When you think of Burlington Northern, passenger service may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But from March 2, 1970 (Burlington Northern’s first day) to April 30, 1971 (the day before Amtrak started operations), the railroad offered passenger service. Among the name trains were the Empire Builder, Mainstreeter, North Coast Limited, and […]
Read More…
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has fired its head of construction management, who was overseeing the $2.3 billion Portal North Bridge project, NorthJersey.com reports. Mohammad Nasim told the news site he was given no reason for his firing last week other than being an “at will” employee, and was escorted out of the transit agency’s […]
Read More…
CHESTERTON, Ind. — The South Shore Line has released new schedules effective Oct. 25 for the resumption of train service between the Carroll Avenue station in Michigan City, Ind., and Dune Park in Chesterton, Ind., as well as continued bus substitution between Dune Park and the Gary (Ind.) Metro Center station. New schedules are available […]
Read More…
OTTAWA — The Canadian government’s slow-moving process of developing its proposed High-Frequency Rail passenger route between Toronto and Quebec City is taking its next step. Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced Friday the start of the Request for Proposals process for the rail project, with a deadline announced only as “summer 2024.” Those proposals will come […]
Read More…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Siemens Mobility and Amtrak have unveiled a prototype of the first car for the new Amtrak Airo equipment at the builder’s Sacramento, Calif. The Wednesday event provided the first look at the equipment to be provided in 83 fixed trainsets, the first of which is scheduled to enter service in 2026. The […]
Read More…
SALT LAKE CITY — Rail equipment manufacturer Stadler and the state of California on Thursday signed a contract calling for Stadler to build four hydrogen-powered trainsets for use in the state, with an option for up to 25 more trains. The contract signed Thursday formalizes an agreement announced as a “memorandum of understanding” in September […]
Read More…
WASHINGTON — DC Metrorail will begin inspecting bolts on the brake system of its older railcars every 60 days in response to a derailment last month, the Washington Post reports. That derailment of a 7000-series trainset was caused when the train hit a brake disc that had fallen off a preceding train of older equipment, […]
Read More…
LONDON — Virgin Group has come out on top in its legal battle over Brightline Holdings LLC in a United Kingdom court judgment. This comes after a $115 million [originally reported to be $250 million] lawsuit was filed by Virgin over the Brightline’s exit from its 20-year partnership in the Virgin Trains USA branding that […]
Read More…
WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration today published its final rule mandating inward- and outward-facing cameras in passenger locomotives, a move that immediately brought criticism from the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, who said the rule doesn’t go far enough. The FRA rule, which goes into effect on Nov. 13, will require the […]
Read More…
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will withdraw one of its six nominees for the Amtrak Board of Directors and replace that individual with a yet-to-be-named candidate from the Western U.S., the Washington news site Roll Call reports. The move will end a hold on the nominations over their failure to meet a Congressional requirement for […]
Read More…
WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration announced Wednesday announced the availability of $197 million to replace aging railcars on subway, light rail, commuter rail, and other systems under the Rail Vehicle Replacement Program, funded under the $1.5 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The agency says older cars contribute to service delays and increase costs, and many […]
Read More…
ORLANDO, Fla. — Stadler’s FLIRT H2 trainset, the hydrogen-powered commuter-rail equipment set to debut next year in Southern California, has made its first U.S. debut this week at the APTA Expo in Orlando, the American Public Transportation Association’s annual conference. The train will eventually join three Stadler FLIRT diesel multiple-unit trainsets on the San Bernardino […]
Read More…