More Thursday morning rail news:
TRAINS: David Lassen
Preparing for new, quieter locomotives, North County Transit District to step up trespassing enforcement
The San Diego-area North County Transit District will significantly trespassing education and enforcement along its rail line between San Diego and Oceanside beginning Feb. 1 as a prelude to placing five new Siemens Charger locomotives into service on Feb. 8. The move reflects the fact the new locomotives are significantly quieter than the current F40s, increasing the risk to trespassers. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Transit Enforcement Services Unit will have an increased presence along the line and will make education a key part of the effort, but can enforce criminal penalties with penalties including fines of up to $500 and up to six months in jail. “It is never a good idea to cross a railroad track unless you’re at a legal crossing,” Sean Loofbourrow, the transit district’s chief of safety, said in a press release. “Trespassing across the rail line can result in tragic accidents that produce a ripple effect of trauma across the greater community. Witnesses, train crews, family members, friends, and riders are all impacted by these tragic accidents. The momentary convenience of crossing the tracks illegally is never worth jeopardizing the safety of yourself and hundreds of others.” The district has approved a contract to add safety fencing along the tracks in the Oceanside area to decrease and is seeking to add similar fences in two other areas.
Denver RTD plans ‘study session’ on rail line to Longmont
Denver’s Regional Transportation District will hold a special board of directors study session on the Northwest Rail project, the planned commuter line to Boulder and Longmont, Colo., that the RTD’s new CEO has called into question and Colorado’s governor is pushing to build. Board chairwoman Angie Rivera-Malpiede told the Longmont Times-Call that the Feb. 9 event “is to educate stakeholders and the public about FasTracks [the RTD’s overall rail plan] and the Northwest Rail Line so that everyone has the facts surrounding the project.” CEO and General Manager Debra Johnson has questioned whether the extension of the commuter rail B Line is the best transit option [see “Digest: Denver RTD CEO questions plans …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 14, 2021], leading Gov. Jared Polis to say the project has been approved by voters, and only they can change the plan [see “Digest: Metra to add trains …,” News Wire, Jan. 25, 2021].
Vermont company seeks grant to convert RDC to battery power
A Vermont entrepreneur who bought and refurbished a set of Budd RDCs in hopes of launching a commuter rail service in the state is now looking for funding to converting one of the cars from diesel to Tesla battery power. Vermont Business Magazine reports AllEarth Rail, founded by environmental entrepreneur David Blittersdorf, has applied for a grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation to convert one of the company’s 12 RDCs to electric power. The funding would come from Vermont’s share of the settlement between the U.S. and Volkswagen over the automakers’ violation of pollution laws. The application seeks a $198,840 grant for a conversion estimated to cost $284,200.
