Mail call Carts of mail sacks crowd the northeast side of the new New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in 1954. The stub-end terminal features 12 passenger tracks ending at an open-air concourse. James G. La Vake photo […]
Mail call
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
Digest: Canada’s TSB to investigate seasonal increase in grade-crossing accidents
Transportation Safety Board to investigate winter increase in grade-crossing accidents The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is opening an investigation to determine why grade-crossing accidents increase during winter months. The agency’s statistics show such accidents increase by 61% in non-vacation winter months (January and February) compared with non-vacation, non-winter months (May, June and September). Along […]
San Diego-L.A. Surfliner schedule beefed up to meet surging demand
LOS ANGELES — Beginning Monday, June 28, the agency overseeing Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliners will add three daily Pacific Surfliner round trips between Los Angeles and San Diego, Calif., to the six that have been running since frequencies were last increased April 30. However, only three trains in each direction, plus Amtrak’s Los Angeles-Seattle Coast Starlight, […]
Digest: Canada increases fines for rail trespassing, interfering with operations
Canadian government stiffens fines for rail trespassing, interfering with operations The Canadian government is increasing fines for trespassing onto railroad property and interfering with railway operations. Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra announced Wednesday that fines for trespassing will increase from $100 to $500, while the fine for not giving way at railway crossings will increase […]
Digest: Local union groups file support for CN-KCS voting trust (updated)
Contradicting national leader, three local union groups support CN-KCS voting trust; another union also expresses support Three local committees of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union Transportation Division(SMART-TD) representing Canadian National workers have filed letters of support for the CN-Kansas City Southern voting trust proposal, CN says in a press release. The union’s […]
Brightline West bond effort pushed back to 2022
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The effort to finance the Brightline West high speed rail line between Las Vegas, Nev., and Victorville, Calif., will wait until 2022. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Brightline spokesman Ben Porritt said the plan to seek funding through private activity bonds was being pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and […]
Digest: Amtrak to restore Valley Flyer, New Haven-Springfield trains
Amtrak brings back second Valley Flyer, additional New Haven-Springfield trains Amtrak will restore a second weekday round trip of its Valley Flyer between New Haven, Conn., and Greenfield, Mass., as of July 26, along with restoration of three trains on the New Haven-Springfield, Mass., portion of the route that were suspended in March 2020. The […]
Digest: Work begins on Tehachapi Loop viewing platform
Tehachapi Loop viewing platform could open by mid-July Ground has been broken on a new viewing platform at California’s Tehachapi Loop, with completion expected by mid-July. The Tehachapi News reports the platform will end the need for those viewing trains at the loop to stand along a narrow shoulder of Woodford-Tehachapi Road, easing safety concerns. […]
Digest: MARC commuter trains to resume full schedule in August
After nine months of reduced service, full MARC schedule to resume Aug. 30 MARC commuter trains will resume full operations on Aug. 30, nine months after reducing service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Baltimore Sun reports that Maryland Transit Adminstration officials announced the restoration of MARC and commuter bus service on Monday, while […]
Rocky Mountaineer, White Pass & Yukon adjust summer operating plans
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Despite uncertainty when the Canada-U.S. border will open, Rocky Mountaineer has confirmed it is moving ahead with limited operations on two of its three routes out of Vancouver in July and returning to a full schedule in August. Meanwhile, although Alaskan tour train operator White Pass & Yukon Route will begin […]
LA Metro breaks ground for Airport Metro Connector
LOS ANGELES — With a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, LA Metro marked the formal start of work on the almost $900 million Airport Metro Connector project, which will provide the long-sought direct service for the Metro light rail system to L.A. International Airport. The new facility connect Metro’s light rail system to L.A. International Airport’s […]
Rail Rangers educational programs to resume on South Shore trains
CHICAGO — Onboard educational programs will return to select South Shore Line off-peak commuter trains beginning July 1, following a 15-month pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs are offered by the Midwest Rail Rangers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, two to three times per month on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to July […]
