Postwar ‘El Cap’ A Santa Fe publicity photo shows the inside the postwar El Capitan. In 1956, the all-coach train was re-equipped with innovative new “Hi-Level” double-deck cars. Santa Fe photo […]
Postwar ‘El Cap’
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
CSX files expanded application on Pan Am acquisition with federal regulators
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation on Friday filed an amended version of its application to acquire Pan Am Railways with the Surface Transportation Board, addressing additional information requested by the regulatory body. The STB had rejected the initial application in May, saying it failed to “include all of the information needed” for the required […]
Santa Clara transit agency still has no estimate for resumption of light rail service
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Despite increasing public frustration at the lack of service, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail operations remain halted in the wake of a May 26 mass shooting, and the agency has not offered any estimate when it may return. The San Jose Spotlight reports that a VTA representative said the […]
‘Canadian,’ Rocky Mountaineer, ‘Coast Starlight disrupted by fires
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — VIA Rail Canada’s Canadian, luxury cruise train Rocky Mountaineer, and Amtrak’s Coast Starlight have had their operations disrupted by western wildfires, with trains running over only part of their routes because of fire damage. The wildfire that decimated the town of Lytton, B.C., halted last week’s westbound Canadian about 100 miles […]
Oakland Pier
Oakland Pier The California Zephyr’s signature sleeper-observation-dome car, complete with neon tail sign, gleams in Southern Pacific’s Oakland Pier station 10 minutes before departure on June 15, 1958. John C. Illman photo […]
Scenic views
Scenic views Curved windows along the edge of the roof give the Santa Fe El Capitan’s Hi-Level lounges a bright, airy feeling; a smaller lounge-buffet is below. Budd Co. photo […]
California budget would provide $20 million to help transit agency recover from shooting
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The State of California is planning to provide $20 million to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to help the agency recover from the May shooting in which nine VTA light rail workers were killed by another employee. The San Jose Spotlight reports the funding — included in budget bills making […]
Colorado governor signs bill creating tax district for passenger rail
PUEBLO, Colo.— Efforts to create a passenger rail service along Colorado’s densely populated corridor between Fort Collins and Pueblo took a major step forward Wedneday, as Gov. Jared Polis has signed the bill creating a special taxation district to help fund the project. Senate Bill 238 does not guarantee funding for the project, as state […]
Reports say vehicle drove around gates in fatal Metra collision
CHICAGO — Witnesses report a vehicle drove around crossing gates before being struck by a Metra train Sunday evening in an accident that killed three people in the car — including a 5-year-old girl — and injured the train’s engineer, conductor and three passengers while derailing the cab car. The Chicago Tribune reports the collision […]
Amtrak challenges CN plan for Kansas City Southern line in Louisiana
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has questioned Canadian National’s plan to sell Kansas City Southern’s route between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., as part of the planned merger of the two railroads, a plan which would see CN retain the right to operate on the route along with a freight tenant. The Amtrak comment came as […]
Cost rises for Charlotte transit plan
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Estimates for a transit plan including commuter rail service for Charlotte have risen to $13.6 billion and could easily fluctuate over the almost two decades to complete the projects, the Charlotte city council was told at a Monday meeting. The Charlotte Observer reports preliminary estimates from an advisory group had placed the […]
Shipper groups, Amtrak, rail labor oppose CN-KCS merger plans
WASHINGTON – Canadian National says it now has more than 1,700 letters of support for its proposed merger with Kansas City Southern. But in a flurry of regulatory filings submitted before a deadline on Monday, opposition grew to CN’s plan to put KCS in a voting trust while the merger is under review. Major shipping […]
