More Tuesday morning rail news: Artists surprised whale’s tail sculpture, made of thin composite material, supported train The whale’s tail sculpture that supported a Rotterdam metro train after it overran the end of an elevated track in the suburb of Spijkenisse, Netherlands, is a hollow plastic structure with a skin that’s just 6 millimeters (less […]
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
Digest: Caltrain to consider schedule changes to better suit essential workers, transit-dependent
Friday morning rail news: Caltrain to consider new schedule aimed toward essential workers, transit dependent Caltrain’s board of directors will consider schedule changes intended to improve service for essential workers and transit-dependent riders who rely on the San Francisco Bay Area commuter. The proposed Base Service Plan schedule to be reveiwed at the board’s Nov. […]
Digest: NJ Transit light rail service disrupted by collision, derailment
Late morning rail news: NJ Transit light rail train derailed after collision with vehicle Service on NJ Transit’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line was suspended for much of Thursday morning after a train derailed when struck by a motor vehicle. WPIX-TV reports the accident occurred about 2 a.m., suspending service between the Garfield and West Side Avenue stations. […]
Digest: Former MTA conductor charged for alleged disability fraud
More Thursday morning rail news: Former NYC Transit conductor charged in disability case A former New York City Transit subway conductor has been accused of grand larceny and related charges for receiving $114,000 in disability funds while working at other jobs. WCBS Radio reports Giovanni Seminerio was facing firing in December 2015 for disciplinary charges, but claimed […]
Digest: Capitol Corridor trains to require reservations during Thanksgiving period
Thursday morning rail news: Capitol Corridor to require reservations Nov. 23-30 Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor service in Northern California is, like Southern California’s Pacific Surfliner, instituting a temporary reservation requirement for travel during the Thanksgiving holiday period, Nov. 23-30. Reservations will be required to manage capacity and distancing. Those who use monthly, six-ride, or 10-ride tickets […]
Amtrak introduces ‘next travel day’ booking feature
WASHINGTON — With all long-distance trains except Auto Train now running on less-than-daily schedules, Amtrak has finally introduced a booking feature on its website that automatically directs customers to the next available day when they request tickets on a day a train is not running. Downloadable and printable schedules that reflect days of service for each station on a long-distance […]
Sound Transit names Wright as chief safety officer
Sound Transit has named David H. Wright as Chief Safety Officer, filling a position created as a result scrutiny stemming from the fatal December 2017 wreck of an Amtrak Cascades train on a rail line owned by the agency. His career includes 16 years in safety roles at the Chicago Transit Authority, including a key […]
Eleven passenger projects receive $291 million in FRA grants
WASHINGTON — Eleven projects in nine states have received grants totaling more than $291 million under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program. Awards were announced this morning. The program is intended to improve intercity passenger rail performance with repair or replacement of publicly owned assets; many of the projects receiving […]
Digest: Metra adjusts schedules on UP North, Northwest lines
More Wednesday morning rail news: Metra to make changes on UP North, Northwest schedules Metra will adjust schedules on its Union Pacific North and Northwest lines as of Monday, Nov. 2, adding express trains and addressing gaps in the current reduced COVID-19 schedules. On the North line, changes include two inbound trains and one outbound […]
Amtrak releases video with look at New Acela features
Amtrak has released a new video providing a preview of the interior on its New Acela trainsets, with an emphasis on the touchless nature of many features — an important COVID-19 consideration — as well as environmental features like the use of recycled leather for seating. Caroline Decker, Amtrak’s vice president, Northeast Corridor service line, hosts the […]
The ‘Century’ at Syracuse
In 1928 I was a freshman at Syracuse University. I needed a part-time job, and got one with American Railway Express, Inc., which became Railway Express Agency the following year. I worked at the New York Central’s Syracuse depot on the night shift Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m., whenever […]
Virginia Passenger Rail Authority begins work to improve area’s rail transportation
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Former Norfolk Southern and Amtrak CEO Charles “Wick” Moorman and retired NS executive Deborah Butler Painter are among members of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority board of directors, which held its first meeting Monday to begin its efforts to improve rail transportation in the state. Created by a law passed earlier this year, the […]
