SAN BRUNO, Calif. — At least 13 people were injured Thursday when a Caltrain commuter train struck a vehicle described as “on-track equipment” and caught fire. Southbound train No. 506 struck the vehicle at about 10:38 a.m. near Scott Street in San Bruno, and caught fire, leading to evacuation of those on board. KGO-TV reports […]
CHICAGO — In a brief ceremony in Chicago, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner has recognized Canadian Pacific for its sixth straight year with the industry-leading A grade on the passenger carrier’s annual Host Railroad Report Card. The report card measures the freight railroads’ performance in keeping Amtrak trains on time. Gardner presented a plaque commemorating the […]
As gas prices continue to increase, some transit agencies are beginning to see an increase in ridership, and others are anticipating an increase in customers. In general, it is too soon for much hard data on ridership, but some figures are available. Tri-Rail, the South Florida commuter rail operation, says single-day ridership surpassed more than […]
SPRING HOPE, N.C. — Several former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus railcars now owned by the state of North Carolina have been badly damaged or destroyed in a fire. WRAL-TV reports the cars, stored on an isolated rail line just outside the city limits of the community of Spring Hope, caught fire this […]
MONTREAL — The Canadian government will seek “world-class knowledge and private sector expertise” for VIA Rail Canada’s proposal to build passenger-only trackage for parts of its Quebec City-Toronto corridor rather than directly financing the project, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Wednesday. Proposal dates to 2015 First unveiled by then-VIA CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano in 2015, the […]
LA CROSSE, Wis. — Departments of Transportation in Wisconsin and Minnesota will receive a $31.8 million grant for infrastructure upgrades to allow a second Twin Cities-Chicago passenger train, as well as improved freight operation, on the route through La Crosse, Wis., and Milwaukee. Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and officials […]
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Re-laying a third track on the historic Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna River and building a new 5-mile-long main line track through the Altoona, Pa., yard are part of a proposed Norfolk Southern-Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plan to add a second Pennsylvanian daily passenger train. In addition, the plan would install three […]
ORLANDO, Fla. — A recent trip from Orlando to Chicago provided a snapshot of the positives and issues that shape Amtrak service during a period that has seen the company reduce service on a number of routes, citing a lack of resources. Tickets were booked using a combination of cash and Amtrak Guest Rewards points […]
DEL MAR, Calif. — The California Coastal Commission is now threatening “enforcement actions” against the North County Transit District if it builds a safety fence along its right-of-way on the Del Mar Bluffs without obtaining a development permit from the Commission. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the latest twist in the dispute between the transit […]
LEWISVILLE, Texas — Denton County Transportation Authority CEO Raymond Suarez has resigned, effective March 31. The Denton Record-Chronicle reports the authority board of directors unanimously accepted the resignation after two hours in closed session and named Paul Cristina, currently deputy CEO, as interim CEO. Suarez did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment. Suarez […]
WASHINGTON — At an event with Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced that it will award $2.2 billion to 35 recipients in 18 states through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The funds will help public transportation agencies pay for day-to-day operations as they continue to provide […]
BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has cancelled all National Park Scenic rides through May 1 because of erosion of a section of the bank of the Cuyahoga River, WOIO-TV reports. The railroad will offer a National Park Flyer trip from its Rockside station in Independence, Ohio. More information is available at the […]
