Temporary suspension of rail service from New York City to Chicago prompts an engaging column, particularly for train buffs, on a bygone era when travel by rail was glamorous.
"The temporary suspension of the storied route is the result of repair work by Amtrak to a bridge and a tunnel that are part of the rail connection between Pennsylvania Station and upstate New York," reports Sarah Maslin Nir for The New York Times on June 8.
From the end of May until Sept. 3, the Lake Shore Limited, the most famous of the New York-to-Chicago trains, will run only between Boston and Chicago. A second link, the Cardinal, which travels between New York and Chicago along a southern route, is also temporarily suspended because of the same repairs. It will only run from Washington to Chicago.
The stoppage of the service, even if it is brief, marks a precipitous fall from what was once the most advanced and glamorous way to get around — in the middle of the last century two train companies, the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad, were in a race to provide ever more luxurious travel on fancier trains at faster speeds. The lines they operated carried renowned trains like the Broadway Limited and the 20th Century Limited.
The 20th Century Limited, "known as the world's greatest train" during the 65 years it operated between Chicago and New York, according to this archived New York Times article [pdf], published on the last day of its service on Dec. 3, 1967.
“The 20th Century was probably the most famous train in the country — it had what we would call today ‘star-power,’” said Robert Holzweiss, the president of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. “Before airlines, the famous people would travel by train and they would travel very glamorously,” he said.
Train service between America's two great cities is still available but requires a transfer.
By the end of the summer when the repair work is scheduled to be completed, Marc Magliari, a Chicago-based spokesman for Amtrak, said he hoped that customers would believe that the improvements were worth the disruption of the historic rail path.
“We are doing what we said we were going to do,” Mr. Magliari said. “We promised to make improvements at New York Penn Station — and we’re doing it.”
Click on the source article to view the historic photos.
For train travel between New York City and Albany on the Empire Service, the Manhattan terminal will be Grand Central Station through the summer until the Penn Station repairs are completed. According to Amtrak, service to/from Penn station will resume on Sept. 4.
FULL STORY: New York-Chicago Direct Train Shuts Down for First Time in Over a Century
New York's Moynihan Train Hall Opens to the Public
The spacious, glass-ceilinged hall brings much-needed breathing room to the nation's busiest train station.
Amtrak Borealis Line Celebrates 100,000 Passengers
The St. Paul-to-Chicago train served more than 22,000 passengers in August.
Post-Cuomo Penn Station Updates Could Move Project Forward
The controversial renovation of Penn Station could move forward with a scaled-back plan.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)