NTSB issues preliminary report on UP track worker fatality The National Transportation Safety Board indicates it will examine Union Pacific operating rules and the condition of a piece of equipment as part of its ongoing investigation of a fatal accident involving a UP maintenance-of-way worker near Vail, Ariz., in January. In its preliminary report, the […]
Railroad: Amtrak
Amtrak revives Northeast Corridor sleeping cars
WASHINGTON — Passengers opting to take the train between Boston and Washington, D.C., will have a long-overdue alternative to the 7-hour daytime journey aboard Acela, Amtrak’s fastest train. Overnight northbound train No. 66 and southbound No. 67 (No. 65 on Friday and Saturday nights) are scheduled at 9 to 10 hours depending on the direction […]
Amtrak says it will pay for platform work on Gulf Coast
MOBILE, Ala. — Pending approval from the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak intends to pay for repairs to station platforms to be used by the Gulf Coast service Amtrak plans to launch in 2022. Vice President of Stations and Accessibility Dr. David Handera told members of the Southern Rail Commission, holding their quarterly meeting on Friday, […]
Digest: Assessment for Howard Street Tunnel sees environmental gains, increased port traffic
Additional Thursday morning rail news: Environmental assessment released for Baltimore’s Howard Street Tunnel project The environmental assessment for Baltimore’s Howard Street Tunnel project says the work to rebuild the CSX Transportation tunnel to handle double-stack intermodal traffic would decrease emissions and fuel usage by moving traffic to and from the Port of Baltimore from road […]
Digest: North Carolina to restore third ‘Piedmont’ round trip in April
North Carolina to add third ‘Piedmont’ round trip The North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division will restore a third round trip of Piedmont service between Charlotte and Raleigh as of April 5, according to schedules on the NC By Train website. Southbound train No. 77 will depart Raleigh at 3 p.m., arriving at Charlotte […]
Digest: Union approves one-year extension of Denver RTD contract
Union approves one-year extension of contract with Denver RTD The largest union representing employees of Denver’s Regional Transportation District has voted by a 90%-10% margin in favor of a one-year extension of its current contract. The website Colorado Politics reports Amalgamated Transit Union Local 101, which represents approximately 2,300 rail and bus operators and other […]
Station control at center of latest filings over Metra-Amtrak Union Station dispute
WASHINGTON — Control of Chicago Union Station emerges as the key issue in the latest filings in Metra’s dispute with Amtrak over its station lease, with Metra reviving a question whether Amtrak lawfully owns the property, while Amtrak claims Metra’s proposals “would wrest from Amtrak control over its own facility.” The latest documents, filed Friday […]
Digest: Mobile councilman calls Amtrak ‘joy ride for affluent’ during debate on study
With one councilman calling Amtrak a ‘joy ride for the affluent,’ Mobile, Ala., delays vote on station study Resistance to Amtrak service has resurfaced among some Mobile, Ala., political leaders, with one calling the prospect a “joy ride for the affluent.” AL.com reports the comment from Councilman Joel Daves came during discussion on spending $80,1000 […]
Amtrak cancels more trains in advance of next winter storm (updated)
WASHINGTON — Although the New York-Florida Silver Meteor and Silver Star are set to operate through the end of this week, Amtrak has preemptively cancelled trains in Virginia and the Carolinas as another winter storm is predicted to dump ice and snow on the area. With one of the two Auto Train equipment sets still […]
Metra filing in Union Station dispute draws pointed reply from Amtrak
WASHINGTON — The latest filings in the Amtrak-Metra dispute over Metra’s lease at Chicago Union Station, while peripheral to the primary issues before the Surface Transportation Board, suggest significant antagonism remains between the two parties. In a Feb. 8 letter, Metra’s attorney asked the board to strike a Jan. 29, 2021 letter from Amtrak, saying […]
Digest: Charlotte seeks to build new interest in commuter rail line opposed by Norfolk Southern
More Tuesday morning rail news: Charlotte seeks to stoke interest in commuter rail Red Line opposed by Norfolk Southern The city of Charlotte is attempting to revive interest in a commuter rail project to Mt. Mourne, N.C., but Norfolk Southern remains opposed to the project, which would use its line north of the city. WSOC-TV reports that […]
Digest: Vancouver rail system reaches deal with union, averts strike
Wednesday morning rail news: Vancouver rail line averts strike with labor agreement The Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Line of the SkyTrain rail transit system has averted a strike after workers reached a tentative contract agreement with operator Protrans BC. Global News reports the BC Government & Service Employees Union said the agreement came after more than 40 […]