Wednesday morning rail news:
— The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will operate six days per week and only run one train per day during its 2020 season, instead of the usual two, with an emphasis on social distancing and other COVID-19 containment moves. Cumbres & Toltec President and General Manager John Bush told KOB-TV in Albuquerque, N.M., that the railroad plans to open June 13. It will take the temperature of passengers before they board and follow state regulations for wearing masks and gloves while on board. Plans are still subject to change based on regulations in Colorado and New Mexico. Visit the railroad’s website for more information.
— Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has vetoed a bill which would have expanded the state’s MARC commuter rail system south into Alexandria, Va., and studied an extension north from Perryville, Md., to Newark, Del. In a letter to the speaker of the state House of Delegates, Hogan cited revenue and budget shortfalls for the Maryland Department of Transportation and said the expansion “is not financially feasible or responsible at this time.” The website Greater Greater Washington reports that the bill’s sponsor, Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery, Md.) expressed hope the veto can be overridden, given that it passed unanimously in the state Senate and with 107 votes in the house, more than the three-fifths (or 85 votes) required in the 141-member house.
— A worker at a railway ticket office in London’s Victoria Station has died after being spat at by a man who said he had the COVID-19 virus, according to her union. Reuters reports the Transport Salaried Staffs Association reported that Belly Mujinga, 47, when a man assaulted her and a female colleague. Both women became ill within days and Mujinga, who had underlying respiratory issues, was hospitalized and put on a ventilator. She died April 5, 14 days after the assault. Police are investigating.
Richard Shivik,Secondly, let the Britons do their job, but do not assume they have the same law structure as ours…as in calling for First Degree Murder charges and calling his allegedly having COVID-19 a WPD…a bit of a stretch there isn’t it?
Virginia and Maryland have worked together to expand MARC into VA and to build the new Long Bridge. This should not be delayed
I’m with Gov. Hogan on this one: It is irresponsible politically, financially and legally in that it involves legislative initiatives that encroach upon the rights of neighboring states. (My assumption is justified as this is the first I’ve heard of it.) It’s like saying you’re going to use your neighbor’s driveway to access your property without permission or an easement, but you’ll go ahead and pay for any wear and tear and pavement to do so. Very, very stupid!I hope, that when the Brits find that crazy b_____d, he is charged and prosecuted for First Degree Murder employing a weapon of mass destruction!
R MESSARA – I agree with you, I couldn’t make any sense of Mr. SHIVIK’s post. There’s nothing illegal about interstate compacts. I’m sure most readers know that SEPTA, MBTA, New Jersey Transit, Chicago METRA, Metro North, VRE, and Maryland trains cross state lines (the latter two into Washington, DC). I think also CTRail goes into Massachusetts but I may be wrong.
From what I have read. Gov. Hogan does not oppose the idea of VRE and SEPTA connections, but as a responsible budget officer I think he is right to hold off on this for the present. The General Assembly can certainly add this back in next years budget after folks see how revenues and expenditures fall out over the coming 12 months. As for Mr. Shivik’s comments. I’m not sure what he is talking about since both other states have expressed interest in the idea.