Chicago & Eastern Illinois 4-6-2 No. 1016 dashes through the South Side of Chicago with the outbound Dixie Express in 1946. R. R. Malinoski photo […]
C&EI’s ‘Dixie Express’ departs Chicago
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
Del Mar, Calif., turns down deal over trackside fencing
DEL MAR, Calif. — The City of Del Mar’s opposition to safety fencing along the rail line traversing the Del Mar Bluffs is likely to result in a larger fence than might otherwise have been the case. The San Diego Reader reports that on Monday, Feb. 28 — the deadline for the city to reach […]
STB grants delay in next phase of Amtrak Gulf Coast hearing
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has granted CSX Transportation’s request to delay the hearing on Amtrak Gulf Coast service, which was unopposed by Amtrak and the other parties to the case. The evidentiary hearing, which had been scheduled to begin March 9, will now be held April 4-5, with April 6 and April 8 […]
Chicago suburbs seek $9.5 billion to mitigate potential impact of CP-KCS merger (updated)
WASHINGTON — A coalition of Chicago suburbs says it would cost between $5.5 billion and $9.5 billion to mitigate the impact of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger on their communities. That’s more than the entire price tag of the CREATE program, which aims to spend $4.6 billion on 70 rail improvement projects across the […]
News photo: Street-running finale in Michigan City
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — South Shore Line commuter train No. 106, the 5:45 a.m. departure from Carroll Avenue station in Michigan City, Ind., makes its way down 11th Street at Franklin Street on Monday morning, Feb. 28, 2022, en route to a scheduled 7:13 a.m. arrival at Chicago’s Millennium Station. The train was the last […]
Two Sounder commuter rail round trips to be restored
SEATTLE — Sound Transit will restore two round trips on its Sounder South commuter rail line as part of a series of transit changes set for March. Returning after being suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic are trains 1501, a 6:05 a.m. departure from Seattle; 1514, a 7:20 a.m. departure from Tacoma; 1509, a 3:15 […]
Amtrak engineer was ‘grossly negligent,’ prosecutors say as trial begins
PHILADELPHIA — Prosecutors said Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian was “grossly negligent” in the fatal 2015 derailment of a Northeast Regional train during Friday’s opening arguments in the trial in Common Pleas Court. WTXT-TV reports the long-delayed trial of the 38-year-old Bostian, at the controls for the May 12, 2015, accident that killed eight, saw the […]
Airport sues over California high speed rail project
BURBANK, Calif. — Hollywood Burbank Airport has filed suit against California’s high speed rail agency, arguing that the planned route and nearby underground station could affect airport operations. The suit comes as the California High Speed Rail Authority released the final environmental impact studies for the Northern California segment connecting San Jose and Merced. The […]
Former Amtrak employee pleads guilty to wire fraud
NEW ORLEANS — A former Amtrak employee has pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in connection with actions when she was working as an on-board service attendant. Kenya Butler-Small will be sentenced on June 15, 2022 for the charges, which carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, […]
Sound Transit names interim CEO
SEATTLE — Sound Transit has named Brooke Belman, the agency’s current chief of staff, to serve as acting CEO as of May 31. Belman will succeed Peter Rogoff, who will depart on that date, until a new permanent CEO is selected. Belman joined Sound Transit in 20024 and has served in roles including Deputy Executive […]
San Jose-area transit agency officials question future of light rail
SAN JOSE, Calif. — As it approaches the point of needing to order replacements for its light-rail vehicle fleet, the transit agency serving the San Jose area is considering a more existential question: whether its light rail system even has a future. The San Jose Spotlight reports that at a recent meeting of the Santa […]
Metra schedules station ‘safety blitzes’
CHICAGO — Commuter rail operator Metra announced it will hold Operation Lifesaver “Safety Blitzes” at 51 of its stations during 2022 as part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness about safe behavior around trains and tracks. Each blitz will see Metra employees visit a station during the morning rush hour to distribute educational materials about […]
