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THIRD QUARTER 2025: Known originally as Acela II and more recently branded as NextGen Acela, Amtrak’s new Alstom high-speed trainsets are now poised to enter revenue service on the Northeast Corridor, replacing first-generation trains that entered service in 2000. Ralcon Wagner looks back at the passenger trains of Tennessee Central, a regional carrier that fought the good fight for passenger business until its last scheduled trains came off in 1955, and then burnished a reputation as a charter and excursion operator until reaching the corporate end of the line in 1968. Jonathan Boyle, Sr., recalls the post-presidential rail travels of Ike and Mamie Eisenhower, who had a particular fondness for travel aboard Santa Fe’s business cars. All this, plus insightful columns, the Journal and Rush Hour news digests, great photography, and more in the Third Quarter 2025 issue of Passenger Train Journal.

Current Issue

Vol. 49, No. 3 (2025-3)
Issue No. 304

Features:

Journal Spotlight  —

    • Chicago Union Station turns 100
    • Mexico continues rail passenger development
    • Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Corridor

NextGen Acela: Full Speed Ahead

by Kevin J. Holland — Anticipating a revenue-service debut on the Northeast Corridor.

Tennessee Central

by Ralcon Wagner — Passenger trains on “The Road of Personal Service.”

Ike and Mamie on Santa Fe

by Jonathan Boyle, Sr. — The Eisenhowers’ post-presidential travels with a favorite railroad.

Türkiye

by Thomas Kennedy — Passenger trains in the heart of the former Ottoman Empire.

The Amtrak Diaries, Part 14

by Mark W. Jones — Jonesy’s Big Adventure continues with Assistant Conductor training.

Departments

On the Point/Editorial by Kevin J. Holland

The Journal/News compiled by Kevin McKinney

North American Intercity/Kevin McKinney

Window on the World/Kevin McKinney

Rail Users’ Network/Richard Rudolph, PhD, Rail Users’ Network

Capitol Unlimited/Jim Mathews, Rail Passengers Association

Rush Hour/Kevin McKinney and Scott Ornstein

Transport Action Canada/Terence Johnson, Transport Action Canada

Mail, Express, and L.C.L./letters from our readers

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Passenger Train Journal is the only magazine dedicated to the world of passenger, commuter, and rapid transit trains of yesterday and today.