Travels with Kev

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, it's Kev! Once again, there’s more good news in the world of train travel! The Mardi Gras Service is doing well, and I think its success says something bigger about passenger rail in the United States—not just along the Gulf Coast. Next week, I will cover how to break up a trip along a route. Stay tuned! The Mardi Gras Service Turns One — And Riders Showed Up It has officially been one year since Amtrak passenger trains resumed service on...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, it's Kev! I will warn you, this is a long newsletter, but it is all good news! Amtrak is getting the funding it needs for a major reset, and the Heartland Flyer is saved—at least through 2027. Amtrak Gets Nearly $3 Billion for New Trains and Rail Improvements Amtrak has received nearly $3 billion in federal grants for new trains, maintenance facilities, bridges, track upgrades, and other projects nationwide. The Federal Railroad...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, The Pennsylvanian Is Getting a Second Daily Round Trip Later in 2026, Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian is expected to become much more useful for travelers across Pennsylvania. As soon as I have a date, I will update you. Amtrak has confirmed plans to add a second daily round trip between Pittsburgh and New York City. Today, the Pennsylvanian runs only once per day in each direction, connecting Western Pennsylvania with Harrisburg, Philadelphia,...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, This week, we talk about the proposed Amtrak Restructuring, changes to Amtrak Guest Rewards, and what I have been up to. Oh, and looking at VIA Rail/Canada again. Amtrak Wants to Restructure. What Could That Mean for Passengers? Amtrak’s Board of Directors is considering a significant change to the company’s organizational structure. The proposal would divide many of Amtrak’s responsibilities among three focused business groups, while...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, Welcome to the new subscribers and welcome back to those who have been around for a while. I appreciate you! This week, I learned that my beloved Hiawatha is increasing capacity, and it is about time! Learn more about tracking your train and what I have been up to. Hiawatha Is Increasing Capacity! Many of you know I have been riding the Hiawatha a lot since 2012; it was my first train! I have seen many changes. The train used to run with...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, Today we talk about one of my eastern train routes, take a look at Amtrak route numbers, and what I have been up to. Let's go! Why Did My Amtrak Train Number Change? This week, I saw someone ask why the City of New Orleans changed trains 58 and 59 to 1058 and 1059. Amtrak sometimes adds 1,000 to a train’s regular number when it operates on a temporary schedule due to track work or another adjustment. The route is usually the same, but the...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, Two things this week. One is short, and the other is something I am passionate about. The first is that I have a new post out, and the second is a safety concern about taking videos and photos around trains. New on Travels with Kev: Amtrak in Arizona. Planning an Amtrak trip to Arizona? The Southwest Chief serves northern Arizona, while the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle serve southern Arizona. However, Phoenix can catch travelers off guard...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, Today, we’re examining Amtrak’s long-distance on-time performance for April and May. The June numbers are not out yet. For a while, the numbers were trending in the right direction, but that has changed. In this newsletter, I’ll share what the latest numbers show and why they matter for planning an Amtrak trip. I use these on-time performance numbers to set realistic expectations. They do not tell the whole story, but they can help you plan...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, I know many people are busy this week, so I am keeping this newsletter short. There is a new post this week, and I have updated a few others. For the folks in the USA, happy 4th of July. For those outside the USA, I hope you have a great weekend anyway. New post out! The North Charleston station is the only Amtrak stop where I’ve used two station buildings. When I first started traveling between Wisconsin and South Carolina to visit my...

The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter Hello Reader, Welcome back if you have been with me for a while, and welcome to everyone who joined this newsletter this week. Is Amtrak Really Competing with Airlines — Or Road Trips? People often compare Amtrak to flying, and I understand why. On the surface, that comparison makes sense. When planning trips such as Chicago to California, New York to New Orleans, or Seattle to Chicago, the first thing many people do is compare the train time with the...