NEWS



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



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				       ATK-96-81
April 16, 1996						       Contact: Marc Magliari 312-655-1338

GOING ONE BETTER: ADDITIONAL SERVICE ON THE AMTRAK CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

	CHICAGO -- The Amtrak City of New Orleans has gained a sixth day of service for both northbound and southbound departures, effective April 17.
	
	Last year, Amtrak reduced frequency on the City of New Orleans to five days a week.  Since then, another look has been taken at the costs and revenue opportunities along the route.  Amtrak Intercity CEO Mark Cane and the Gulf Coast Business Group determined Wednesday departures from each terminal would better utilize equipment and crews, while making a positive revenue contribution to the company.

	"A sixth day of service on the City of New Orleans route gives our customers another reason to chose Amtrak," Cane said.  "We're working hard to build business along this route while controlling costs.  This change is a win-win decision: great for customers and Amtrak."

	The City of New Orleans (Train #58) departs Chicago at 7:50 p.m. and arrives in New Orleans at 3:05 p.m. the following day. The City of New Orleans (Train #59) leaves New Orleans at 2:10 p.m. and arrives in Chicago at 9:10 a.m. the following day.  The new schedule provides departures from Chicago and New Orleans every day except Tuesday.  

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	Due to the length of the route and the time of day, southbound departures will be every day but Wednesday for stations south of Effingham, Ill.  Likewise, northbound departures will be every day but Wednesday for stations north of Memphis, Tenn.
	
	The City of New Orleans, a train immortalized in a favorite Arlo Guthrie song of the 1970s, has  offered all-reserved coach and first-class sleeping accommodations in the popular bi-level Amtrak Superliners since 1994.  Dining service has recently been further improved by the addition of regional cuisine, including red beans and rice, gumbo, bread pudding and other favorites.  First-class service includes complimentary dining car meals, bedtime sweet and morning wake-up service with newspaper and coffee, tea and orange juice.

	Concurrent with the frequency change of the City of New Orleans, Amtrak Thruway bus schedules from Carbondale, Ill., to St. Louis also gain a sixth day of service.  The Amtrak Thruway Bus to St. Louis provides connections for City of New Orleans passengers to the northbound Texas Eagle and the westbound Kansas City Mule.

	Please see an authorized Amtrak travel agent, visit a staffed Amtrak station or call 1-800-USA-RAIL for details on this or any other Amtrak service.

	Amtrak Intercity operates passenger rail service throughout much of the United States, including Midwest corridor trains for the Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City and St. Louis markets and other domestic and international long-distance trains.  Headquartered in Chicago, Amtrak Intercity employs nearly 6,200 people in 39 states and is one of three Amtrak strategic business units.

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