SEATTLE — A newly released business-case study argues that ultra-high-speed ground transportation in the Vancouver, British Columbia-Seattle-Portland, Ore., corridor would deliver economic and social benefits, and could cover its operating costs as soon as 2040. But getting to such a system by 2040 depends on resolving some huge questions, such as what technology — conventional […]
Zone & Region: Pacific Northwest
Washington tourist line to operate without steam this season NEWSWIRE
SEATTLE — The address for the website of the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad tourist excursion service in southwestern Washington is “steamtrainride.com.” Unfortunately for the Chehalis-Centralia, there’s no steam locomotive at the moment to pull its trains. The Chehalis-Centralia had been relying on a 1916 Baldwin 2-8-2 Mikado. “Our engine was getting ready for annual inspection and testing […]
New Sound Transit light rail equipment debuts NEWSWIRE
The first of 152 new Siemens light rail vehicles was unveiled by Seattle’s Sound Transit on Wednesday. Sound Transit Sound Transit says the new equipment has wider aisles, more luggage space and more bike capacity than current light rail vehicles. Sound Transit SEATTLE — The first of 152 new Siemens light rail vehicles for Sound […]
Washington city wants Point Defiance Bypass to stay closed until all recommended safety installations are complete NEWSWIRE
A view of the wreckage of derailed Amtrak Cascades Train 501 on Dec. 18, 2017. Steve Carter SEATTLE — The city council in Lakewood, Wash., has approved a resolution asking the Washington State Department of Transportation and Amtrak not to reopen the Point Defiance Bypass until all of the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations are […]
Washington state puts up money to explore cross-state passenger rail service NEWSWIRE
SEATTLE — The Washington state Legislature has approved a transportation budget with funding for several rail projects, including a feasibility study of a cross-state passenger train. The $250,000 allocated to the Legislature’s joint transportation committee would look at the former Northern Pacific route from Seattle over Stampede Pass, then south through the Yakima Valley and […]
State chooses eastern Washington short line operator for publicly owned line NEWSWIRE
SEATTLE — The shuffling of operators for segments of the state-owned Palouse River & Coulee City in eastern Washington state continues. The Washington State Department of Transportation said it picked Omaha Track as the winning bidder to operate the 90-mile P&L branch of the PCC, which runs from the Idaho border near Pullman to Marshall, […]
Sound Transit will revise its safety protocol in response to NTSB report NEWSWIRE
Sound Transit’s board chairman says the agency will call in an outside investigator to review its safety procedures in the wake of the National Transportation Safety Board’s findings and recommendations in its own investigation into the December 2017 Amtrak Cascades derailment. NTSB had criticisms for multiple agencies and entities including Sound Transit, which owns the […]
WSDOT prepares to remove Talgo Series 6 trainsets ‘as soon as possible’
SEATTLE – The first response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s report on the 2017 Amtrak Cascades derailment is the Washington State Department of Transportation’s decision to remove Talgo Series 6 trainsets from service “as soon as possible.” WSDOT, a prime financial sponsor of Amtrak Cascades service on the Vancouver, B.C.-Eugene, Ore., corridor, didn’t specify […]
UP locomotive shop in eastern Oregon falls victim to PSR NEWSWIRE
HERMISTON, Ore. — Union Pacific announced this week that would be laying off nearly 200 people at its Hinkle rail yard in Hermiston, the latest example of cost reductions brought on by Precision Scheduled Railroading. About 195 people will lose their jobs as UP closes its Hinkle locomotive shop and warehouse over the next two […]
Agencies react to criticisms of mistakes leading to 2017 Amtrak Cascades crash NEWSWIRE
SEATTLE — The National Transportation Safety Board wasn’t stingy in handing out criticisms or recommendations for changes in the aftermath of the December 2017 Amtrak Cascades derailment, so those on the receiving end have a lot of work ahead of them figuring out if and how they’ll respond to the safety board. For the Washington […]
Oregon Coast Scenic steps in to save locomotive, cars facing eviction from park NEWSWIRE
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad has stepped in to help save this former logging locomotive and two cars on display in Garibaldi, Ore. Martin E. Hansen GARIBALDI, Ore. — The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad has answered a call for help to rescue a deteriorating steam locomotive and trainset on local display, averting the potential sale or […]
NTSB to release ‘Amtrak Cascades’ accident report May 21 NEWSWIRE
Amtrak’s Freighthouse Square station in Tacoma is awaiting the return of trains to the Point Defiance Bypass. The release of the NTSB’s report on a 2017 derailment could hasten that process. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will release its report on the December 2017 derailment of an Amtrak Cascades passenger […]
