Hello Reader,

Welcome back! The weekend is approaching!

Following last week's email, I received positive feedback about making a YouTube video and podcast on how to create a travel folder! Thanks to everyone who reached out to me.

If there's a subject you'd like me to consider and possibly cover, just let me know.

This week, we have updates coming to New York Penn Station, Idaho, and a bit about what I've been up to. Let's get started!

Significant Changes Coming to New York Penn Station

If you’ve ever been through New York Penn Station, you know it’s busy, crowded, and sometimes overwhelming, especially for first-time travelers. It still is for me!

That’s why the New York Penn Station Transformation Project is big news for Amtrak and commuter travelers. This large-scale redevelopment aims to modernize America’s busiest train station, making it easier to navigate, safer, and more comfortable for the millions of commuters who use it each year.

The project is currently still in its early stages.

• Currently, Amtrak is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which officially initiated the process by seeking a “master developer” to oversee the overhaul.
• That developer should be selected by May 2026, with design and environmental reviews taking place from 2026 to 2027.
• The goal is to begin construction by the end of 2027.
• Nearly $43 million in federal grant funding has already been announced to support this early development work.

What This Means for Travelers

For now, your trips won’t be affected, as Penn Station will continue to operate normally during the planning. However, in the long run, this change is expected to make a real difference.

Today, Penn Station serves over 12 million Amtrak passengers each year, along with countless commuters. That’s about 18% of Amtrak’s total ridership and nearly half of all Northeast Corridor travelers. With those numbers continuing to grow, improvements are urgently needed.

Here’s what riders can expect once the project is finished:

• Less congestion: Wider concourses and improved layouts should decrease bottlenecks and facilitate more effortless movement.
• Smoother connections: Upgraded access points and clearer signage will improve wayfinding, making it easier to find your train.
• Safer, modern design: The station will be reimagined with safety, accessibility, and future growth in mind.

The Bottom Line

This is a long-term project; you won’t see construction for a few years, but it’s a promising investment in the future of train travel. For anyone who’s felt the squeeze at Penn Station, the idea of a brighter, more open, and more user-friendly hub is something to look forward to.

If you want more details, look at Amtrak's Penn Station Fact Sheet.

Amtrak in Idaho

This week, I posted another entry in the 'Amtrak in Each State' series, and this week's lucky state is Idaho. Why? Because Jacob the Carpet Bagger was in Idaho when I was deciding which state to feature next. Sometimes that is how things go.

If Idaho is a state you want to visit or leave, here’s a starting point. Learn about Amtrak in Idaho!

What has Kev been up to?

This past week, I took my mom down to Florida so she could spend September helping my sister and her family.

The nice thing about the trip was that it began and ended at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport—so convenient! Since it was Labor Day weekend and everyone was busy, we decided to make things easy and drive ourselves and park at the airport.

The visit was quick and a nice blend of family time and adventure. Monday was relaxed; I even mowed the lawn, which felt like a small win.

Tuesday was fun. My youngest niece, her mom, and I went to the beach to see the Gulf. For just a dollar per adult, we walked out on the pier and saw dolphins, jellyfish, and other marine life. My niece wasn’t ready to leave, so she and her mom waded into the Gulf. She liked it more than we thought she would!

Now I’m back home, grateful for the trip and my own bed. There’s nothing quite like it after traveling.

Looking at the Markers

Thanks for reading and riding along with me!

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• One-time support: PayPal, Buy Me a Coffee, that green button at the bottom of this email, or check out my Support Page for more options.
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Every contribution, whether big or small, fuels this effort, supports new projects, and encourages more people to find joy in train travel—one trip at a time.

Until Next Week…

Happy planning and safe travels,
Kev Monteith