Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
    • Local
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Podcast

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Donald Trump Wants Reparations

In Trump’s New Confederacy, Slavery Wasn’t Sin

The Four Minute Offense: Jalen Hurts Triumphantly Bounces Back

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest Vimeo
The Windy City Word
  • Home
  • News
    1. Local
    2. View All

    Youth curfew vote stalled in Chicago City Council’s public safety committee

    Organizers, CBA Coalition pushback on proposed luxury hotel near Obama Presidential Center

    New petition calls for state oversight and new leadership at Roseland Community Hospital

    UFC Gym to replace shuttered Esporta in Morgan Park

    The Four Minute Offense: Jalen Hurts Triumphantly Bounces Back

    HBCU Football Wrap-Up: Tenn. State, FAMU, and Morehouse win on Homecoming Weekend

    Titans and QB Cam Ward are dedicated to two ideals: Growth and Development

    THE HUTCHINSON REPORT: Hit-and-Run Epidemic Continues to Plague South L.A

  • Opinion

    Capitalize on Slower Car Dealership Sales in 2025

    The High Cost Of Wealth Worship

    What Every Black Child Needs in the World

    Changing the Game: Westside Mom Shares Bally’s Job Experience with Son

    The Subtle Signs of Emotional Abuse: 10 Common Patterns

  • Business

    Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology supplier diversity office to host procurement webinar for vendors

    Crusader Publisher host Ukrainian Tech Businessmen eyeing Gary investment

    Sims applauds $220,000 in local Back to Business grants

    New Hire360 partnership to support diversity in local trades

    Taking your small business to the next level

  • Health

    THE HUTCHINSON REPORT: Hit-and-Run Epidemic Continues to Plague South L.A

    Recognizing World Mental Health Day: How families play a crucial role in suicide prevention

    Denied Care, Divided Nation: How America Fails Its Sickest Patients—and the People Fighting Back

    Unbreakable: Black Women and Mental Health

    A Question of a Government Shutdown?

  • Education

    How Babies’ Brains Develop

    Head Start Gave the Author an Early Inspiration to Share Her Story

    Alabama’s CHOOSE Act: A Promise and a Responsibility

    After Plunge, Black Students Enroll in Harvard

    What Is Montessori Education?

  • Sports

    The Four Minute Offense: Jalen Hurts Triumphantly Bounces Back

    HBCU Football Wrap-Up: Tenn. State, FAMU, and Morehouse win on Homecoming Weekend

    Titans and QB Cam Ward are dedicated to two ideals: Growth and Development

    HBCU Football Week 5 Roundup: Jackson State keeps the Good Times Rolling

    Jackson State Dominates Southern on the Road, Wins Boombox Classic

  • Podcast
The Windy City Word
Featured

New Libertyliner Plan Joins Long List of AmeriStarRail Pushes

staffBy staffUpdated:No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Telegram LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Email

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

AmeriStarRail’s newly unveiled Libertyliner 250 plan is the latest in a series of proposals the Delaware-based company has presented to Amtrak in recent years. Each has shared a common theme of improving services for all passengers, whether they travel in Coach, Business, or First Class.

The Latest Push – Libertyliner 250

With the incoming fleet of 28 Alstom Avelia Liberty trainsets set to launch, AmeriStarRail wants to operate them as the “Libertyliner 250.” The name ties to America’s 250th birthday in 2026 and trains capable of speeds above 250 kilometers per hour, or about 160 miles per hour. Unlike Amtrak’s current plans, which restrict the trains to premium travelers, AmeriStarRail insists Coach passengers should also be included, calling their exclusion discriminatory and unsafe given the aging cars most riders still depend on.

Ending Coach Exclusion

A central AmeriStarRail proposal has been to end what it describes as transportation discrimination against Coach passengers. The company has argued that Acela trains, funded with taxpayer dollars, should not be reserved solely for business and first-class travelers. Their plan calls for a standardized fleet of high-speed trains with triple-class seating, giving all riders equitable access to high-speed service, like the airline model.

Replacing Aging Amfleet Cars

AmeriStarRail has pushed for the removal of Amtrak’s Amfleet cars, built in the 1970s, which make up the bulk of Coach service on the Northeast Corridor. Safety concerns were raised following derailments, with critics noting that the outdated cars lack modern crash protection and rollover resistance. AmeriStarRail proposed replacing them with new articulated trainsets offering Coach, Business, and First Class on every train. The company maintains that this would improve safety while modernizing the passenger experience.

Baltimore “Grand Slam”

In Baltimore, AmeriStarRail proposed a dramatic overhaul of the city’s rail infrastructure. Their “Grand Slam” plan would replace the Civil War-era tunnels and inconvenient Penn Station stop with a new four-track tunnel beneath downtown. The project would include a new Frederick Douglass Freedom Station near Charles Center, linking Amtrak and MARC trains directly to Baltimore’s business core, while also connecting with metro, light rail, and neighborhood transit.

A New Susquehanna River Bridge

Further north, AmeriStarRail has called for a new bi-level bridge across the Susquehanna River at Perryville. Unlike Amtrak’s plan for twin replacements by 2036, their concept would deliver one bridge by 2030 with high-speed passenger trains on the upper level and slower freight and commuter trains below. The existing 1906 bridge would be converted into a trail, filling a key gap in the East Coast Greenway.

Doctor Trains and Security Fencing

The company has also suggested daily “Doctor Trains,” inspection trains that operate at full speed to monitor track conditions and catenary wires, mirroring practices used in Europe and Asia. Alongside that, AmeriStarRail has proposed sealing the Northeast Corridor with fencing and barriers to prevent trespassing and debris-related accidents, which are frequent causes of delays and disruptions.

Wilmington Trolley and Airport Rail Links

Beyond the Northeast Corridor itself, AmeriStarRail has floated ideas for local and regional improvements. These include a Wilmington Trolley CityLink to connect the downtown and riverfront with zero-emission electric trolleys, and an AirTrain system linking Manhattan to LaGuardia and JFK airports with phased expansions and new intercity connections.

Amtrak’s Silence

Together, the proposals form a sweeping vision of more equitable service, safer equipment, and modernized infrastructure across the corridor. Yet despite AmeriStarRail’s repeated outreach, including letters, detailed plans, and offers of private financing, the company says Amtrak has consistently rebuffed or ignored its efforts. Multiple messages left by the Black Press to Amtrak regarding the issue were not returned.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp Telegram Email
Previous ArticlePRESS ROOM: Broadway Across America and Black Theatre Coalition Announce Fifth Annual Regional Apprenticeship
Next Article Warning: HBCUs Under Credible Threats
staff

Related Posts

Donald Trump Wants Reparations

In Trump’s New Confederacy, Slavery Wasn’t Sin

Pardoned Jan 6 Trump Supporter Arrested in New York for Death Threat on Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Video of the Week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxFXtgzTu4U
Advertisement
Video of the Week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjfvYnUXHuI
ABOUT US

 

The Windy City Word is a weekly newspaper that projects a positive image of the community it serves. It reflects life on the Greater West Side as seen by the people who live and work here.

OUR PICKS

Building Dreams and Legacies: Financial Empowerment and Life Goals with Al McFarlane

2025 Toyota Tundra HV 4X4 TRD PRO Walkaround and POV Test Drive

Auto Shows: Are They Dying?

MOST POPULAR

THE HUTCHINSON REPORT: Hit-and-Run Epidemic Continues to Plague South L.A

Recognizing World Mental Health Day: How families play a crucial role in suicide prevention

Denied Care, Divided Nation: How America Fails Its Sickest Patients—and the People Fighting Back

© 2025 The Windy City Word. Site Designed by No Regret Medai.
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.