WASHINGTON — Operation Lifesaver, Inc. has announced what it describes as “a generous donation” from the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh. The undisclosed amount will support four projects. The grant will fund suicide prevention messages in communities identified by the Federal Railroad Administration’s Trespass and Suicide Dashboard that shows locations and trends in fatalities along railroad […]
A Twitter post shows the damage to the Station Square light rail station. The agency which operates the light rail system is billing Norfolk Southern $3 million for the costs of repairs. Port Authority of Allegheny County Twitter account PITTSBURGH — The Port Authority of Allegheny County is billing Norfolk Southern about $3 million for […]
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A drunk, shirtless man was arrested Monday after climbing aboard a moving Amtrak train and attempting to operate the second locomotive in the consist, sounding the horn repeatedly. The Sacramento Bee reports Dylan Thomas Baldini, 26, of McCloud, Calif., was arrested after boarding the Coast Starlight in Mount Shasta, Calif., about 1:18 […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter-rail network was swamped by record ridership Tuesday as fans attended the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl victory parade — despite advance planning that included more than two dozen extra trains. The Boston Globe reports that MBTA authorities said ridership was about double the usual 127,000 trips. “We […]
ATLANTIC CITY — While NJ Transit has said a need for federal approval is one reason it has not restored service on its Atlantic City line and other suspended services, a Federal Railroad Administration spokesman said the FRA has no role in reopening those lines. FRA spokesman Warren Flateau told NJ.com that “NJ Transit may, […]
Metra’s Electric Line will remain on a modified schedule through Friday as the commuter railroad continues to repair damage caused by a freight-train derailment. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Continuing work to repair damage caused by a Canadian National freight-train derailment has led Metra to announce its Electric Line will remain on a modified schedule […]
A Miami-bound Brightline train speeds through Lantana, Fla., on Jan. 10, 2019. The initial public offering for the passenger operation, to be rebranded Virgin Trains USA, is set for Feb. 13. TRAINS: David Lassen MIAMI — The NASDAQ stock exchange is reporting that Virgin Trains USA’s initial public offering of common stock is set for […]
NEW YORK — Friday’s announcement that Amtrak’s board of directors had reached agreement with New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the Penn Station Access project had been expected. An accompanying possibility — direct Amtrak service to Long Island — was not. In a press release following the Amtrak board meeting, Stephen Gardner, senior executive vice […]
Amtrak’s northbound Vermonter crosses a canal in Holyoke, Mass., on Aug. 30, 2018. Plans for additional service will increase frequency on this corridor from one to three round trips daily. Scott A. Hartley SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The upgrade of former Boston & Maine Railroad trackage that allowed the Vermonter to be rerouted via Greenfield, Mass., […]
Joe Boardman Bob Johnston WAUKESHA, Wis. — Former Amtrak President Joe Boardman has strong words for his old railroad in the March 2019 issue of Trains Magazine. In our monthly “The Trains Interview,” Boardman discusses rail safety, operations, dining car service and offers a critical opinion of the passenger railroad under the leadership of Amtrak’s […]
A Metra Electric train stops at the Homewood, Ill., station in May 2016. Metra has restored service to the entire Electric line, but on a limited scheduled. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra has resumed service across its Electric Line, but will be operating on a “modified weekday schedule” today (Monday, Feb. 4) as repairs […]
A Wilsonville-bound Westside Express Service train passes through Tigard, Ore., in June 2018. An Oregon legislator wants the service extended to the state capital, Salem. TRAINS: David Lassen PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon legislator is making a fourth attempt to generate interest in a plan to extend Portland’s lone commuter-rail line to Salem, Ore. The […]
