Friday midday rail news:
Three members of VIA Rail Canada board reappointed
Canada’s Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, has announced three appointments to the VIA Rail Canada board of directors. Daniel Francis Gallivan of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Kennth Ching Whay Tan of Richmond, B.C., both of whom joined the board in June 2017, were reappointed for two-year terms. Gallivan is a senior partner in the law firm Cox & Palmer; Tan is a microbiologist and assistant professor on the faculty of medicine at the University of British Columbia. Jan Mowat of Toronto, a board member since September 2013, was reappointed for a one-year term. She is a former information technology executive and independent consultant advising clients on acquisitions in the software industry and corporate finance.
Rail Modal Group to operate Minot intermodal facility
Rail Modal Group will operate the facility in Minot, N.D., providing that facility’s first intermodal service via BNSF Railway. The Minot Daily News reports that Greg Oberting, president of Rail Modal Group Minot, said the area will have enough volume to offer weekly shipments to ports in Seattle, Wash. The company also operates intermodal facilities in Fremont, Neb., and Amarillo, Texas. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced the service on Oct. 7 [see “Digest: North Dakota announces launch of intermodal service,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 8, 2020]
Metra to continue offering $10 all-day pass
Metra will extend sale of its $10 all-day pass at least through the remainder of 2020. The pass, introduced in June, is being used by about a third of riders, Metra says, and for most riders is less than the cost of two one-way fares. It is good until 3 a.m. the morning after the day of sale. The passes are available via the Ventra smartphone app or from an agent or onboard personnel. Passes bought with the app expire seven days after purchase; paper tickets must be used on the date of sale. More information is available here.
