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Thursday midday rail news: Brightline West aims for spring start to construction of Las Vegas-California line Brightline West is aiming to start construction of its Las Vegas-Southern California high speed rail project this spring, according to a filing with the Nevada High-Speed Rail Authority. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Brightline West President Sarah Watterson said […]
More Thursday morning rail news: New RTD CEO casts doubt on plans for commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont The new head of Denver’s Regional Transportation District is questioning whether a long-planned, voter-approved commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont, Colo., is the best option to provide transit service. Colorado Public Radio reports CEO […]
CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors has approved the purchase of up to 500 new multilevel cars from Alstom, a purchase CEO and Executive Director James Derwinski calls “truly transformational.” The Alstom Coradia cars, while compatible with the current fleet of gallery cars, will feature two entrance doors on each side, as opposed to the […]
More Wednesday morning rail news: Eau Claire approves formation of rail commission for passenger service to Twin Cities The city of Eau Claire, Wis., has voted to create a commission to lead development of passenger rail service between the city and St. Paul, Minn. The Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission seeks to connect the city of […]
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern’s former Reading Co. 4-8-4 No. 2102 came several steps closer to its long-awaited return to service after steam testing at the railroad’s steam shops in Port Clinton on Tuesday. All went well. “The engine is like new,” said R&N owner and CEO Andrew M. Muller, Jr. Following the […]
Wednesday morning rail news: Suburbs close lots, seek other cuts with loss of Metra parking feets Suburbs served by Metra are seeking ways to offset the loss in parking fees they have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, closing some lots and considering maintenance cuts. A Chicago Tribune report, focusing on the communities served by the […]
A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation study of a proposed Philadelphia-Reading passenger rail operation estimates the 12-station, 59-mile service could attract up to 6,400 passengers daily, but notes several significant issues that must be addressed while laying out five steps that will be necessary to determine the concept’s feasibility. The report, released last week, notes that […]
LONDON — The impact of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union is only now becoming apparent to British passenger and freight rail operations, with freight traffic delayed and the Eurostar passenger operation, in particular, facing severe challenges. The UK formally left the European Union Dec. 31, with a limited free-trade deal agreed at […]
Tuesday afternoon rail news: Unions seek increased security for Washington, D.C., Amtrak service The leaders of two major rail unions have requested that the Federal Railroad Administration and Department of Homeland Security to address security vulnerabilities and protect riders and workers of Amtrak service in and around Washington, D.C., in the wake of the Jan. […]
Portal Bridge funds get final FTA approval The Federal Transit Administration has given final approval to funding for replacement of New Jersey’s Portal Bridge. It is the final step to complete an agreement approved by NJ Transit last month [see “Digest: Transit officials hold ‘virtual rally’ …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 10, 2020]. NJ.com notes […]
Tuesday afternoon rail news: Contractor says high speed rail agency’s failures are delaying work, leading to layoffs A major contractor in California’s high speed rail project says state failures have resulted in delays that could cause the project to miss a key 2022 federal deadline. The Los Angeles Times reports that construction firm Tutor Perini […]
Dramatic increase in COVID cases led to reduction of MBTA commuter rail service The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s December reduction in commuter rail service reflected a dramatic upswing in COVID-19 cases among the workforce of contract operator Keolis. State House News Service reports that the rail operator, which had 43 reported cases in the first […]
