NEWS





National Railroad Passenger Corporation
Amtrak Intercity
210 South Canal Street
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Fax: 312 655-2565


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				           ATK-96-82a
April 20, 1996							Contact: Marc Magliari 312-655-1338
			

		AMTRAK TEXAS-LOUISIANA THRUWAY BUS GETS NEW SERVICE, SPRING SCHEDULE

	CHICAGO -- Amtrak Thruway Bus Service in east Texas and northwest Louisiana has new services, a new stop and a new schedule for spring.

	For the first time, Amtrak customers will be able to make connections between northwestern Louisiana and the northbound Texas Eagle to Little Rock, St. Louis and Chicago.  Also, customers to and from northern Louisiana will find the layover for those joining the southbound Texas Eagle in Longview, Texas, is shortened by 15 minutes.   

	In addition, there is a new stop at Nacogdoches/Lufkin as the buses make their way between the Amtrak stations in Longview and Houston.  This adds a new Amtrak destination while maintaining the same schedule for Houston-bound customers.  Customers will also be able to connect at Houston to the westbound Sunset Limited  for travel to San Antonio, El Paso, Tucson and Los Angeles.
	
	The Texas Eagle (Train #21) departs Chicago southbound Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, with service to Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio and through coaches on the Sunset Limited (Train #1) to Los Angeles.  The northbound Texas Eagle (Train #22) departs San Antonio on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
	
	Amtrak Thruway Bus Service schedules follow on the next page:

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	From Bossier City to Longview & Houston (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays)
	Depart Le Bossier-Horseshoe Casino Hotel, Bossier City, La.	10:30 a.m.
	Depart Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, Bossier City, La.			10:40 a.m.		
	Depart Holiday Inn-Harrah's Casino, Shreveport, La.			10:50 a.m.
	Arrive Amtrak Station, Longview						12:01 p.m.
	Southbound Texas Eagle departs Longview	 		     	12:29 p.m.
	Depart Amtrak Station, Longview						12:45 p.m.
	Depart Diamond-Shamrock convenience store, 
		University Drive & Starr Road, Nacogdoches (Lufkin)	  	  2:20 p.m.  
	Arrive Amtrak Station, Houston					  	  5:15 p.m.
	Westbound Sunset Limited departs Houston	           		  9:15 p.m.

	From Houston to Longview & Bossier City (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays)		
	Eastbound Sunset Limited arrives Houston			          10:55 a.m.
	Depart Amtrak Station, Houston					  	 1:00 p.m.
	Depart Diamond-Shamrock convenience store, 
		University Drive & Starr Road, Nacogdoches (Lufkin)	 	 4:05 p.m.
	Arrive Amtrak Station, Longview					   	 5:30 p.m.
	Northbound Texas Eagle arrives in Longview				 6:16 p.m. 		
	Depart Amtrak Station, Longview				   		 6:20 p.m.
	Arrive Holiday Inn-Harrah's Casino, Shreveport		   	 7:30 p.m.
	Arrive Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, Bossier City			   	 7:40 p.m.
	Arrive Le Bossier-Horseshoe Casino Hotel, Bossier City, La.	   	 7:50 p.m.

	From Longview to Shreveport and Bossier City (Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays)
	Southbound Texas Eagle Arrives Longview				12:29 p.m.
	Depart Amtrak Station, Longview						12:50 p.m.
	Arrive Holiday Inn-Harrah's Casino, Shreveport		  	  2:00 p.m.
	Arrive Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, Bossier City			  	  2:10 p.m.
	Arrive Le Bossier-Horseshoe Casino Hotel, Bossier City	  	  2:20 p.m.

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	From Bossier City and Shreveport to Longview (Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays)
	Depart Le Bossier-Horseshoe Casino Hotel, Bossier City		  3:45 p.m.
	Depart Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, Bossier City			  	  3:55 p.m.
	Depart Holiday Inn-Harrah's Casino, Shreveport		 	  4:05 p.m.
	Arrive Amtrak Station, Longview					  	  5:15 p.m.
	Northbound Texas Eagle Departs Longview				  6:16 p.m.
					
	From Longview to College Station (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays)
	Southbound Texas Eagle Arrives Longview				12:29 p.m.
	Depart Amtrak Station, Longview						12:45 p.m.
	Arrive 300 Marion Pugh Dr., College Station-Bryan			  5:00 p.m.
	
	From College Station to Longview (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays)
	Depart 300 Marion Pugh Dr., College Station-Bryan	    	  	  1:10 p.m.
	Arrive Amtrak Station, Longview					  	  5:30 p.m.
	Northbound Texas Eagle Departs Longview			             6:16 p.m.

	These Amtrak Thruway Bus connections provide coordinated service with guaranteed connections, as well as through fares and ticketing.  Amtrak Explore America fares as well as other excursion fares are honored, subject to availability.  Passengers traveling on Amtrak Thruway Buses must be ticketed before boarding in order to obtain through fares.  

	Please phone the Amtrak station in Longview from Texas, Arkansas or Louisiana at 1-800-669-8509, see an authorized Amtrak travel agent or call 1-800-USA-RAIL for more information about this or any other Amtrak service.
	
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