SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Efforts to extend Metrolink commuter rail service into Santa Barbara County are gaining ground, the online news site Noozhawk reports. A committee of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments is set to discuss a one-year pilot program to extend service from Ventura County to Santa Barbara and Goleta, Calif., today […]
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
Batory nomination to Amtrak board of directors potentially changes its dynamic: Analysis
WASHINGTON — President Biden’s nomination last week of experienced railroad chief executive Ron Batory to Amtrak’s board of directors checked a number of boxes. But his main contribution will likely be the perspective he gained during a stint as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration that provided a ringside seat to Amtrak management’s business practices […]
Metra to open new station in Chicago, add UP North trains May 20
CHICAGO — Metra will open its newest station, and expand service on its Union Pacific North Line — which includes that station, Peterson/Ridge — on Monday, May 20, the commuter rail operator has announced. Peterson/Ridge is in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. Groundbreaking was held in November 2021, on what at the time was projected to be […]
LA airport people mover gets another $200 million in funding
LOS ANGELES — The board overseeing Los Angeles International Airport has approved an additional $200 million in funding for the airport people mover under construction, addressing disputes with the builder that have slowed the project. The news site LAist reports the money approved by the board of airport commissioners pushes the overall budget for the […]
STB names Moyer to oversee Office of Passenger Rail
WASHINGTON — Neil Moyer has been appointed director of the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Passenger Rail, STB Chairman Martin J. Oberman announced Monday. The office, established in October 2022, is responsible for investigating and analyzing issues regarding Amtrak on-time performance. Moyer has coordinated the STB’s responsibilities in this area since mid-2021, assisted the board […]
Mobile, Ala., board approves zoning exception for Amtrak stop
MOBILE, Ala. — The City of Mobile’s Board of Zoning Adjustment today unanimously approved the special zoning exception requested by Amtrak for a temporary station platform and adjacent parking in Mobile, a necessary step forward in the slow-moving effort to launch Gulf Coast passenger service between Mobile and New Orleans. CSX and the Port of […]
News & Products for the week of May 6th 2024
News & Products for the week of May 6th 2024 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of May 6th […]
Latest Gulf Coast report to STB ‘hopeful’ of progress
MOBILE, Ala. —“Hopeful” is the key word in the status report on Gulf Coast passenger service submitted by Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Port of Mobile to the Surface Transportation Board last week. The May 1 report was required by the STB after a February hearing and subsequent explanation of delays was short on […]
Sand takes increasing role to protect rail line in San Clemente, Calif.
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Use of some 500,000 cubic yards of sand as a buffer has been added to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s plans to protect the Surf Line through San Clemente, the Orange County Register reports. The route used by Metrolink commuter trains, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliners, and BNSF freight traffic has been plagued […]
Metro-North adds trains, capacity while I-95 is closed in Connecticut
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad on Friday announced plans for additional weekend trains and other capacity moves on its New Haven line in light of a collision and fire involving a gasoline tank truck that has closed Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Conn., at least through Monday. Today (May 4) and Sunday, […]
Amtrak issues Requests for Information on high-speed wi-fi for Northeast Corridor
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has issued two Requests for Information seeking to provide high-speed wi-fi connectivity along the 450-mile Northeast Corridor, the company announced Thursday, May 2. One of the requests seeks to identify organizations interested in deploying a fiber network along the NEC; the other seeks metrics to understand the market demand along six subsections […]
Scenic Limited in the Royal Gorge
A 4-6-0 and 4-8-4 lead Denver & Rio Grande Western’s westbound Scenic Limited into the Royal Gorge west of Canon City in 1942. William Moedinger photo […]