Latest news with #NortheastRegional
Time Out
5 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
Amtrak's first-ever one-seat train will connect Long Island to the rest of civilization
Say goodbye to the Penn Station shuffle. For the first time ever, the national railroad has announced plans for a direct, one-seat (a.k.a. no-transfer) train route connecting Long Island to Washington, D.C., and other Northeast Corridor cities. The proposal would extend three daily Northeast Regional roundtrips east from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma, with stops in Jamaica and Hicksville, creating a seamless link between the island and the mainland U.S. Translation: No more juggling the LIRR, NJ Transit and the PATH just to get to Philly. The plan, first revealed at Amtrak's May 22 board meeting and reported by Gothamist, wouldn't launch until at least 2030 and hinges on several factors—namely, the completion of East River Tunnel repairs and the arrival of new Airo trains, which can run on both overhead catenary and third-rail systems. Nicole Bucich, Amtrak's vice president of network development, confirmed the demand: 'We're not just competitive, we're probably faster and we're getting people to the center of the city.' She added there's strong interest in direct service from Long Island to D.C., Philadelphia and New Jersey. The proposed service is still in early planning but would run three daily off-peak trains east from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma, and three westbound trips back to D.C., totaling around five hours per ride. The federal government has listed the corridor as one of 69 priority routes for expansion, and Amtrak has applied for up to $500,000 in funding to conduct a technical study. This wouldn't require building new stations or major infrastructure, but it would require the MTA's cooperation. Amtrak relies on LIRR-owned tracks, and the two agencies are already at odds over tunnel closures impacting LIRR service. For now, the MTA says it's cooperating with the study. Commuter advocates say this modest step could finally inch the region toward long-desired 'through-running' service, integrating NJ Transit and LIRR so passengers don't have to switch at Penn. It's an idea long championed by former NYC Transit president and current Amtrak exec Andy 'Train Daddy' Byford.
Axios
6 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Richmond's Amtrak trains are fuller — and slower
While more people than ever are hopping aboard an Amtrak train in Virginia, train delays in the state seem to be getting worse. Why it matters: The on-time performance (OTP) rate for trains along the Northeast Regional line in Virginia — the line that runs through Richmond — is down 10% from fiscal year 2019, according to an Axios review of rail stats. The big picture: Like many travel sectors, Amtrak has been experiencing a post-pandemic surge in ridership. Last year, the rail company set an all-time ridership record nationwide with 32.8 million passengers hopping aboard a train in the last fiscal year. But its OTP has been ticking down overall, dropping from 80% in 2020 to 74% in 2022 and 2023, according to the most recent stats from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Zoom in: The Richmond corridor's OTP has been closer to 70% in recent years, slightly higher than the 69% for the whole Northeast Regional line, per Virginia Passenger Rail Authority data. That OTP comes as the Virginia Amtrak routes just set another all-time ridership record, this time for April. By the numbers: Thus far this year, Richmond's OTP is 65.4%, lower than the 71.9% for all Virginia Amtrak routes. In 2024, Richmond's OTP was 71% vs. 72.3% on all Virginia routes. In 2023, Richmond's OTP was 75.6%. The state's: 74.3%. ✈️ For comparison, the Richmond airport's on-time rate for departures is at 79% thus far this year, per the latest Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. It was 80% or higher for the previous five years. The fine print: The Richmond corridor includes all trains between D.C. and Richmond, Karina Romero with VPRA tells Axios. VPRA tracks OTP by the calendar year, while Amtrak does it by fiscal year. And according to both, OTP represents the percentage of stations where a train arrives within 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival time, Romero says. Between the lines: There are multiple reasons trains end up running late, including accommodating more riders, but the most common in Virginia tends to be heat restrictions, Romero says. That's because hot weather and the rail's steel lines do not mix well. Other issues that can delay trains include winter weather and, critically, interference from freight trains, which share tracks with Amtrak. In Virginia, two big freight lines, CSX and Norfolk Southern, also happen to own most of the tracks, too. Plus, there can be a domino effect. If a train is delayed heading south out of D.C., which is often where the Virginia bottleneck starts, it'll be delayed the rest of the way through Richmond. Yes, but: There's hope to speed up those trains.
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Washington, DC, health officials confirm measles case ahead of cherry blossom season
Washington, DC, health officials confirm measles case ahead of cherry blossom season Show Caption Hide Caption Measles outbreak: Who's at risk and who's likely immune from virus As measles continue to spread in the U.S., here's who is at risk and who's immune from one of the most contagious viruses in the world. WASHINGTON, D.C. ‒ Local officials warned on Tuesday that a person with a confirmed cases of measles may have exposed others at the city's Union Station and a local urgent care. The case comes as the capital region is gearing up for its signature cherry blossom season, which attracts millions of people each year. In 2024, 1.6 million visitors visited Washington and its surrounding areas for cherry blossom season, according to National Cherry Blossom Festival organizers and Mayor Muriel Bowser's office. The famed blossoms are expected to reach their peak bloom – and peak tourism draw – this weekend. The person who contracted measles traveled on Amtrak's Northeast Regional route heading southbound on March 19. Washington's Department of Health said potential exposure could have occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The individual exited through Union Station, with potential exposures between 11:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The northeast regional route begins in Boston and ends or runs through Washington, including stops in New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Officials did not immediately say where the individual boarded the train. The person went to an urgent care center in the city's northwestern Adams Morgan neighborhood on Saturday, and officials warn that potential exposures could have extended from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. 'Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes,' Washington's Department of Health said in the Tuesday statement. City health officials said people who may have been exposed and have not been immunized against the virus should contact their health care provider or health officials at 844-493-2652. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 378 people in 18 states have been diagnosed with measles this year. Outbreaks have occurred primarily in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas and neighboring Lea County, New Mexico. Who is most at risk of measles? People who have received two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles, or were born in the U.S. before 1957 are believed to be immune to the virus. People in the U.S. traditionally receive the measles vaccination around their first birthday. Pregnant women, infants under the age of one and those who are immune compromised are most at risk of complications from measles. Measles symptoms Measles symptoms often develop within 10-14 days of exposure to the virus but may take as long as 21 days to show up. A person with measles is contagious four days before they begin to show signs of a rash and four days after the rash begins. Here are common symptoms of the virus: Fever of more than 101 degrees. Runny nose. Cough. Red, watery eyes. Loss of appetite, diarrhea. A red rash on the face and body typically appears one to four days after early symptoms. Koplik spots, tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin. Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Nathan Diller, Saman Shafiq, Janet Loehrke and Karissa Waddick
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Washington, DC health officials confirm measles case ahead of cherry blossom season
Washington, DC health officials confirm measles case ahead of cherry blossom season Show Caption Hide Caption Measles outbreak: Who's at risk and who's likely immune from virus As measles continue to spread in the U.S., here's who is at risk and who's immune from one of the most contagious viruses in the world. WASHINGTON, D.C. ‒ Local officials warned on Tuesday that a person with a confirmed cases of measles may have exposed others at the city's Union Station and a local urgent care. The case comes as the capital region is gearing up for its signature cherry blossom season, which attracts millions of people each year. In 2024, 1.6 million visitors visited Washington and its surrounding areas for cherry blossom season, according to National Cherry Blossom Festival organizers and Mayor Muriel Bowser's office. The famed blossoms are expected to reach their peak bloom – and peak tourism draw – this weekend. The person who contracted measles traveled on Amtrak's Northeast Regional route heading southbound on March 19. Washington's Department of Health said potential exposure could have occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The individual exited through Union Station, with potential exposures between 11:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The northeast regional route begins in Boston and ends or runs through Washington, including stops in New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Officials did not immediately say where the individual boarded the train. The person went to an urgent care center in the city's northwestern Adams Morgan neighborhood on Saturday, and officials warn that potential exposures could have extended from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. 'Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes,' Washington's Department of Health said in the Tuesday statement. City health officials said people who may have been exposed and have not been immunized against the virus should contact their health care provider or health officials at 844-493-2652. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 378 people in 18 states have been diagnosed with measles this year. Outbreaks have occurred primarily in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas and neighboring Lea County, New Mexico. Who is most at risk of measles? People who have received two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles, or were born in the U.S. before 1957 are believed to be immune to the virus. People in the U.S. traditionally receive the measles vaccination around their first birthday. Pregnant women, infants under the age of one and those who are immune compromised are most at risk of complications from measles. Measles symptoms Measles symptoms often develop within 10-14 days of exposure to the virus but may take as long as 21 days to show up. A person with measles is contagious four days before they begin to show signs of a rash and four days after the rash begins. Here are common symptoms of the virus: Fever of more than 101 degrees. Runny nose. Cough. Red, watery eyes. Loss of appetite, diarrhea. A red rash on the face and body typically appears one to four days after early symptoms. Koplik spots, tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin. Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Nathan Diller, Saman Shafiq, Janet Loehrke and Karissa Waddick
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Washington, DC health officials confirm measles case ahead of cherry blossom season
WASHINGTON, D.C. ‒ Local officials warned on Tuesday that a person with a confirmed cases of measles may have exposed others at the city's Union Station and a local urgent care. The case comes as the capital region is gearing up for its signature cherry blossom season, which attracts millions of people each year. In 2024, 1.6 million visitors visited Washington and its surrounding areas for cherry blossom season, according to National Cherry Blossom Festival organizers and Mayor Muriel Bowser's office. The famed blossoms are expected to reach their peak bloom – and peak tourism draw – this weekend. The person who contracted measles traveled on Amtrak's Northeast Regional route heading southbound on March 19. Washington's Department of Health said potential exposure could have occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The individual exited through Union Station, with potential exposures between 11:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The northeast regional route begins in Boston and ends or runs through Washington, including stops in New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Officials did not immediately say where the individual boarded the train. The person went to an urgent care center in the city's northwestern Adams Morgan neighborhood on Saturday, and officials warn that potential exposures could have extended from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. 'Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes,' Washington's Department of Health said in the Tuesday statement. City health officials said people who may have been exposed and have not been immunized against the virus should contact their health care provider or health officials at 844-493-2652. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 378 people in 18 states have been diagnosed with measles this year. Outbreaks have occurred primarily in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas and neighboring Lea County, New Mexico. People who have received two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles, or were born in the U.S. before 1957 are believed to be immune to the virus. People in the U.S. traditionally receive the measles vaccination around their first birthday. Pregnant women, infants under the age of one and those who are immune compromised are most at risk of complications from measles. Measles symptoms often develop within 10-14 days of exposure to the virus but may take as long as 21 days to show up. A person with measles is contagious four days before they begin to show signs of a rash and four days after the rash begins. Here are common symptoms of the virus: Fever of more than 101 degrees. Runny nose. Cough. Red, watery eyes. Loss of appetite, diarrhea. A red rash on the face and body typically appears one to four days after early symptoms. Koplik spots, tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin. Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Nathan Diller, Saman Shafiq, Janet Loehrke and Karissa Waddick This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Measles exposure: Case confirmed in DC; individual traveled on Amtrak
