Travels with Kev

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, Welcome back! This week, new menus, an option to store luggage when you travel, and more. Updates to the Flex Menus While updating something else, I noticed that Amtrak recently updated its Flex Dining menus. These meals are currently offered on the Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, and Texas Eagle. If you want to check them out, take a look at my Flex Dining Page, where I have them available for you. There are rumors...

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! Have you ever taken Amtrak’s Cardinal? Otherwise, you might miss one of Kev's favorite—and underrated—long-distance Amtrak routes. I might be biased, though. The Cardinal operates between New York City and Chicago three days a week, traveling through the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. It’s a winding journey...

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! Three Amtrak Routes Are Back on Track! 🚆 You may remember that a few Amtrak routes were temporarily sidelined when they pulled Horizon cars due to safety concerns. But the good news is that they are back on track! The Cascades was the last route to return. Other updates: The Borealis is back to using Superliner coach cars The Cascades now has Amfleet trainsets The Hiawatha is running with available cars, they...

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! New Amtrak cars are coming. You may have heard that the new Amtrak Airo trains are set to launch in 2026, offering a modern and more comfortable experience for train travel across the U.S. These state-of-the-art trains will replace equipment on key routes, featuring larger windows, enhanced seating, faster acceleration, and improved fuel efficiency. Passengers can also anticipate improved lighting, upgraded...

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! Amtrak Temporarily Sidelines Horizon Cars, Affecting Several Routes Amtrak has temporarily removed its Horizon railcar fleet from service after routine inspections uncovered corrosion issues. Consequently, several routes—including the Downeaster, Hiawatha, Borealis, and Amtrak Cascades. If you’re traveling on one of these routes, you may notice fewer trains running or be placed on a bus instead. While this...

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! A Fun Fact About the Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, and Southwest Chief Schedules Did you know the schedules for Amtrak’s Sunset Limited (1/2), Texas Eagle (Trains 420/421), and Southwest Chief (3/4) change automatically twice a year? 🚂 But here’s the twist—it’s not because of Amtrak or even the host railroads, Union Pacific or BNSF. The real reason? Arizona! 🌵 Unlike most of the USA, Arizona doesn’t observe...

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! Amtrak’s App Just Got a Major Upgrade—Here’s What’s New! If you’re like me, you appreciate anything that makes travel easier—especially when keeping track of your Amtrak trips! Good news: Amtrak rolled out significant updates to its mobile app, making it even more convenient for passengers. Many of you rely on the Amtrak app to check train status, manage reservations, and get trip updates. Amtrak listened to...

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! The Borealis Gets A Schedule Update On Monday, March 3, 2025, the Borealis implemented a revised schedule, adding a 12-minute buffer time in the westbound direction and 7 minutes in the eastbound direction. While Amtrak has not provided an official reason, I would guess that the update improves the train’s movement in and out of Chicago. The train shares tracks with Metra between Union Station and Rondout....

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! Reminder: Please check your spam folder ifI send these emails on Thursdays. If you don't receive them one week. Amtrak is increasing the capacity of many trains. This week, I received great news from the Rail Passengers Association’s Hotline #1,385 Newsletter! Passengers on the Texas Eagle have something to look forward to—the Sightseer Lounge is returning by March 3 after a long absence! Jim Mathews,...

The Travels with Kev Newsletter Hello Reader, ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter! Reminder: I send these emails on Thursdays. If you don't receive them, please check your spam folder. Last week, I told you that I had planned a trip, and I thought sharing how I chose my destination might be helpful. How I Planned My Next Amtrak Trip When I am looking at taking a trip, I start with a question: 👉 Why do I want to take this trip? It may seem obvious, but addressing this can significantly...