The Boston segment of the Lake Shore Limited has been rescued by a complex deal between Amtrak and the state of Massachusetts which is designed to expand the operator’s non-passenger revenue. The train had been scheduled to be discontinued on May 10 owing to Amtrak’s on-going financial crisis (RG 5.97 p290).
On April 28 a ’framework agreement’ was announced under which Amtrak will continue running the train in exchange for a new mail and express handling facility to be built by the state within its boundaries at Springfield. According to Amtrak, a final agreement regarding design, construction and a completion date was still under negotiation.
The thrice-weekly Texas Eagle was saved from extinction on May 14 after the Texas state legislature agreed to extend a US$5·6m loan to Amtrak. Operated on a day-by-day basis without sleeping cars beyond its original termination date as the loan bill was passed, the St Louis - San Antonio train now has funding in place until September 30.
The Salt Lake City - Los Angeles Desert Wind and the Portland - Denver Pioneer were however discontinued according to plan on May 10.
H Following service trials on the Portland - Eugene route in Oregon between May 10 and May 18, the six IC3 Flexliner DMU cars currently on a two-year North American tour were placed into service on the Chicago - Milwaukee Hiawatha corridor from June 6 until June 29. o
