By: Dan Cupper ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The non-profit that owns the East Broad Top Railroad in Pennsylvania is looking to acquire a few standard-gauge freight cars, to be used to show how the narrow gauge line handled standard gauge cars using special transfer trucks and cast-aluminum coupler adapters. “We’re looking to replicate the post-World […]
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board took a victory lap last week over the implementation of positive train control, the landmark safety system that it first recommended after the head-on collision of two Penn Central commuter trains in 1969. “Over the next five decades we investigated one crash after another that could have been […]
More Monday morning rail news: Avon, Colo., officials approve paying half of fees for legal challenges to Tennessee Pass plan Officials in Avon, Colo., have agreed to having the town of 6,500 pay half the fees to any legal challenge to a plan to revive rail service over Tennessee Pass. The Vail Daily reports Eagle […]
Amtrak alters schedules south of Washington on Jan. 19-20 Amtrak will not operate Northeast Regional service south of Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19-20, because of travel restrictions stemming from the Presidential inauguration. Also, the Carolinian will only operate between Raleigh and Charlotte on those dates. An Amtrak advisory also informs passengers to allow extra time […]
Saturday rail news: FTA releases final environmental statement, record of decision for SEPTA King of Prussia project The Federal Transit Administration has identified the preferred route for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s planned extension to King of Prussia, Pa., as part of a combined Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for the 3.5-mile […]
Friday morning rail news: Biden coronavirus plan includes $20 billion for transit Some $20 billion in “relief for the hardest hit public transit agencies” is part of a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan released by President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday, a wide-ranging legislative package including $1,400 per-person payments to most households, a national COVID-19 vaccination […]
NEWARK, N.J. — The first of 25 new ALP-45A locomotives for NJ Transit has arrived at Port Newark, N.J. The Tier IV-compliant locomotives, built by Bombardier in Germany, was offloaded at the port’s Berth 17. The new engines will replace some of NJ Transit’s older locomotives, as well as some PL42s, according to the NJ […]
More Friday rail news: MARC to suspend operations Jan. 17-20 because of inauguration security Maryland’s MARC Train commuter rail service will suspend operations on all three of its routes — the Penn, Camden and Brunswick lines — beginning Sunday, Jan. 17, in response to expanded security efforts associated with the upcoming Presidential inauguration, the Maryland […]
Friday morning Canadian rail news: Metrolinx announces service cuts for GO Transit, UP Express Toronto-area transit agency Metrolinx will make changes to GO Transit and UP Express schedules effective Jan. 23 as Ontario begins a state of emergency and stay-at-home order because of increasing COVID-19 cases. The website Daily Hive reports buses will replace trains […]
WASHINGTON — Thanks to the ongoing strength of intermodal traffic, U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 9 was up 4.7% over the comparable week a year earlier. The latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads show 525,253 carload and intermodal units moved for the week. The 235,404 carloads represented a 1.6% decrease […]
WASHINGTON — Media outlets are reporting that President-elect Joe Biden’s planned arrival by train for his inauguration — widely anticipated but never officially announced — will not happen in light of security concerns in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol building. The Associated Press reports the move reflects increased concerns about […]
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn has joined the call by two labor unions for increased security for Amtrak passengers and railroad workers, especially in the Washington, D.C., area, in the wake of last week’s violence at the Capitol building. “There is nothing more important than the safety of our employees,” Flynn said in a statement. “Since […]
