B&M Haverhill-Dover
Dec.--last 20th Century
1968 Ft. Worth-El Paso, last MP train
Mar.--Wilson-Wilmington, last ACL train
Mar. 30--Vicksburg-Shreveport, last IC train
May 20--St. Louis-Springfield, last IC train
Minneapolis-Aberdeen, last Milw train
Milwaukee-Green Bay-Calumet, last Milw train
Williams-Grand Canyon, last ATSF train
1969 Jan.--First PC Metroliner
Colonie replaces Schenectady as stop
Albany Union Station (highway on tracks)
Chicago Union Station concourse demolished
Palestine-Houston, last MP train
May 31--Longview-Dallas-Ft. Worth, last MP train
Nov. 3--Last KCS train
Nov. 8--Chicago Grand Central closes
1970 New Lisbon-Wausau, last Milw train
Jan. 5--Hornell-Youngstown-Chicago, last E-L train
May 31--CHI-Council Bluffs, last R.I. train west of Rock Island
Aug. 12--Bristol-Birmingham last SRR train (Birm. Special)
Sept. 8--Chicago-Minneapolis "Pioneer" last Milw night train
Sept.--Texarkana-Longview-Palestine-San Antonio, last MP train
1971 Jan.--Green Bay-Ashland, last Flambeau 400 CNW train
Apr. 30--last of many trains
May 1--Amtrak Day
Sept. 8—-West Virginian added, Washington-Parkersburg
Nov. 14--Amtrak drops CNO, brings back Panama Ltd.
1972 Mar. 5--Chicago Central Station closes
June 11 (tt)—-Potomac Special replaces West V’ian (same route)
Mid (?)--Seattle-Vancouver
Oct. 28-29--Amtrak moves from CIN Union Term. to River Rd.
Fall--"Montrealer"
1973 Apr. 29--1st Inter-American, Ft. Worth-Temple-San Antonio-Laredo
May 6—-Potomac Special dropped, Cumberland-Parkersburg ends
Oct. 28 (tt)—-Washington-Cumberland “Blue Ridge” [continues?]
1974 Feb. 14--Chicago-Dubuque Black Hawk
Mar. 6--1st San Joaquin
Mar. 14--St. Louis-Dallas-Ft. Worth extension
Fall?--Riley rerouted to C&O Cin.-Chi.
1975 Mar. 24--Mountaineer, Norfolk-Catlettsburg (through cars to Chicago)
Apr. 15--Duluth-Twin Cities Arrowhead
May 15 (or before) Buffalo-Detroit
May 22--Southern 7/8 Wash.-Lynchburg dropped
June 1--Southern 5/6 cut Atlanta-Charlotte
July 1--Fort Worth-Dallas stub train for Lone Star
Aug. 8--Southern 3/4 Salisbury-Asheville dropped
Sept. 14--Floridian via Monon route
Oct. 31--Lake Shore Limited
1976 Sept. 1--4th San Diegan
Oct. 31-—Shenandoah, Washington-Cincinnati (Blue Ridge continues, Washington-Cumberland)
Nov. 28--Southern 5/6 (Piedmont) Wash.-Charlotte dropped
1977 Apr. 24--5th San Diegan
Apr. 30--Mountaineer Chicago cars eliminated
June 1--Mountaineer becomes Washington-Petersburg-Catlettsburg Hilltopper
June 7--Pioneer (Salt Lake-Seattle)
1978 Jan. 8--Hilltopper and Night Owl combined
Feb. 14--6th San Diegan
July 30--Dearborn becomes a stop
Oct. 29--Schenectady downtown stop begins (shelter)
Oct. 29--National Limited Washington connection via Safe Harbor moved to Philadelphia.
1979 Feb. 1--Crescent transferred from Southern to Amtrak
Feb. 1--Buffalo-Detroit discontinued
Aug. 8--New Schenectady station opens
Oct.--end of Floridian, Hiawatha, National, Lone Star, Hilltopper, etc.
1980 Feb. 3--2nd San Joaquin
Oct. 26--7th San Diegan
1981 May 1--last private Auto-Train
Sept. 30--Chicago-Dubuque ends
Sept. 30--San Antonio-Laredo ends (also probably Temple-Houston)
Sept. 30--Shendandoah ends; Capitol Limited starts
Oct. 25--Spirit of California
Oct. 25--Empire Builder via Wenatchee; new Portland section
Dec. 31--Portland-Eugene ends
1982 Apr. 25--Starlight reroute via Sacramento
Oct. 31--International replaces Blue Water
Oct. 31--Hammond-Whiting opens
Nov. 20--Silver Palm
1983 Jan. 30--last Fort Pitt
July 10--Illini cut Decatur-Champaign
July 15--CZ reroute via Colorado (not Wyoming)
Oct. 1--Spirit of California ends
Oct. 30—-Amtrak Auto Train begins (tri-weekly VA-FL)
Oct. 30--CZ reroute SLC-Nevada skipping Ogden
Oct. 30--Pennsylvanian ext. Phila.-NY
1984 Feb. 1--St. Petersburg-Tampa cut
Apr. 29--New Orleans-Mobile
Apr. 29--River Cities
Aug. 5--Pere Marquette
Oct. 15-—Amtrak Auto Train goes from tri-weekly to daily (VA-FL)
Oct. 28--Carolinian
1985 Jan. 6--New Orleans-Mobile ends
Apr. 6--St. Paul-Duluth
Apr. 30--Silver Palm ends
Sept. 2--Carolinian ends
Dec. 2--Amtrak moves out of Kansas City Union Sta.
1986 Apr. 27--Cardinal reroute CIN-CHI, via IND
Apr. 27--Desert wind reroute via Fullerton
first summer of Cape Codder
Oct. 26--Silver Star reroute via RMT
1987 Apr. 6--"Montrealer" annulled
Oct. 5--Boston-NY trains again serve Back Bay
Oct. 25--8th San Diegan
Oct. 25--1st 1-stop Metroliner
Oct. 25--Hoosier State restored as separate daily train
Oct. 25--E Broadway lvs Chicago 7:55 instead of 3 PM
Oct. 25--New Rochelle replaces Rye, NY
1988 Jan. 5--Move to "temporary" Detroit station
Jan. 29--Harrisburg trains end Penn Center Phila service
Summer--weekdays only CC&H connections at Attleboro
June 12--Florida reroute Coleman-Auburndale
June 15--Greyhound back at Harrisburg Amtrak, after 5 yrs
June 16--San Diegans get Railfones
June 25--San Diego-Santa Barbara
Sept. 29--Washington Union Station reopens
Nov. 15--Houston-Dallas "Eagle" section
Nov. 15--Jacksonville-Savannah extension of "Palmetto"
1989 May 21--10th NY-Albany train; Sat.-only Syracuse train
May 23--Atlantic City
Summer--Saturday Cape Codders turn at Providence, not NY
July 18--Montrealer restored via New London
Oct. 27--Pittsburgh's new station opens (11/17 dedication)
Oct. 29--3rd+4th Hiawathas, WI begins 403b support
Oct. 29--Mobile-Montgomery-Birmingham "Crescent" section
Dec. 17--3rd San Joaquin
1990 Jan. 20--"Eagle" goes daily, including Dallas-Houston
Apr. 1--Atlantic City service extension to Richmond
May 12--Carolinian resumes
June 1--Amtrak ACY trains to Phila. Airport
Oct. 28--Atlantic City service extension to Springfield
Oct. 28--Second Santa Barbara train
Oct. 28--Restoration of 3x daily CHI-DET service
Nov. 11--Broadway/Capitol reroute
1991 Apr. 7--West Side Connection opens
Apr. 7--"Carol." & "Palmetto" separated up to NYP
May 3--Valparaiso train dropped
June 16--"Pioneer" Wyoming reroute
July 29--Move back into Cincinnati Union Terminal
Oct. 27--6-7th Hiawathas
Oct. 27--Local Phil.-Atlantic City trains dropped
Dec. 12--Capitol Corrdior SJC-OAK-SAC, 3 RT's daily
1992 Apr. 5--eastbound Night Owl inland section (withdrawn Oct. 24).
Oct. 25--9th San Diegan
Oct. 25--4th San Joaquin
1993 Apr. 4--New Orleans-Jacksonville (Sunset extension NOL-Miami)
May 21--Santa Clara-Great America, CA opens
June 4--Fremont, CA opens
July--Quincy,IL-West Quincy, MO segment closed due to floods; never restored.
July 28--Commerce, CA opens
Aug. 14--Emeryville, CA opens (“Grand opening” program the 13th)
Nov. 1--Keystone service increases
Nov. 4--Pioneer, Texas Eagle cut to tri-weekly
Nov. 4--River Cities dropped St. Louis-Carbondale
1994 Jan. 14--SW Chief rerouted via Fullerton
May 1--new Seattle-Portland train (Talgo)
May 1--restoration of Executive Sleeper
May 5--Pontiac extension
June 17--New York-Toronto weekend night train
July 2--ACY trains serve Cherry Hill (instead of Lindenwold)
July 22--new rail bypass around Lafayette, IN
Aug. 5--Oakland 16th St. closed
Aug.--final termination of Executive Sleeper
Oct. 30--Meteor loses Tampa section (had split at JAX)
Oct. 30--Palmetto extended JAX-Orlando-Tampa
Oct. 30--Star now split at JAX (not Auburndale)
Oct. 30--Camarillo, CA opens
Dec. 4--Ontario, CA opens
Dec. 15--last Atlantic
1995 Jan. 31--Last Palmetto
Feb. 1--Crescent cut to tri-weekly west of Atlanta
Feb. 1--Empire Builder four times a week west of St. Paul
Feb. 1--Desert Wind cut to tri-weekly
Feb. 6--Solana Beach replaces Del Mar, CA
Mar. 31--Last Montrealer
Apr. 1--Last Gulf Breeze (Birm.-Mobile)
Apr. 1--Last Amtrak Atlantic City trains
Apr. 1--Last Springfield-Boston service, except Lake Shore
Apr. 2--first Vermonter
Apr. 2--Hiawathas cut from 7 to 4 RT's
Apr. 2--St. Louis-K.C. RT's cut from 2 to 1
Apr. 2--Detroit-Toledo cut
Apr. 2--Pere Marquette cut to 4 times a week
May 20--Coast Starlight upgrade
May 22--Oakland Jack London Square station opens
May 26--Seattle-Vancouver
May 26--Raleigh-Charlotte Piedmont
June 11--Hoosier State cut to 4 times a week
June 11--City of New Orleans cut to 5 times a week
June 11--Cal. Zephyr cut to 4 times a week
July 1--St. Louis-K.C. back to 2 RT's
July 16--Hiawathas back to 6 RT's
Sept. 9--Last Broadway
Sept. 9--Last Hoosier State
Sept. 9--last New York-Toronto weekend night train
Sept. 9--Texas Eagle Dallas-Houston leg dropped
Sept. 10--City of New Orleans reroute Jackson-Memphis
Sept. 10--Cardinal New York-Washington segment dropped
Oct. 29--San Diegan extension to San Luis Obispo
Oct. 29--Royal Oak, MI opens
Oct. 29--Washington, MO now permanent stop
Nov. 18--4th weekly Crescent trip west of Atlanta
Dec. 15--Windsor, VT opens
1996 Jan. 7--Lake Shore loses slumbercoach
Jan. 9--Coast Starlight runs 5 times a week
Jan. 15--Silver Meteor lost slumbercoach (Star gets extra one)
Feb. 1--through coaches Capitol-Three Rivers; Broadway Limited name retired
Feb. 16—-Diner restored to Silver Star
Mar. 14--Coast Starlight back to daily
Apr. 14--City of New Orleans 6 times a week (not 5)
Apr. 14--Mineola, TX opens (but Newport, AR closes)
Apr. 14--4th Capitol
Apr. 14--Randolph, VT opens
June 2--Sunset reroute Tucson-Yuma
June 28--last Chicago-Springfield Loop
June 29--Gulf Coast Limited starts (New Orleans-Mobile)
July 17--Crescent daily throughout
Aug. 1--Chief reroute in Illinois
Sept. 2--last Cape Codder
Nov. 10--Three Rivers extended to Chicago
Nov. 10--Silver Palm (via Ocala)
Nov. 10--Silver Star loses Tampa section
Nov. 10--standard consists on Lake Shore, Crescent, Silver trains; also Chief-Capitol run-through starts around then
Nov. 10--Sunset cut Miami-Sanford
Nov. 22--vacate SP depot in San Antonio
Dec. 2--Ethan Allen
1997 March 31--last Gulf Coast Limited (New Orleans-Mobile)
May 10--last Pioneer
May 10--last Desert Wind
May 11--daily service restored to Empire Builder, Cal. Zephyr, City of New Orleans
May 11--Builder-CNO run-through starts
May 11--Marcelline, MO, Emporia, KS, Lovelock, NV closed
May 29--Hayward, CA opens
June 3--Palm Springs, CA opens
June 22--Carpinteria, CA opens
July 10--Twilight Shoreliner replaces Night Owl
July 27--Sunset restored Sanford-Orlando
Oct. 26--Cal. Zephyr cut Oakland-Emeryville
Oct. 26--10th New York-Albany Empire train
Oct. 26--Cornwells Heights, PA, Fair Haven, VT open
Oct. 26--10th L.A.-San Diego train
1998 Feb. 5--4th Eagle (new train through to L.A.)
Mar. 11--Catlettsburg, KY closes, Ashland opens
Apr. 5--11th New York-Albany Empire train
May 17--restore through cars Eagle-Sunset
May 17--3rd Seattle-Portland train, faster schedule
July 19--Hoosier State restored three times a week
July 19--Guadalupe, CA opens
Oct. 25--5th Capitol
Oct. 25--11th L.A.-San Diego train
Nov. 7--Pennsylvanian extension to Chicago
1999 Feb. 21--5th San Joaquin, to Sacramento
Apr. 1--Three Rivers adds refurbished Heritage sleepers
Jun. 15--Oklahoma City-Fort Worth
[mid]--Coast Starlight reroute Sacramento-Chico
Aug. 16--Burlington-Rutland (state train, eliminated by years' end)
Sept. 1--new Seattle-Bellingham train
Oct. 24--13th weekday Albany train (11th weekends)
Dec. 17--Kentucky Cardinal (to Jeffersonville)
2000 Jan. 31--First Acela Regional electric to Boston (2 trips)
Feb. 27--4th Oakland-San Jose Capitol; 7th Sacramento-Oakland
Apr. 15--Chicago-Janesville
May 21--daily Eagle (and bi-directional Texarkana-Mineola)
May 21--one Michigan train cut Detroit-Pontiac
July 9--another Keystone, weekend Acela Regional
Aug. 31--Detroit-Pontiac restored to three daily
Oct. 6--Portland-Eugene frequency increased from 2 to 3 daily
Dec. 11--First Acela Express revenue round trip, Washington-Boston weekdays
2001 Dec./Jan.--Chicago-Janesville, two Chicago-Detroit RT's dropped temporarily through about Jan. 26 (but leaving only two Detroit-Pontiac RT's)
Feb. 28--weekly Texas Eagle San Antonio-Los Angeles segment eliminated (end bi-directional running)
Mar. 5--Next Acela Express weekday trips; Washington-New York (non-stop), Boston-New York
Mar. 24--Chicago-Janesville begins Saturday-only service
Apr. 29--Next Acela Express, including first weekend service
Apr. 29--Cut in Springfield service to less than six daily
Apr. 29--Sacramento-Oakland increased from 7 to 9 daily
Sep. 22--Last Chicago-Janesville
Sep. 22--Alderson, WV stop dropped from Cardinal
Sep. 22--Capitols, San Joaquins, California Zephyr, and Coast Starlight move Martinez, CA stop to new intermodal transportation center
Sep. 22--Empire Service, Adirondack, Ethan Allen Express, and Maple Leaf move Albany, NY stop to new intermodal transportation center
Oct. 2--Amtrak retires last Heritage sleepers, replaced by Viewliners on Three Rivers
Oct. 21--Newark Airport, NJ station stop added
Dec. 4--Jeffersonville-Louisville
Dec. 15--Boston-Portland
2002 Jan. 12--Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center opens, Texas Eagle and Heartland Flyer move in next month from Santa Fe station.
Feb. 1-- Major reduction in staffing at 73 stations, checked baggage service eliminated to 50. Some of these cuts eventually rescinded.
Feb. 19--Downeaster adds new Saco, ME stop
Mar. 18--Sacramento San Joaquins add Lodi stop
Apr. 29--Pennsylvanian changed to daylight schedule across Ohio
Apr. 29--Southwest Chief adds Riverside, CA stop
Mar. 18--Second Sacramento-Stockton-Bakersfield San Joaquin
May 1—-Silver Palm becomes Palmetto, loses sleeper and diner, adds Business Class
May 1--Cardinal and Kentucky Cardinal become single-level
May 20--Twilight Shoreliner loses Viewliner sleeper
Jun. 16--Kentucky Cardinal loses Viewliner sleeper
Jun. 21--Viewliner sleeper restored on Twilight Shoreliner
Jul. 1--Downeaster adds Woburn, MA MBTA station stop
Jul. 12--Downeaster adds new Old Orchard Beach, ME stop
Sep. 27--Vermont loses all station staffing.
Oct. 27--Sacramento-Oakland increased from 9 to 10 daily
Oct. 27--Hiawatha adds a round-trip
Oct. 28--Last New York-Springfield-Boston direct train eliminated
Nov. 12--Cascades and Empire Builder move Everett, WA stop to new intermodal station
Dec. 5--Amtrak, Metrolink introduce Rail2Rail ticketing agreement
Dec. 10--Southwest Chief, Ann Rutledge, Mules move back into Kansas City, MO Union Station after 20-year absence
2003 Feb. 10--Pennsylvanian cut west of Pittsburgh (but runs to N.Y.)
Mar. 17--Acela Regional trains become Regional
Apr. 28--Twilight Shoreliner relaunched as Federal, runs only to Washington with Virginia connections
Apr. 28--increased New Haven-Springfield service
Apr. 28--Detroit-Pontiac back to three times daily
Apr. 28--Sacramento-Oakland increased from 10 to 12 daily
Jun. 26--Downeaster adds stop at new Wells, ME intermodal station
Oct. 26--Cardinal extended to New York
Oct. 27--Amtrak combines National and Northeast schedules into one system timetable for first time since 1992, adds sample fare listings for first time in over 20 years
Nov. ??--Federal loses Viewliner sleeper
July 8--Kentucky Cardinal (Louisville) eliminated
2004 Jan. 30--Cardinal loses Viewliner sleeper, and diner
Jan. 31--Lake Shore Limited Boston section loses Viewliner sleeper
Feb. 18--Lake Shore Limited Boston section becomes stub train with Business Class, transfer required at Albany
Mar. 16--Cardinal regains Viewliner sleeper, with tray meals served in dinette
Apr. 1--Coaster joins Amtrak-Metrolink Rail2Rail partnership
Apr. 24--International cut back to Port Huron (VIA Rail replaces Canadian schedule with Toronto-Sarnia-Toronto local train); U.S.A. schedule restored to Blue Water timings (Chi-Port Huron W in AM, E in PM)
Apr. 26--Amtrak drops Federal name from trains 66 and 67, becomes normal Regional train
Jul. 2--Amtrak extends Regional trains 66 and 67 (former Federal) back to Newport News, VA
Nov. 1—-New York-Pittsburgh Pennsylvanian eliminated, reducing frequency on the Harrisburg-Pittsburgh segment to one daily round-trip)
Nov. 1-—New York-Pittsburgh-Chicago Three Rivers loses sleeper
Nov. 1—-New York-Tampa-Miami Palmetto cut back to run NY-Savannah only (with service at Waldo, Ocala, and Dade City replaced by Thruway bus)
Nov. 1—-New York-Miami Silver Star rerouted to run via Lakeland and Tampa, restoring sleeping-car and dining-car service to Tampa; gives Tampa attractively-timed service for first time since November 10, 1996
Nov. 1--Smoking banned on all trains except the Auto Train
Nov. 17—-Second Surfliner frequency to/from San Luis Obispo, cooperation with Metrolink; train makes select Metrolink stops and honors Metrolink single-ride tickets
2005 Jan. 18—-Mitchell Field Station (Milwaukee Airport) opens; all Hiawathas begin servicing the station.
Mar. 1--Sunset Limited schedule adds eight hours eastbound and nearly five hours westbound
Mar. 7--Three Rivers eliminated, Pennsylvanian reinstated Pittsburgh-New York
Apr. 1--Northeast Corridor services become all-reserved
Aug. 27—Last run of the Sunset Limited east of New Orleans; this route segment is “suspended indefinitiely” following Hurricane Katrina
Oct. 31--Clockers eliminated, handed over to NJT
Nov. 1--Expansion of Amtrak California Thruway routes
2006 Jul. 14--New Mexico Rail Runner Express begins service, a commuter railroad between Belen, NM
to Albuquerque, NM and later to Santa Fe, NM, with service 7 days a week, providing connection to
Southwest Chief.
Oct. 30--One new daily round-trip added to each of the following Illinois routes: Chicago-Quincy (Carl Sandburg, joining the pre-existing Illinois Zephyr), Chicago-Springfield-St. Louis (additional Lincoln Service) and Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale (Saluki, joining the pre-existing Illini).
2008 Apr. 7--“Northeast Regional” branding introduced, logo also applied on many Amfleet I Café cars
Apr. 26—-Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner commuter rail service inaugurated between Salt Lake City and Ogden, operating 6 days a week, connecting to the California Zephyr
Oct. 27-The Lake Shore Limited’s Boston section reinstated as a through train to Chicago, cross-platform transfer eliminated
2009 Apr. 2--Sleeper service returns to Boston section of the Lake Shore Limited
Sept. 25—Station stop at Leavenworth, WA added to Empire Builder route
Oct. 1—-One daily Northeast Regional round-trip extended to Lynchburg, VA (north in the morning; south in
the evening).
Dec. 14--Full dining car service is restored to the New York section of the Lake Shore Limited (New York-Chicago)
2010 Jan. 18--Burke Centre, VA added as new Amtrak station, served only by Lynchburg Regionals. Previously only a VRE commuter station.
Feb. 27–-Biodiesel project initiated in Oklahoma and later used in extended testing on locomotive #500
working the Heartland Flyer service
Mar. 1--AmtrakConnect free wireless Internet service introduced on Acela Express trains, later introduced on all services utilizing Amfleet I equipment plus California corridors and Coast Starlight's Pacific Parlour Car.
May 10-—Checked baggage service is restored to the Cardinal (all staffed stations except New York, Newark and Indianapolis, which are added later)
June 10—-Additional daily Raleigh-Charlotte Piedmont round-trip inaugurated, providing a third, mid-day frequency.
Jul. 20—-Additional daily Northeast Regional round-trip extended to Richmond, VA (Staples Mill Road station)
2011 Apr.19--Amtrak initiates Partners for Amtrak Safety and Security (PASS) Program to facilitate public involvement in Amtrak safety
May 7-–Amtrak becomes 40 years old, kicks off 40th Anniversary year-long celebration with special display train that tours the country.
2012 April 1--Wolverine and Blue Water trains begin operating at a top speed of 110 mph between Porter, IN and Kalamazoo, MI.
May 7—-Sunset Limited schedule changed. Westbound begins departing New Orleans at 9:00 AM Mon, Weds & Sat (instead of 11:55 AM Mon, Weds & Fri). Eastbound begins departing Los Angeles at 9:00 PM Sun, Weds & Fri (instead of 3:00 PM those days).
Nov. 1—-Three Downeaster round-trips extended north to Freeport and Brunswick, ME.
Nov. 22 -- Three Lincoln Service round-trips begin operating at a top speed of 110 mph between Dwight and Pontiac, IL.
Dec. 12-—Northeast Regional service to Norfolk, VA (extended from Richmond Staples Mill via Petersburg), one round trip daily frequency.