In Brief
n Amtrak is altering market branding for its first class service on a number of corridors. The San Diegan trains now carry Pacific Class, while in the Pacific Northwest first class is redesignated Cascade Business Class. In the run up to introduction of Acela high speed trains on the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak has dropped remaining train names, and revised Metroliner designations so that Coach becomes Business, and Club becomes First Class. All other NEC trains no longer carry Club class.
n Since 1995 NS Reizigers has experienced a 50% growth in passenger traffic using its station at Schiphol airport, now up to three million per year. The proportion of passengers travelling to or from Amsterdam’s international airport by rail is now 30%, but NS, KLM and the airport authority hope to increase this to 50%.
n Tranz Rail’s Hutt workshops is due to complete rebuilding of four former British Rail MkII coaches this month. Now designated as Scenic, they will join two prototypes and a power generation vehicle to form a complete trainset for Tranz Metro’s Capital Connection between Wellington and Palmerston North.
n Eurostar is running a summer promotion discounting fares from London to Amsterdam, Brussels and a number of Belgian cities. The combined return fare for two people travelling together is £119, or £129 to Amsterdam, purchased seven days in advance and including a Saturday night away. Additional passengers can travel as part of a group for the equivalent per-person cost.
