Monday midday rail news in brief:
EU to decide on Alstom-Bombardier deal by July 16
European Union regulators have set a July 16 deadline to decide whether to approve Alstom’s acquisition of Bombardier’s rail division, Reuters reports. The deal, an effort to strengthen Alstom’s ability to compete with China’s CRRC, the world’s largest rail equipment manufacturer, was announced in February [see “Alstom reaches agreement to buy Bombardier,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 17, 2020]. A German trade union has expressed concerns and has asked the German government to scrutinize the deal.
Family of PATH worker sues over coronavirus death
The family of a Port Authority Trans-Hudson employee who died of COVID-19 has filed a wrongful death suit against the transit operation, contending PATH did not provide protective equipment or do enough to protect work. NJ.com reports the suit was filed in Superior Court in Hudson County, N.J., by the family of Robert Elijah, 61, who died in April 23. It contends he was exposed to the coronavirus in the operation’s C Yard. A representative of the International Brotherhood Electrical Workers Local 864, which represented Elijah, told the news site that Elijah’s death “could have easily been prevented by his employer taking simple steps to keep its workers safe.”
SEPTA restarts service on two Regional Rail lines
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority resumed regional rail service on two lines today, the Paoli Line to Thorndale with 10 inbound and nine outbound trains, and the West Trenton Line, with nine round trips. West Trenton trains terminate at 30th Street Station in the central city. Both schedules are planned for use through June 27.
