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Amtrak to run Autumn Express passenger train thru Lehigh Valley


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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 28 September 2016 - 04:11 PM

Allentown, PA Morning Call, 9/28/16:

Amtrak to run 'Autumn Express' passenger train through Lehigh Valley for first time   

 
 
Turns out there will be a train from New York into Allentown.
 
Less than a month after a Norfolk Southern official crushed the hopes of rail fans by flatly saying no to any chance that Amtrak could use its freight tracks for a commuter train from the Lehigh Valley to New York, Amtrak has scheduled two daylong excursion trains from New York into the Lehigh Valley, Oct. 29 and Oct. 30.

 
 
Story


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#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 30 September 2016 - 05:36 AM

Amtrak news release 9/28:

All Aboard the Autumn Express!

Amtrak to again operate special excursion train; Tickets on sale October 3

 

 

WILMINGTON – Back by popular demand, the Amtrak Autumn Express will operate this year on Oct. 29 and 30 through parts of New York, New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania. Once again, the train will operate through small towns, historic tunnels and past key landmarks including parts of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley not traversed by passenger trains since the 1960’s.

 

This year’s Autumn Express departs New York Penn Station, passing under the Hudson River and stopping in Newark, N.J. to accept passengers and transition from electric to diesel power.  From Newark, the train heads west along the former Lehigh Valley Railroad, through the famous Musconetcong Tunnel, opened in 1875, and across the Delaware River en route to Allentown.

 

Following the former route of the Queen of the Valley passenger train, which hasn’t seen regularly scheduled passenger service in decades, the train changes direction in Harrisburg and returns to Philadelphia along the route of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Blue Ribbon Fleet.  The train then rejoins the Northeast Corridor at Zoo Tower for a high speed run back to Newark and New York.

 

Tickets can be purchased starting Monday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. on Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL. Seating is limited. Tickets are $149 for adults. Children aged 2-12 ride for half price with each adult ticket. Customers also receive a boxed lunch, souvenir tote and complimentary lapel pin with the purchase of their ticket.



#3 Sloan

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Posted 26 October 2016 - 08:20 AM

 

 

First passenger train through Lehigh Valley sold out

Short text and some slides here:

 

http://www.mcall.com...1019-story.html

 

I am glad that Amtrak is continuing the trend of operating special trains.   :)   Sloan



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 01 November 2016 - 05:55 PM

Amtrak news release, 10/31:
 
 
Amtrak Autumn Express Treats Passengers and Spectators to Great Foliage and Lasting Memories
 

Over 1,300 Tickets Sold for the Annual Fall Excursion Train
 
 
WILMINGTON – The 2016 Amtrak Autumn Express is in the books as more than 1,300 people took to the rails on two sold-out excursion trains October 29 and 30. Traveling through parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the unique and wildly popular trip gave passengers an opportunity to see parts of the Lehigh Valley not traversed by passenger trains since 1963. Hundreds of local residents and well-wishers also lined portions of the route to photograph and wave at the fourteen car train as it went by.
 
“The Autumn Express is the result of hard work and cooperation with our partner railroads, our operations staff and the many Amtrak employees who volunteered on their days off to work the train,” said Joe McHugh, Amtrak Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and a Lehigh Valley native. “But ultimately, these special runs are for the passengers who continue to support and make this train a success year after year.”
 
This year’s Autumn Express departed New York Penn Station, passing under the Hudson River and stopping in Newark, N.J. to accept passengers and transition from electric to diesel power.  From Newark, the train headed west along the former Lehigh Valley Railroad, through the famous Musconetcong Tunnel, opened in 1875, and across the Delaware River en route to Bethlehem, Allentown, Reading and ultimately Harrisburg before returning to New York via Philadelphia and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
 
In total, the trip covered 371 route miles. This was the 4th consecutive year in which Amtrak operated the Autumn Express.

 

AXP16-5-of-9.jpg

Lancaster Station



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 November 2016 - 04:37 PM

Transportation Radio, 10/31:

 

 
Ex-Lehigh Valley Railroad Employee Revisits Train Line on Amtrak Autumn Express
 

While there were approximately 1,300 people on the Amtrak Autumn Express this weekend, one woman had a special reason to take the train. Jeanne Remmel of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania once worked for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The Amtrak train traveled along parts of the old LVRR in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Transportation Radio spoke with Jeanne about her experience.

 

Listen to conversation

 

jeanne-remmel.jpg?w=375&h=375

Jeanne Remmel

lvrr-logo.jpg?w=670

 






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