MTA adds more bus service to address Rockaways subway shutdown

New York subway train on bridge over large body of water

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has added to bus service to help offset an upcoming 17-week shutdown of the New York City Transit subway A line to the Rockaway Peninsula. The MTA had previously announced measures including free shuttle buses, shuttle trains on the peninsula, and discounted Long Island Rail Road fares [see […]

Read More…

Alstom edges toward completion of Acela order

HORNELL, N.Y. — Alstom has produced 270 units of its Amtrak order for 28 Acela Avelia Liberty trainsets and expects to see the 160-mph trains inaugurated in spring 2025, four years after the railroad had planned to introduce the premium Northeast Corridor service. That was the forecast offered by Alstom officials last week during a […]

Read More…

Legislator seeks to block federal funding for California high speed rail

Rendering of first car silver high speed train

WASHINGTON — A Northern California member of Congress said he will introduce legislation to prevent further federal funding for California’s high speed rail project, a target of two advisors to President-elect Donald Trump. U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Roseville, Calif.) said in a press release that the legislation would make the project ineligible for additional federal […]

Read More…

NJ Transit awards contract for major bridge project

Aerial view of bridge under construction

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit’s board of directors has awarded the construction project for the lift portion of the new Raritan River Bridge, which will replace a 116-year-old swing bridge on its North Jersey Coast Line. Skanska Koch Inc. of Carteret, N.J., was selected for the project. The contract is worth a maximum of $444.4 […]

Read More…

Kolluri confirmed as new CEO of NJ Transit

Man in blue suit with window as backdrop

TRENTON, N.J. — Kris Kolluri, a former chairman of the NJ Transit board, will become the agency’s new CEO, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has announced. The current board unanimously confirmed the nomination at its meeting today (Dec. 11). Kolluri will serve for the remainder of Murphy’s term, which ends in January 2026. His selection […]

Read More…

DC Metrorail gets approval to restore automated operation

Rapid-transit train arrives in station as people wait on platform

WASHINGTON — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has received approval to resume use of its automated operating system on one Metrorail line — possibly as soon as Sunday — in a precursor to restoring Automatic Train Operation systemwide in 2025. The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission approved restoration of automated operation on Metro’s Red Line […]

Read More…

Hummingbird

20191205

Louisville & Nashville’s Hummingbird passes between the engine terminal and coach yard as it backs towards New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in 1954. Visible at left are locomotives of Illinois Central and Kansas City Southern. James G. La Vake photo […]

Read More…

VIA Rail Canada thinks big with plans for new long-distance equipment: Analysis

Yesterday’s news out of Montreal was a stunner: VIA Rail Canada will re-equip its long-distance, regional, and remote-service trains with new single-level equipment — including dome cars for its flagship, the Vancouver-Toronto Canadian. VIA Rail’s 70-year-old Budd-built stainless steel fleet is a testament to durability and design. But nothing lasts forever, and despite all their […]

Read More…

Business car group seeks to save former N&W sleeping car

Maroon and black passenger car

CHESTERTON, Ind. — The group that has preserved a former Norfolk & Western business car is now seeking to save and restore former N&W sleeping car Hollins College. The N&W Business Car 300 Preservation Society says it is working with Norfolk Southern, the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, and the Morristown & Erie Railway to preserve […]

Read More…

Helping the Chief

20191220

Santa Fe 2-10-2 No. 1680 assists the 15 passenger cars and three diesels on train No. 19, the Chief, at Wootton, Colo., on the climb up Raton Pass on June 17, 1950. R.H. Kindig photo […]

Read More…

NJ Transit CEO Corbett resigns

NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett.

NEWARK, N.J. — Kevin Corbett, president and CEO of NJ Transit since 2018, has resigned to take a university position. The resignation is effective Jan. 15, just short of seven years after he was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Feb. 14, 2018. Murphy announced the resignation in a press release earlier today (Monday, Dec. […]

Read More…