NEW YORK — The governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have reached agreement on the distribution of federal pandemic relief funding for public transit, resolving an issue that had dragged on for several months. Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York, Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut announced the agreement […]
Zone & Region: Northeast
Convert a large-scale LGB passenger car into a dining car
By Frederic Williams Rohm and Brian Michelson I grew up in central Pennsylvania where my family had been long-time residents. My garden railroad is based on the Pennsylvania Railroad circa 1900; my grandfather and uncles worked on the PRR. The premier Pennsy passenger train of this era was the Pennsylvania Limited, which began making the […]
Metro-North activates CTC on Waterbury Branch, completing system
WATERBURY, Conn. — Metro-North Railroad has eliminated the last “dark territory” Manual Block System segment on its 271-mile commuter rail system, activating Centralized Traffic Control on its 27-mile branch between Devon and Waterbury. The system was activated at 6 a.m. on Nov. 7. After a weekend shutdown of the line for final testing, regular revenue passenger […]
Metrorail testing plan approved, but reduced service will continue through November
WASHINGTON — The independent Washington Metrorail Safety Commission has approved a plan for testing and returning DC Metrorail’s newest railcars to service, but the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will still face reduced levels of service through at least the remainder of November. The Washington Post reports the safety commission’s approval means Metro will begin […]
New contractor selected to complete Purple Line project
RIVERDALE, Md. — Maryland Transit Solutions has been selected as the contractor to complete Maryland’s much-delayed Purple Line light rail project. Purple Line Transit Partners, the consortium which will operate the 16-mile, 21-station line between Bethesda and New Carrollton, announced the decision Friday in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Transportation. The winning bidder, one […]
Horseshoe Curve diesel receives new paint
A repainting of the Pennsylvania Railroad GP9 diesel locomotive on display at Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark near Altoona, Pa., headlines several developments at the historic site where Norfolk Southern’s former-PRR Pittsburgh Line climbs the Allegheny Mountains. A final detail — applying yellow safety paint to the handrails — took place this week on the […]
News Photos: Nevada Northern diesel begins journey
The return of Kennecott Copper RSD4 No. 201 to its former home at the Nevada Northern Railway has begun. On Nov. 4, the diesel was lifted onto heavy-duty transport equipment to begin the 900-mile, three-week journey from its longtime home at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Wash. The locomotive is scheduled to depart Snoqualmie […]
Testing plan submitted for sidelined Metrorail cars
WASHINGTON — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has submitted a testing plan for returning its 7000-series Metrorail cars to operation to address its current equipment shortage. The Washington Post reports the plan submitted to the independent Washington Metrorail Safety Commission would call for checking the cars every eight days for a wheel defect that […]
NJ Transit to add 36 trains to weekly schedule
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit will add 36 trains to its weekly commuter rail schedule as of Sunday, Nov. 14, with the 22 weekday trains and 14 on weekends coming as part of the agency’s regular fall service adjustments. “As rail ridership grows and commuting patterns continue to evolve, NJ Transit is committed to delivering […]
Former LIRR foreman receives five months in prison for overtime fraud
NEW YORK — A former Long Island Railroad foreman was sentenced to five months in prison on Thursday for his role in a massive overtime fraud case involving Metropolitan Transportation Authority employees. The New York Daily News reports John Nugent, 51, pleaded guilty for his part in a case in which he claimed to work […]
CN to purchase Wabtec battery-electric locomotive
MONTREAL — Canadian National will be the first North American buyer of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive, for its Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad. The railroad calls the locomotive’s technology key to transitioning to a lower-carbon future, and says Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection is providing financial support under the Marine and Rail Freight Movers Grant […]
Amtrak service to Canadian cities remains on hold
WASHINGTON, D.C. — While Greyhound announced last week that it will resume cross-border intercity bus service between U.S. and Canadian destinations Nov. 8, no firm date has been finalized for restoring Amtrak trains serving Vancouver, B.C., Toronto, and Montreal. U.S. citizens have been able to visit Canada since Aug. 9, but Canadians won’t be able […]
