AMTRAK introduced significant changes on July 10 to NortheastDirect services on the Boston - Washington DC - Newport News corridor. Improvements included the relaunch of the Night Owl as the Twilight Shoreliner, an overnight Boston - Washington DC service now including a new Viewliner sleeping car and a first class lounge. The relaunch included schedule changes better to meet the needs of sleeping car customers.
With their passengers now accommodated on the Twilight Shoreliner, three evening trains serving portions of the Boston - Washington route were discontinued. Other changes included the introduction of the Capitol Sunrise, a southbound Philadelphia - Washington service departing weekdays at 06.10 and arriving at 08.10. The Evening Metropolitan, which departs Boston daily at 1810, now terminates in Philadelphia on weekdays instead of Washington.
H Under an agreement with the state of Wisconsin, Amtrak is to run Hiawatha services on the Chicago - Milwaukee route on a fixed-price basis for three years. Six return trips Monday-Saturday and five on Sundays are covered by the contract, which includes targets for punctuality, train cleanliness and staff courtesy. o
Amtrak California opened an unstaffed station serving the desert resort city of Palm Springs on June 3. Built with state and city funding, it is served by the thrice-weekly Los Angeles - Orlando Sunset Limited. A new stop for San Diegan services opened on June 22 at Carpentaria, between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
