Report recommends combining VRE, MARC commuter rail operations
A new report recommends integrating Washington, D.C., commuter railroads Virginia Railway Express and MARC into a single operation, to
reduce travel times and improve economic development. The website Inside NoVa reports the Greater Washington Partnership’s “Capital Region Rail Vision” report makes the recommendation; in a news conference Thursday, the president of the partnership, Joe McAndrew, said “Our rail system is fragmented, and that fragmentation limits our ability to connect residents to opportunities.” A number of hurdles would have to be cleared to combine the services, including unifying branding and ticketing, and differences in procedures and equipment. The commuter systems also must deal with infrastructure issues that constrain capacity, such as the need to expand Washington Union Station, replace Baltimore’s B&P Tunnel, and the planned expansion of the Long Bridge over the Potomac River. The full report is available here.
Congressmen introduce national high speed rail bill
Three members of Congress have introduced a bill which calls for spending $205 billion in federal funds for a high speed rail network, saying it would create at least 2.6 million jobs and provide a faster travel option than driving and one more environmentally sound than flying. The American High-Speed Rail Act is sponsored by Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.). The bill would authorize $41 billion in spending annual for five years, with incentives for $38 billion or more in nonfederal funding. More information is available here.
Siemens to provide signals, train control for Ottawa’s Trillium light rail
Siemens Mobility will provide signaling and train control for the Trillium Line South Extension of Ottawa’s light rail system. The project, providing a connection to Ottawa’s Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, is expected to be completed in 2022. Siemens will provide engineering, design, testing, and commissioning of its Automated Train Protection system for diesel light rail Trillium line, which will include an existing 5-mile section currently closed while the system is expanded, as well the 10-mile, eight-station extension. Siemens was selected by TransitNEXT, prime contractor for the design, build, finance and maintenance of the extension, which will be operated by OC Transpo.
