Study explores possibility of returning Amtrak to Detroit’s Michigan Central Station NEWSWIRE

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Michigan Central Station in 1981. A study is exploring the possibility of returning Amtrak service to the station. Ernest L. Novak DETROIT — The revival of Detroit’s Michigan Central Station could include passenger train service. Bridge Michigan, an online journalism cooperative, reports that the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority have begun a $30,000 feasibility study to […]

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Virgin Group’s Branson highlights MiamiCentral rebranding

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MIAMI — Sir Richard Branson became the media darling of South Florida this week as Virgin Trains USA rebranded MiamiCentral, the massive terminal complex revitalizing a downtrodden area bordering the city’s business district. It was the initial move in the long-expected rebranding of Brightline passenger service. The flamboyant Branson, dressed in white and attracting a […]

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New group forms to represent commuter rail interests NEWSWIRE

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ALEXANDRA, Va. — Metra, NJ Transit, and TriMet of Portland, Ore., are among the initial members of the Commuter Rail Coalition, a new association formed to advocate for commuter railroads in the U.S. Describing itself as “a single-minded advocate in Washington” for U.S. commuter railroads, the coalition website says it is “a collection of agencies, […]

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Steam to visit SEPTA in May NEWSWIRE

NORTH WALES, Pa. — For the first time in nearly three decades, steam will traverse SEPTA’s Lansdale-to-Doylestown main line. In recognition of the 150th birthday of the borough of North Wales, Pa., the New Hope Railroad is hosting a series of four excursions on May 18. The excursions will be pulled by Baldwin-built 1925 2-8-0 […]

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Virgin Trains USA raises $1.75 billion in bond sale NEWSWIRE

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MIAMI — Virgin Trains USA found strong demand for the bonds to finance it expansion, selling $1.75 billion in private activity bonds this week. Trade publication The Bond Buyer reported that the offering may have received up to $4 billion in orders for the bonds. It quoted Brian Wynne, head of public finance at Morgan […]

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Amtrak expresses interest in Detroit-Toronto service NEWSWIRE

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WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s 2020 budget request includes a proposal to restore service between Detroit and Toronto, although it makes no estimate of the funding necessary to start the service. Curbed Detroit noted the line item, part of a table of “Funding Needs Above the Authorized Level,” which the report says “represents many of Amtrak’s priorities, […]

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Boston develops its vision of commuter rail in 2040 NEWSWIRE

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An MBTA commuter train crosses one of two drawbridges over the Charles River as it leaves North Station. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is developing plans for expansion of Boston-area commuter service as it might look by the year 2040. Scott A. Hartley BOSTON — To see what commuter rail in Boston might look like […]

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Denver to open commuter rail G Line on April 26 NEWSWIRE

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Passengers await the arrival of a Denver A Line train at the 40th Avenue-Airport Boulevard station in October 2018. Denver will open its second commuter rail line, the G Line, later this month. TRAINS: David Lassen DENVER — Denver RTD’s long-delayed G Line commuter rail operation is scheduled to open April 26, more than two years […]

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