MT. SHASTA, Calif. — The man killed in a Christmas Day shooting by a police office on board Amtrak’s Coast Starlight was disabled and suffered from mental health issues, his mother told the Redding Record Searchlight. Nicholas Detweiler Haritoudis, 32, was a train passenger, traveling from Klamath Falls, Ore., to California’s Sonoma County, when was […]
Zone & Region: California
BART train briefly headed on to wrong track prior to derailment
ORINDA, Calif. — An error that sent the train onto the wrong track at an interlocking preceded Monday’s derailment of a Bay Area Rapid Transit train, according to a BART narrative of events that led to the derailment of two cars and a fire. Nine people were injured in the incident about 9 a.m. on […]
Human error considered likely cause of BART derailment
ORINDA, Calif. — Bay Area Rapid Transit officials are looking at human error as the most likely cause of Monday’s derailment of a train that injured nine people, a member of the agency’s board of directors said Tuesday. Debora Allen said interviews of operating staff are continuing, but that the agency has largely ruled out […]
BART service resumes in East Bay following Monday derailment
ORINDA, Calif. — Regular Bay Area Rapid Transit service on the Yellow Line resumed this morning (Tuesday, Jan. 2) following Monday’s derailment of a train between the Orinda and Lafayette stations in the East Bay, the transit agency has announced. The last two cars of a train derailed about 9 a.m. Monday [see “Nine injured […]
Nine injured as BART train derails
ORINDA, Calif. — Nine people were injured when a Bay Area Rapid Transit train derailed and caught fire today, the transit agency reports. None of the injuries were major, BART said in a press release, although all of those involved were transported to area hospitals for evaluation. The derailment occurred about 9 a.m. and involved […]
One killed in Christmas morning police shooting on Coast Starlight (updated)
MT. SHASTA, Calif. — One person was killed in a shooting by a police officer on Amtrak’s southbound Coast Starlight early on Christmas morning, the Mt. Shasta Police Department confirmed Tuesday evening. The officer involved and another person were injured the police department said in a press release on Facebook. The department had previously reported […]
View from the ‘Coast Daylight’
Two passengers on Southern Pacific’s Coast Daylight watch with fascination as a 2-10-2 helper and 4-8-4 road engine lift their train up Cuesta Grade out of San Luis Obispo in about 1949. Linn H. Westcott photo […]
Port of Long Beach rail project, I-5 bridge among Mega Grant awards
WASHINGTON — A rail-related project at the Port of Long Beach in Southern California and replacement of the Interstate 5 bridge between Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., are among projects to receive federal Mega Grant funding, according to announcement by federal legislators. Another such grant, for a new rail drawbridge at Stuart, Fla., has already […]
Metrolink, Amtrak prepare for four-day shutdown of tracks at LA Union Station
LOS ANGELES — Commuter rail operator Metrolink has offered more details on its upcoming four-day service shutdown to accommodate major track and signal work at Los Angeles Union Station, and has developed a list of transit options for riders during the rail outage set for Dec. 26-29. The work at Union Station will also affect […]
Alameda Corridor authority names chief operating officer
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Graham Christie has been named as chief operating officer of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, a new position for the agency overseeing the 20-mile rail line connecting the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to downtown LA. “Graham provides more than 30 years of highly valued experience and leadership in […]
Five hospitalized after Pacific Surfliner hits truck, derailing one car
SOMIS, Calif. — Five people were taken to hospitals for treatment after a Los Angeles-bound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner hit a truck at a grade crossing Tuesday, Dec. 12, derailing the train’s cab car. KABC-TV reports the collision occurred about 6:20 p.m. near the intersection of Sand Canyon Road and State Route 118 between Somis and […]
Caltrain finalizes electrification operating plan
SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Four trains per hour during peak periods, trip times for locals cut from 100 minutes to 75 minutes, and increased weekend service highlight Caltrain’s plan for service when electrification begins in fall 2024. The plan announced last week refines the initial proposal introduced in October [see “Caltrain offers details on initial […]
