YAZOO CITY, Miss. — Two rail-related projects are among three Mississippi awards under the RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant program announced by U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith. In all, three projects in the state will receive a total of $15.4 million in funding. Yazoo City will receive $12.6 million […]
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
Pullman-Standard 85-foot bi-level commuter cars from Walthers
Pullman-Standard 85-foot bi-level commuter cars Scale: HO (1:87:1) Price: Standard, $89.98; lighted, $99.98 Era: Mid-1950s through mid-1980s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com Features: 33” turned metal RP-25 contour wheels Factory-installed grab irons Gallery car interior configuration Light-emitting diode interior lighting (lighted cars only) Proto-Max metal couplers […]
Brightline gets approval to sell up to $1 billion in debt for Orlando project
MIAMI — Brightline Holdings has received clearance to sell up to $1 billion of tax-free debt to finance its expansion to Orlando, Bloomberg reports. The board of the Florida Development Finance Corp. approved the financing Monday. Brightline, backed by Fortress Investment Group, expects to sell $785 million in short-term debt but could sell the full […]
Federal grant to help fund stations for Baton Rouge-New Orleans train service
BATON ROUGE, La. — The cities of Baton Rouge and Gonzales will receive $20 million in federal funding for stations for the proposed Baton Rouge-New Orleans passenger service, members of the Louisiana congressional delegation have announced. The funds, sought jointly by the two cities, will go toward land acquisition, design, and construction of the stations. […]
Montreal commuter operator prepares to retire single-level coaches
MONTREAL — Exo, the Montreal-area commuter rail operator officially known as Réseau de transport metropolitan, will retire its remaining single-level passenger cars, 24 Bombardier-built 700-series cars similar to NJ Transit’s Comet II cars. The cars are currently used only on the 15.9-mile, nine-station Candiac line, but Exo’s social media advisor informed railfans this week that […]
With new car, Reading & Northern adds ‘Crown Class’ service for excursions
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern has added “Crown Class” service to its Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway with the debut of coach No. 450, The Pagoda, a 1920s-vintage six-axle heavyweight coach built for the Illinois Central Railroad. The car, purchased in a bankruptcy auction of equipment of a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings, […]
GO Transit union votes for strike
TORONTO — A union representing GO Transit station attendants, maintenance workers, and bus drivers has voted to strike if it fails to reach agreement on a new contract. The vote comes as the train and bus operator has said it will have to cancel some trains this week because of a worker shortage. The CBC […]
O-Train western extension could be a year behind schedule
OTTAWA — An extension to the problem-plagued O-Train light rail Confederation Line could be up to a year behind schedule, according to a memo sent to the Ottawa city council last week. Meanwhile, the existing portion of the Confederation Line is preparing for two extended maintenance shutdowns this month. The CBC reports the western extension […]
Busing plan changes for South Shore line construction
GARY, Ind. — South Shore Line commuter rail service has entered a new phase of busing as part of the continuing project to double track the main line between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. As of Saturday, Aug. 6, a bus bridge is operating between the Gary Metro station and Carroll Avenue station in Michigan […]
News photo: Second new VIA trainset delivered
MONTREAL — The second set of new Siemens equipment for VIA Rail Canada corridor service has been delivered. With Union Pacific ES44AC No. 5275 providing power for the entire trip from the Siemens plant in Sacramento, the new trainset was delivered to VIA’s Montreal Maintenance Centre early on Saturday, Aug. 6. VIA is receiving 32 […]
Hearing set on stay for Chief lawsuits; new employee suit claims train was overcrowded
KEYTESVILLE, Mo. — A judge in Chariton County, Mo., has scheduled a hearing on whether to delay lawsuits over the June 27 derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief while the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation into the fatal accident. Meanwhile, an Amtrak employee has filed a suit claiming the passenger operator “intentionally” crowded the […]
Citing crew shortages, Amtrak cancels 2022 Polar Express trips in Chicago
CHICAGO — Amtrak has canceled plans to offer Polar Express holiday rides from Chicago Union Station in 2022, citing ongoing staff shortages. A message on the Polar Express Union Station Facebook page cites “a system-wide shortage of railroad personnel” that means there are not enough crews to operate the trains. “We have enjoyed operating the […]
