Friday evening rail news in brief: — The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System board has named Sharon Cooney as CEO, becoming the agency’s first female chief executive. Conney succeeds Paul Jablonski, who died suddenly on May 10. “Sharon brings passion, institutional knowledge, and a track record of success to the job.” Said Nathan Fletcher, MTS […]
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
Survey finds New Yorkers are wary of return to transit NEWSWIRE
Long Island Rail Road trains await action at New York’s Hudson Yards. More than 40% of New Yorkers surveyed indicated they will avoid transit after the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen More Friday morning rail news in brief: — More than 40% of New York City residents surveyed say they plan to avoid mass transit […]
Amtrak adds to anti-virus measures, alters rail schedules in southeast (corrected) NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Amtrak will close seating in its café cars, making food service carryout only, and has extended its waivers on change and cancellation fees until Aug. 31, as part of its ongoing program to address COVID-19 concerns as it begins to ramp up for increased operations and ridership. The passenger carrier is has also […]
CN’s Murray becomes first female board chair of Railway Association of Canada NEWSWIRE
Thursday afternoon rail news in brief: — Fiona Murray of Canadian National has been named as board chairperson for the Railway Association of Canada, becoming the first female to hold that position in the organization’s 103-year history. Murray, vice-president of public and government affairs at CN, joined the railroad in 1992. “As a career railroader, […]
CP says it plans to expand use of improved air-brake testing method NEWSWIRE
More Thursday rail news in brief: — Canadian Pacific will expand use of Automated Train Brake Effectiveness testing in the wake of call from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada for better brake tests, a call stemming from the fatal 2019 derailment of a CP train near Field, B.C. The Calgary Herald reports that the […]
LA Metro outlines four-phase plan for restoring service NEWSWIRE
An LA Metro light rail train approaches Los Angeles Union Station. Metro has outlined its plans for restoring service after the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen Thursday afternoon transit and commuter rail news: — LA Metro has released its four-phase plan to restore rail and bus service following the current COVID-19-related service reductions. As outlined […]
Legal challenge continues for Maryland’s Purple Line project NEWSWIRE
Thursday morning rail news: — Maryland’s troubled Purple Line light rail project faces another hurdle after opponents filed to appeal a federal court decision to throw out a lawsuit, the third attempting to block the project. The Washington Post reports that current and former residents of Chevy Chase, Md., and the nonprofit Friends of the […]
Remembering Santa Fe Railway freight trains
All this month — May 2020 — Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and images of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. Please enjoy this photo gallery of images from the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include Santa Fe diesel- and steam-powered freight trains through time. You might […]
Cumbres & Toltec plans June 13 opening, will run just one train daily NEWSWIRE
A doubleheaded Cumbres & Toltec train heads out of Chama in October 2018. The narrow gauge railroad plans to run just one train daily in 2020. TRAINS: David Lassen Wednesday morning rail news: — The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will operate six days per week and only run one train per day during its […]
Pandemic stalls some projects, boosts others NEWSWIRE
A northbound Northeast Regional express speeds past an Amtrak track crew at Odenton, Md., in July 2019. Amtrak has increased maintenance work on the Northeast Corridor during while service is decreased because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bob Johnston Amtrak’s Track Laying Machine replaces rail and ties on the Northeast Corridor near Princeton Junction, N.J., in […]
Safety agency critical of DC Metro after fire, says some issues must be addressed in 30 days NEWSWIRE
More Wednesday rail news: — Washington D.C.’s Metro “has made little to no substantive progress” in addressing some problems revealed by a 2015 incident that killed one passenger and injured dozens of other at its L’Enfant Plaza station, according to the agency which oversees Metro safety. The Washington Post reports the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission […]
MBTA awards $195 million contract for South Coast Rail project NEWSWIRE
More Tuesday morning rail news: — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has awarded a $159 million contract for two new stations and other work related to its South Coast Rail project, which will extend the existing Middleborough/Lakeville commuter line and create lines to Fall River and New Bedford. Boston.com reports the contract, to Skanska DW […]