Mail and Express to End; Changes to Palmetto, Three Rivers and Pennsylvanian

As a result of the company’s decision to exit the mail and express business, Amtrak is making changes to the Palmetto, Three Rivers and Pennsylvanian, starting November 1. Amtrak’s decision to exit mail and express will improve some schedules and keep the railroad’s focus on its core passenger service business.

Amtrak President David Gunn recently told employees that the mail business, which takes a toll on passenger operations, no longer made business sense for the railroad.

Palmetto service, trains 89 and 90, which operates from New York through Tampa to Miami as coach only, will no longer serve Florida. As of Nov. 1, this train will operate between New York and Savannah, GA, on a better schedule. Cities that will no longer have rail service — Waldo, Ocala, Wildwood and Dade City — will be connected by motorcoach with the Silver Star at Lakeland and Jacksonville.

While the Silver Star, trains 91 and 92, will continue its New York to Miami run via Orlando, it will begin serving Tampa and Lakeland (previously served by the Palmetto) on Nov. 1. This route change will also restore sleeping car accommodations and dining car service to those cities.

The schedule of the New York-Pittsburgh-Chicago Three Rivers was designed to meet the needs of the mail business. As a result of ending the mail business, the train will undergo significant changes. With the new timetable, both the Three Rivers and the Pennsylvanian will be replaced by a single New York-Pittsburgh-Chicago train, which will run roughly according to the schedule of the Three Rivers, but without a sleeping car.

In March, service on this train west of Pittsburgh will be eliminated, following the legally required notice to the communities that will no longer be served by Amtrak; Youngstown, Akron and Fostoria OH, and Nappanee, IN.

The withdrawal from the mail and express business will impact some employees, but many will have the opportunity to remain with the company in other capacities. Finally, as a result of surplus equipment and the expiration of the postal service contract, Amtrak is arranging for the disposal of roadrailers, bogies and other equipment used for the mail and express business.

We are still studying the effects that these changes will have on private car operations and we will keep you apprised of all changes.

NS Switch Charge Increase

Effective immediately, the NS has increased its fee to $945 per private car switch.