The South Shore Line’s West Lake Corridor was among three rail projects, and 10 overall, to learn of funding on Thursday night in a series of Twitter posts from President Donald Trump. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Rail projects in Arizona, Indiana, and Oregon are among 10 transit programs informed of new federal funding in […]
Twin Cities transit shut down through weekend NEWSWIRE
Friday morning rail news in brief: Metro Transit shutdown extended through weekend, now includes commuter rail Citing safety concerns over ongoing civil unrest, Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul has extended its suspension of all bus and light rail service through Sunday, and expanded it to include Northstar commuter rail. The lone exception is the Blue […]
U.S. Sugar steam locomotive powers cane train NEWSWIRE
U.S. Sugar used its restored ex-Florida East Coast locomotive on a cane train this week to mark the end of the harvest season. U.S. Sugar More Friday morning rail news in brief: U.S. Sugar uses steam locomotive on cane train, announces plans for ‘Sugar Express’ Restored U.S. Sugar 4-6-2 No. 148, a former Florida East […]
Wisconsin electric tourist railroad re-opens May 29 NEWSWIRE
Former Chicago, South Shore & South Bend car No. 13, left, and Sheboygan Light Power & Railway No. 26 are posed in East Troy, Wis., for a nighttime photo shoot in 2017. The tourist railroad is re-opening to the public with extra health safety measures on May 29. Trains staff EAST TROY, Wis. — The East […]
Amtrak asks STB to settle dispute with Metra over Chicago Union Station, seeks more than $17 million annually (updated)
The dispute between Amtrak and Metra over Chicago Union Station is back before the Surface Transportation Board. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Amtrak has filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board asking the agency to settle its ongoing dispute with Metra over terms and compensation for Chicago commuter railroad’s use of the Amtrak-owned Chicago […]
BART sets 15-point plan to handle returning riders NEWSWIRE
Thursday morning rail news in brief: BART announces ‘Welcome Back Plan’ Bay Area Rapid Transit has introduced a 15-step “Welcome Back Plan” for riders returning to the San Francisco-area rail system after the COVID-19 lockdown, including use of long trains to accommodate social distancing, increased train frequency as ridership dictates, and a possible new seating […]
News photo: New Acela makes test run in Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak’s next-generation Acela made its first test on Amtrak trackage on Thursday, with the second Alstom-built trainset making a round trip from Penn Coach Yard in Philadelphia to Thorndale, Pa., some 35 miles West of Philadelphia on the line to Harrisburg, Pa. The first Acela trainset continues to test at the Transportation Technology […]
Protests shut down Twin Cities light rail line (updated) NEWSWIRE
Thursday midday rail news in brief: Metro Transit shuts down all light rail, bus service After initially halting service on its light rail Blue Line, Minneapolis/St. Paul’s Metro Transit will shut down all bus and light rail service as of 4 p.m. for at least the rest of the day, with a decision about tomorrow […]
Texas transit system cuts jobs, service, defers capital projects NEWSWIRE
A-Trains meet at the Hebron station in Lewisville, Texas, in 2017. Denton County’s transit agency has approved a budget with staff and service cuts, and deferred capital projects, to deal with financial losses because of the coronavirus. TRAINS: David Lassen More Thursday morning rail news in brief: Denton County amends transit budget because of virus […]
AAR: ‘Encouraging signs’ as rail traffic increases compared to recent weeks NEWSWIRE
U.S. rail traffic by commodity group and totals for the week ended May 23, 2020 Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 23, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 428,715 carloads and intermodal units, down 19.2% compared […]
Brightline negotiating to operate Miami-Aventura commuter service
Wednesday afternoon rail news in brief: Virgin Trains, Miami-Dade in talks on commuter operation Virgin Trains USA is in talks with Miami-Dade County about creating a commuter-rail operation on the southern end of its existing Miami-West Palm Beach Brightline route, a $350 million proposal that would see the privately owned passenger operation build five stations […]
Cumbres & Toltec postpones gathering of 19th-century locomotives NEWSWIRE
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has postponed its Victorian Iron Horse Roundup, a planned gathering of 19th-century locomotives set for Aug. 22-31, to 2021. The event was planned as part of the tourist railroad’s 50th anniversary [see “Cumbres & Toltec announces schedule for 19th-century locomotive event,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 27, 2020]. In a […]