‘Azelea Sprinter’ excursion train debuts in Georgia
A new Georgia excursion train will debut this weekend with sold-out trips. WALB-TV reports the Azelea Sprinter, operating by CaterParrott Railnet on the Georgia & Florida Railroad, sold out its first three trips in less than two days. The train will depart from Nashville, Ga., and offer three trips on three routes: A 34-mile, 2.5-hour round trip to Willacoochee, Ga.; a 50-mile, 3.5-hour round trip to Valdosta, Ga.; and a short “Pizza Express” lunch train to Moody Air Force Base. Trains offer coach, table car, and caboose seating, and have a capacity of 130, although initial operations are at half-capacity because of COVID-19 measures. More information is available at the Azalea Sprinter website.
Caltrain cuts cost of monthly pass by 20%
Caltrain is reducing the price of monthly passes by 20% in an effort to draw people back to the San Francisco Bay Area commuter rail service. The fare reduction will be effective April through September, with April passes going on sale March 21. A standard monthly pass is the same price as 15 round trips, and can vary from $96 to $433.50, depending on the number of zones traveled. More information is available here.
Minnesota DOT seeks applicants for rail improvement grants
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is seeking applicants for $4 million in grant funding under the Minnesota Rail Service Improvement Program. Applications are due by March 31. Eligible projects include improvements to track, roadbeds, turnouts, bridges, buildings, and fixed loading and unloading equipment. “This type of funding is crucial to businesses in the state that depend on rail transportation,” Peter Dahlberg, Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations program manager, said in a press release. “Many times small railroads and businesses lack the capital to make necessary improvements on their own. This funding helps the smaller railroads and shippers continue to provide competitive options and efficient movement of goods.” Applications and more information are available here.
